Every season, the NBA offseason is highlighted by two events. Those events are the beginning of free agency and, of course, the NBA Draft. Free agency will be where teams try to add pieces and players that are already established to their roster in order to inch closer to an NBA championship. In the NBA Draft, everything is a crap shoot as no one knows if these players will even adjust to the NBA, let alone how long it may take them to fully integrate.

Today, we will comb through every draft over the last 24 seasons to declare one player as the greatest from each NBA Draft. Usually, the number one pick in the NBA Draft should be the best player of that draft class without any hesitation. As you will see throughout this list, that has never and will never always be the case. Sometimes the best player ends up being right behind the first overall pick at number two. Other times, teams have struck gold much later, even into the second round. Without any further anticipation, let’s get on to the list.

These are the best players from every NBA Draft since 2000.

2000 NBA Draft – Kenyon Martin

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The New Jersey Nets made Kenyon Martin their first overall pick back in 2000, hoping he would be the anchor to their defense for years to come. Although Mike Miller would win Rookie of the Year and Jamal Crawford would have a long career that outlasted every player from this class, Kenyon Martin was the clear best all-around player at their peak. Martin helped anchor a New Jersey Nets defense that made back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

In 2004, Martin made the only All-Star Game of his career when he averaged 16.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG, and 1.3 BPG. Somehow, despite his Herculean efforts, Martin was never selected to an All-Defensive Team when he deserved at least one. After New Jersey, Martin played seven seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he helped them advance to the 2009 Western Conference Finals. Martin averaged 12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.1 BPG in his 15-year NBA career.

2001 NBA Draft – Tony Parker

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The best player in the 2011 NBA Draft comes down to two international stars and former NBA champions. Tony Parker and Pau Gasol were at the forefront of the international movement in the NBA during the early 2000s, and each player would go on to win multiple NBA championships in their careers. Only one of them was named the best player on the court during an NBA Finals series, and he also happens to be the player with double the amount of championships as the other.

For the 2001 NBA Draft, I have to give the edge to one of the most underrated point guards in NBA history, Tony Parker. With four NBA championships under his belt, Parker is a safe bet on that metric alone. In 2007, however, Parker cemented this choice even further when he won Finals MVP averaging 24.5 PPG and 5.0 RPG. In 2014, Parker became one of the few players in NBA history to lead a team to an NBA championship without another All-Star teammate on his roster. Gasol, as amazing as he was, didn’t win until he was paired with Kobe Bryant. Granted, Parker had Ginobili and Duncan, but he was still able to rise above them more than Gasol did above Kobe.

2002 NBA Draft – Amar’e Stoudemire

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The discussion for the best player in the 2022 NBA Draft all comes down to what you value as a player. There is no doubt that Yao Ming was an incredible physical specimen on the court and challenged the likes of Shaq more than anyone else did in their careers. However, his lack of availability, especially in big games, is a detriment to his case for the best player in this draft class.

For me, I have to give the very slight edge to Amar’e Stoudemire, whose elite athleticism and finishing ability helped lead one of the most potent offenses we have ever seen with the 2000s Phoenix Suns. Stoudemire would win the 2003 Rookie of the Year award averaging 13.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 1.1 BPG. Two years later, he would earn his first of six career All-Star selections to go with five All-NBA Team selections. In his eight seasons with the Suns, he averaged 21.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. He also spent five seasons in New York with the Knicks, which resulted in one All-Star appearance and three trips to the NBA playoffs.

2003 NBA Draft – LeBron James

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With a draft class that includes Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh, you would figure the 2003 draft class would present some issues in choosing who is the best from their draft class. The truth is, these players are all vying for second place because the high school kid selected at number one has already run away with the title. LeBron James has made his way past every member of his draft class over the last two decades as he has become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, and MVP.

He also owns just about every major playoff stat record that a player can own, as well as a top-10 spot during the regular season in most categories. He is the gold standard when it comes to players that have played for 20 years, and he is still better than 99.9% of the NBA all these years later. James is arguably the greatest player in the game’s history, marred only by a losing record in the NBA Finals. As far as the class of 2003 goes, James is the only one still actively playing the NBA after Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement last week. He stands alone as 2003’s greatest player, but will he ever stand alone as the NBA’s GOAT?

2004 NBA Draft – Dwight Howard

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The 2004 NBA draft wasn’t exactly overflowing with talent, but once again, a high school player selected with the first overall pick came out on top. Dwight Howard was a freakishly athletic big man who stood 6’10’’ tall and could jump as high as the top of the backboard. This made him unstoppable as a defender and as an offensive threat around the rim. He was immediately plugged in as a starter for the Orlando Magic and, after a few years to adjust to the NBA from high school, became one of the best players in the game.

At his peak, Howard was a three-time winner of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. He led the NBA in rebounding five times from 2008 thru 2013 with the Magic and Lakers and led the NBA in blocks twice. In 2009, Howard would lead the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, averaging 20.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 2.9 BPG. In 2020, in a reduced role with the Lakers, Howard would capture his first and only NBA championship. For his 18-year career, Howard averaged 15.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 1.8 BPG with the Magic, Lakers, Hawks, Rockets, Hornets, Sixers, and Wizards.

2005 NBA Draft – Chris Paul

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Another all-time great point guard is our selection for the best player from the 2005 NBA Draft. Chris Paul has been one of the best two-way point guards to ever play the game over the last 18 seasons and is still one of them today. Paul was the third overall pick of the New Orleans Hornets back in 2005 and would go on to become one of the greatest point guards in NBA history despite many, many fans disliking him intensely for most of his career.

In 2008, Paul was the runner-up for MVP as he led the Hornets to one of their best seasons over the last 20 years and led the NBA in both assists and steals. Paul is a five-time assists champion and six-time steals champion in his career, mostly with the Hornets and Clippers. Paul will likely go down as one of the greatest NBA players ever to never win an NBA championship, but he has undoubtedly been one of the game’s greatest ambassadors over the last 18 seasons.

2006 NBA Draft – Kyle Lowry

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Back in 2006, the Memphis Grizzlies made Kyle Lowry their 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Over his first three seasons with Memphis, Lowry made just 31 starts and was nowhere near making this list in any capacity, even as an honorable mention. Lowry would then spend three and a half seasons in Houston with the Rockets, where he began to show signs of coming into his own which was accentuated by one move North of the Border.

Lowry would arrive in Toronto to play with the Raptors in 2013-14, where he would remain for the next nine seasons. Slowly but surely, Lowry became one of the top point guards in the game and one of the greatest players in Raptors franchise history. Lowry would earn six All-Star selections and one All-NBA Team selection with the Raptors. In 2019, Lowry would aid their franchise in capturing the first NBA title in team history alongside Kawhi Leonard. Now, in 2023, it looks like Lowry may be retired by the time 2025 comes around, but his peak in Toronto as one of the games best gave us memories to last a lifetime.

2007 NBA Draft – Kevin Durant

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Despite a talented draft class in 2007, there is zero doubt that Kevin Durant is the greatest player from that year’s draft. Durant is a near 7-footer with the handles of a point guard and the scoring ability of the greatest players to ever play the game. Durant is a hyper-efficient scorer from all three levels with an underrated playmaking aspect to his game as well as interior defense. After falling to the Seattle SuperSonics at number two overall, Durant rewarded the franchise with a Rookie of the Year nod in 2008, an NBA Finals appearance in 2012, four scoring titles, and an MVP campaign in 2014.

As big of a traitor as he is for going to Golden State, Durant made the move pay off with three straight trips to the NBA Finals and back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Durant earned both Finals MVP awards for his performances in going 8-1 against LeBron James and the Cavaliers over those two series. In 2023, Durant, at 35 years old, had the most efficient shooting season in NBA history when he became the first player to ever shoot the ball with 55/40/90 splits.

2008 NBA Draft – Russell Westbrook

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He may have been the butt of jokes for two seasons while with the Lakers, but Russell Westbrook is far and away the best player from the 2008 NBA Draft. Westbrook was taken fourth overall in 2008 by Seattle as well but would never play a game for them as the franchise moved to Oklahoma City that same summer. Westbrook would become the starting point guard almost immediately and showcase his elite athleticism, finishing, and playmaking in a big way.

In 2012, Westbrook helped the Thunder reach the only NBA Finals since moving to Oklahoma City. In 2015, he won his first career scoring title with 28.1 PPG. In 2017, Westbrook would be named MVP after averaging a triple-double for the entire season with 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 10.4 APG, something he would repeat in three of the next four seasons. Overall, Westbrook has been named an All-Star nine times with two All-Star MVP awards as well. He is also a nine-time All-NBA Team selection and a three-time assist champ in his 14-year career.

2009 NBA Draft – Stephen Curry

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Despite being called undersized and a player whose game wouldn’t translate to the NBA, Stephen Curry is undoubtedly the greatest player from the 2009 NBA Draft. Curry was selected seventh overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2009 NBA Draft and would soon change the game as we know it. Curry brought the game further and further away from the basket and became the greatest three-point shooter that the NBA has ever seen.

In 2015, Curry would lead the Warriors to their first NBA title since 1975 and win the first MVP award of his career. In 2016, Curry would become the first and only unanimous MVP in NBA history while his team won 73 games, and he averaged 30.1 PPG, and won his first scoring title. Curry and the Warriors would add championships in 2017 and 2018 as well, giving them three titles in the 2010s. In 2022, Curry led the Warriors back to the NBA championship and was finally able to capture the elusive Finals MVP award that he had been desperately searching for on their first three title runs. As the game’s greatest shooter and one of its greatest point guards, Curry takes the top spot in the 2009 NBA Draft.

2010 NBA Draft – Paul George

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Early on in his career, Paul George was on a trajectory to become one of the game’s greatest small forwards ever. George was the 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Indiana Pacers, but no one expected him to become what he did so quickly. By his third season, George was an All-Star for the first time and named the NBA’s Most Improved Player by averaging 17.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.8 SPG, but he wasn’t done yet.

In 2014 and 2015, George would lead the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances against LeBron James and the Miami Heat. It was incredible to watch a young kid go toe-to-toe with LeBron James and not back down. In 2019 with Oklahoma City, George had an incredible season that saw him finish top three in both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting. In 2021, he put the Clippers on his back without Kawhi Leonard and led them to their first Conference Finals appearance in team history. As much grief as he gets, George’s talent and resume are unquestionably legendary. Did I Mention he came back from one of the most gruesome injuries ever in the Olympics in 2014?

2011 NBA Draft – Kawhi Leonard

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In a draft class that includes Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, nobody in the 2011 NBA Draft class comes close to the career resume of Kawhi Leonard. He was originally the 15th overall pick of the Indiana Pacers, who then traded him to the Spurs in exchange for George Hill in one of the most lopsided deals in NBA history. As he developed with the Spurs, he became one of the best two-way players in the game, which all began in 2014.

In 2014, despite not being an All-Star, it would be Kawhi who captured Finals MVP later that season when his Spurs took down LeBron James and the Miami Heat in five games. Leonard was rewarded for his defensive efforts that series, as he would be in 2015 and 2016, as well as back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards. In 2019, Leonard would capture his second championship and Finals MVP award when he led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship. Leonard should be considered one of the best small forwards in league history, even if his prime was much shorter than anticipated.

2012 NBA Draft – Anthony Davis

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The 2012 NBA Draft was one filled with talent from top to bottom as well. Players such as Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, and Draymond Green all were products of the 2012 draft class, but only Anthony Davis lay claim to the top spot. As the first overall pick to the Pelicans, Davis’ individual s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 and talent were always front and center whenever he took the court, as were his issues with injuries. Despite those worries, Davis has earned eight All-Star appearances, four All-NBA Team selections, four All-Defensive Team selections, and three blocks titles.

Davis would spend the first seven seasons of his career with New Orleans, where he averaged 23.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 2.4 APG. In 2019, Davis was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers to partner with LeBron James and form a championship combination. In their first season together, Davis and James would deliver an NBA title to L.A. in the bubble. Davis scorched the competition in the playoffs with 27.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.4 BPG to help win the championship.

2013 NBA Draft – Giannis Antetokounmpo

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In one of the easiest decisions of the entire list, the best player from the 2013 NBA Draft is none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo. When he was selected by the Bucks with the 15th overall pick, nobody could anticipate what this scrawny kid from Greece was about to turn into. After a few seasons of adjusting to the NBA, he took it over in an instant and still is in contention for best player in the world status today.

In 2016-17, Giannis’ fourth season in the NBA, he became an All-Star for the first time and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. In 2019 and 2020, Giannis would go back-to-back as the MVP of the league with a Defensive Player of the Year award to go with it in 2020. The 2021 season would mark his greatest accomplishment, however, as he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years. Giannis and the Bucks overcame a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals against the Suns, with Giannis leading the way. In Game 6, Giannis delivered a memorable 50-point game to seal the victory and Finals MVP honors as well.

2014 NBA Draft – Nikola Jokic

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It is very clear that Nikola Jokic has been underrated his whole life. In 2014, Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st overall pick. The worst part about it is that it wasn’t even televised and instead, fans were treated to a Taco Bell commercial. Unbeknownst to them, they had just missed a future MVP being taken in the second round and the greatest second-round draft pick ever.

Jokic would lead the Nuggets to just their third Western Conference Finals ever in 2020 before falling to the Lakers. Over the next two seasons, Jokic unleashed his entire s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set, especially as a passer and playmaker, to win back-to-back MVP awards and become the first MVP in Nuggets history. In 2023, although he missed out on MVP, Jokic led the Nuggets to their first appearance in the NBA Finals after sweeping the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and being named Western Conference Finals MVP. Already the Nuggets’ GOAT, can Jokic cement that status this season with an NBA championship?

2015 NBA Draft – Devin Booker

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The 2015 NBA Draft also featured many stars who are just hitting their peaks as players. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first overall pick, while D’Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis were also taken in this draft class. However, the best player wasn’t selected until 13th overall when the Phoenix Suns took a chance on Devin Booker, a shooting guard from the University of Kentucky.

Booker was actually one of the more underrated stars in the game through his first few seasons. He has averaged 20.0 PPG or more every season since 2017, his second in the NBA and recorded a 70-point game, and led the Suns to an NBA Finals appearance in 2021. Booker has been a 25.0 PPG or better scorer every season since 2019 as well and, overall, has earned three All-Star selections and one All-NBA Team selection in his career.

2016 NBA Draft – Jaylen Brown

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If we were going off potential, Brandon Ingram would be our selection here. If we were going off the previous few seasons, I would be going with Pascal Siakam. If we were going off the 2023 playoffs, Jamal Murray would be the easiest selection. However, instead, our selection is the consistency and overall ability of Jaylen Brown, the third overall pick to the Boston Celtics.

Since arriving in Boston, Brown has been one-half of one of the best duos in basketball with Jayson Tatum. Together, they have advanced to numerous Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals in 2022. Brown has earned two All-Star selections and one All-NBA Team selection in his career thus far but has plenty more left in his tank. Brown has been a 20.0 PPG scorer or better every season since 2020 and averaged a career-high 26.6 PPG in 2023. Brown and the Celtics were just one win away from becoming the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in NBA playoff history in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals but fell short in Game 7 to the Miami Heat.

2017 NBA Draft – Jayson Tatum

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The talent continues to elevate as we may our way through this list and arrive at the 2017 NBA Draft. With all due respect to Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and De’Aaron Fox, this class belongs to Jayson Tatum and Jayson Tatum alone. For the past few seasons, we have watched Tatum pull away with this title as he and the Boston Celtics turn into annual contenders for the NBA championship. Since being selected third overall by Boston in 2017, Tatum has earned four All-Star appearances and three All-NBA Team selections.

He has also led the Celtics to multiple appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals in 2022. In 2022-23, Tatum became the first player in Celtics history to average 30.0 PPG or better for the season and remained an MVP candidate for the majority of the Year. He has delivered some great performances during the playoffs as well, including the most points ever in a Game 7 with 51 in the second round and led a comeback from down 3-0 in the Conference Finals to force a Game 7.

2018 NBA Draft – Luka Doncic

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This is another draft class for which I have the utmost respect, but this isn’t even close. Luka Doncic has been not only the most tremendous talent from this draft class but was immediately one of the best in the NBA after just a month or two in the game. After succeeding at the pro level from a young age with Real Madrid, Doncic came over to the NBA from Slovenia in 2018. Since that time, he has already embarked on a journey to smash the record books with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

It started with a Rookie of the Year campaign that saw him average 21.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 6.0 APG. Over the next few years, his legend grew in the NBA playoffs with 31.7 PPG in 2020 and 35.0 PPG in 2021. In 2022, he fought for the MVP award and eventually led the Mavericks to their first Western Conference Finals berth since 2011. In five seasons, Doncic is averaging 27.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 8.0 APG with the Mavericks and is already the franchise leader in triple-doubles.

2019 NBA Draft – Ja Morant

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Despite the issues he faced this season and the ones he is currently facing now, Ja Morant is still the best player from the 2022-23 NBA Draft. I can’t bring myself to go with Zion Williamson, who has missed an extended period of time over the last four years. Meanwhile, Morant has been on a tear in the past two seasons, competing for MVP awards and entering the record books himself.

Morant cruised to a Rookie of the Year victory in 2020 with 17.8 PPG and 7.3 APG. His incredible hops and control when attacking the rim were something to watch over the first three years of his career and still are today. In 2022, Morant was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player when he averaged 27.4 PPG and 6.7 APG for the Grizzlies, who enjoyed one of the best regular seasons in team history. There is no doubt that when Morant rights his ship off the court, he will be back and even better than what we have already seen.

2020 NBA Draft – Anthony Edwards

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Look, I understand that many young fans are infatuated with LaMelo Ball, his social media presence, and his swagger. On top of that, Ball happens to be a great basketball player as well. Unfortunately, he also shares a draft class with Anthony Edwards, who has begun to leapfrog Ball for the top position here today. Edwards was the first overall pick to Minnesota in 2020 and immediately let the world know why it was a good decision with his highlight reel dunks and overall scoring ability.

Overall, Edwards has done nothing but improve and increase his production over the last three seasons. As talented as he is on offense, he has also begun to let it be known that he is no slouch on defense either. In 2023, Edwards was named an All-Star for the first time and led the Timberwolves through the play-in to the playoffs for the second time. He averaged a career-high in points, rebounds, assists, and steals with the intention of being one of the best to ever play, as he has let it be known more than once.

2021 NBA Draft – Evan Mobley

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Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors may have been awarded the Rookie of the Year award last season, but in the totality of two seasons, I am going with Evan Mobley as 2021’s best so far. Mobley has been one of the best defenders in the game over the last two seasons, and his full-range versatility has been undeniable. Mobley can easily shut down power forwards and centers in the paint with his strength and length while also being able to frustrate smaller forwards and quicker guards.

While finishing runner-up in 2022 for Rookie of the Year Honors, Mobley was also a finalist in 2023 for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Mobley has averaged 15.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 1.6 BPG over the last two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have turned into a legitimate playoff team with him on the court. The only knock on him is that we need to see a more polished and improved offensive game which, if NBA history has taught us anything, is that part of his game is coming.

2022 NBA Draft – Paolo Banchero

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Having had only one season to evaluate the talent from the 2022 NBA Draft, there is no other selection at this time than reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero. He was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft to the Orlando Magic and showed no time in showing why he was. Banchero immediately made an impression with his size, fluidity on the court, scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defense, and overall basketball IQ.

In his first season with the Magic, Banchero averaged 20.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 3.9 APG. The Magic had another season of growing pains, but with Banchero on the floor, also showed they will be a team to be reckoned with in just a few years’ time. Paolo may not even be the best player in this draft by the time his career is over, but the way 2022-23 shaped up, I don’t see how that is a possibility.