Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 1:57 pm  |  84 responses

1995 NBA Draft Remix

Separating The Kid from the men.

by Jeff FoxKevin Garnett

The Kid might not have been the first to do it — Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby hold that honor — but Kevin Garnett was the most important prep-to-pro pick in NBA history. This is not because Garnett is the best player to ever play in the League straight from high school — Kobe Bean Bryant holds that distinction, with LeBron James fast on his heels — but instead it is because of what KG being selected in the 1995 meant to the League. Without Garnett being the trendsetter, would Kobe or Tracy McGrady skip college and enter the Draft in 1996 and 1997 respectively? Would LeBron enter the draft straight outta’ Akron a few years after that?  There’s a chance that all these players would have taken that route anyhow, but they all owe Garnett thanks for paving the way for them and making it easier.

Other than The Big Ticket entering the League, the 1995 Draft was pretty average. Some solid players heard their names called his year, but Garnett is the only one destined for the Hall of Fame.

1995 NBA Draft

Grade: B

All-Stars: 6 (Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Theo Ratliff, Michael Finley)

Biggest Bust: Shawn Respert, Portland, pick No. 9 
Second Round Steal: Eric Snow, Milwaukee, pick No. 43
Winning Team (in the long run): Boston (Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace)
Career Scoring Leader: Kevin Garnett
Career Rebounding Leader: Kevin Garnett
Career Assist Leader: Damon Stoudamire

Pick No. 1 | Golden State Warriors
Actual Selection: Joe Smith
Draft 365 Remix: Kevin Garnett (5)

The greatest power forward of all-time? Not quite, but Kevin Garnett is definitely in the discussion with Duncan, Malone, Barkley, Pettit et al. A 12-time All-Star, ninRasheed Wallacee-time All-NBA team member, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, 10 All-Defensive team appearances, NBA champion — KG’s resume can go head-to-head with any player’s in the history of the game.

Pick No. 2 | Los Angeles Clippers
Actual Selection: Antonio McDyess
Draft 365 Remix: Rasheed Wallace (4)

Rasheed Wallace in the Hall of Fame? Probably not going to happen, but the man has had a fabulous career. Once he makes 18 more three-pointers he will join Cliff Robinson as the only members of the 1000-point, 1000-block club. He’s also proven that he can be a key contributor to a championship team. Yet, critics expect more out of him due to all the talent that he possesses. That is the cross you must bear when you are one of the most uniquely talented big men to ever play the game.

Pick No. 3 | Philadelphia 76ers
Actual Selection: Jerry Stackhouse
Draft 365 Remix: Michael Finley (21)

Michael Finley is one of those players who sort of flew under the radar during his career. Sure, he made two All-Star teams, but for five-straight years in Dallas he was good for 20-5-5, numbers that usually give a player entry into the “superstar” category.

Pick No. 4 | Washington Bullets
Actual Selection: Rasheed Wallace
Draft 365 Remix: Antonio McDyess (2)

Antonio McDyess’ career can easily be broken down into two parts: pre- and post-knee injury. Before he blew his knee out, he was an explosive, powerful player capable of 20 and 10 on the regular. After the injury, he has become a very dependable, yet pedestrian, role playing big man.

Pick No. 5 | Minnesota TimberwolvesJerry Stackhouse
Actual Selection: Kevin Garnett
Draft 365 Remix: Jerry Stackhouse (3)

Once dubbed “The Next Jordan,” Jerry Stackhouse never turned into much more than a high-scoring gunner. His ’00-01 season in Detroit pretty much summarized his career – he led the League in field goal attempts, free throws made, turnovers and point scored.

Pick No. 6 | Vancouver Grizzlies
Actual Selection: Bryant Reeves
Draft 365 Remix: Theo Ratliff (18)

The most amazing thing about Theo Ratliff’s career is not his All-Star appearance, or his multiple All-Defensive team selections or the fact that he led the NBA in blocks per game three times. No, the most amazing fact about Ratliff’s long career is, despite the NBA only having a 82-game schedule, Ratliff appeared in 85 regular season games in ’03-04.

Pick No. 7 | Toronto Raptors
Actual Selection: Damon Stoudamire
Draft 365 Remix: Damon Stoudamire (7)

This is the point in the 1995 Draft proceedings, which took place in Toronto, where the expansion Raptors fans filled the cavernous SkyDome with thunderous boos. The crowd wanted the Dinos to take Ed O’Bannon with pick No. 7. So when Damon Stoudemire’s name was called, they went ballistic. There’s a reason fans are fans and GMs are GMs.

Pick No. 8 | Portland Trailblazers
Actual Selection: Shawn Respert
Draft 365 Remix: Joe Smith (1)

Joe Smith actually has had a career that perfectly suits his name — plain, nothing out of the ordinary, solid. Meanwhile, Shawn Respert steals the biggest bust crown from off of Big Country Reeves head due to having a worse career, both in terms of length and quality of play.

Pick No. 9 | New Jersey Nets
Actual Selection: Ed O’Bannon
Draft 365 Remix: Kurt Thomas (10)

After leading the nation in scoring and rebounding at Texas Christian, much was expected out of Kurt Thomas in the pros. While he’s never been a star, he is still a solid, no nonsense big man with the scariest eyes in the League.

Pick No. 10 | Miami Heat
Actual Selection: Kurt Thomas
Draft 365 Remix: Brent Barry (15)

None of Rick Barry’s basketball-playing brood were able to top their dad’s accomplishments on the court, but Brent Barry came the closest. Probably best known for winning the 1996 Dunk Contest, Barry has had a solid career as a three-point bomber and dependable ball-handler.

Barely missed the Top 10 Remix: Corliss Williamson, Eric Snow, Bob Sura, Travis Best.

Next on the Remix: The best bad-shooting guard of all-time enters the League.

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.

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  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Don’t get me wrong, Hamilton and Stuckey are two very good players, but by sacrifice Michael Curry meant “sit on the bench for 2/3 of the game behind guys you are clearly better than, in a system that should have changed when we traded Chauncey Billups and let B. Wallace walk.”

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Still, I’m not saying Garnett is worse than Iverson.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Although I prefer Iverson and would rank him ahead of KG in a draft remix, if KG stayed a year in college. But he didn’t, which worked out for the best, and I don’t have to.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Dave

    Clearly KG is a better roleplayer than AI – after all, he got a ring as the lockdown defender and second offensive option with the C’s.
    AI got nix as second option scorer on the Nuggets (big surprise) and as second/third/first/not sure on an abortion of a team with the Pistons (big surprise).
    Both got zero as #1 banana with inferior role-players beside them.
    What else is there to discuss on the topic?

  • http://slamonline.com tealish

    @Jukai: It depends entirely on what complementary pieces are available for the reasons previously stated. That’s not a cop-out; it’s just the way it is.
    If you’re fortunate enough to be able to select a Paul Pierce and a Ray Allen with subsequent picks after your initial “franchise building” selection, then I’d go with KG over AI.
    But that’s not how it always goes.

  • http://fjdklf.com Jukai

    Teddy: Look, you’re overplaying those teams. Of course, Vince Carter and Ray Allen were on fire. They were the only people on their team.
    Lemme describe the 2000 Philidelphia 76ers in the same way you described their opponents. They were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, having a Defensive Rating 5th in the league and holding their opponents to an amazing 90 points a game. They won 56 games (!!!). Not only did they have future Hall of Famer Mount Mutombo on their team, but Bell, Lynch, and Snow are all grade A defenders (the former even made a first all defensive team). This was a strong ass defensive team. Iverson could take as many shots as he wanted since the other team rarely scored.

  • http://fjdklf.com Jukai

    Dave: Iverson was the first option on the Denver Nuggets. Also, that “abortion” you’re talking about made six straight conference final appearances. That’s not Iverson’s fault, but he certainly didn’t help.

  • http://fjdklf.com Jukai

    Tealish: One could possibly argue that prime-KG would fit with more teams than prime-AI… you know, if one wanted to.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Dave

    @Jukai: You’re right – Iverson didn’t help the Pistons make six straight CF appearances. He was on a different team, one that didn’t get there. Thanks for backing up my point… (?!)

  • http://fjdklf.com Jukai

    Dave: Uh, no problem.

  • http://kb24.com Bigi

    Minny,bring back THOSE jerzeys!!!

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Building a contender around AI in his prime was easier to do because you only need to plug in role players around the max player. Minny’s problem was always that they needed gifted scorers (i.e. very expensive players) around the guy that was making 20 mil. To me, it’s hard to justify giving 20 mil to someone and you can’t even go to him when it matters at the end of games.

  • http://afsd.com tealish

    @Jukai: You’re right, KG would fit in with more teams. But those teams would still go nowhere if there wasn’t someone else to go to down the stretch.
    @Z: Yep.

  • whooo!

    i find the KG vs AI debate pretty interesting since i never bothered comparing em. i always felt the ONLY 2 players AI could truly succeed wit were KG and Duncan, if he wanted a ring. no other combo would have worked out for him – not kobe, Shaq… nobody else. that said, the fact that these 2 are debatable should also eliminate any question of Duncan vs KG comparison. KG’s resume can go ahead to head with anyone, but the other #21 has an even more stellar resume, even before counting rings.

  • http://fjdklf.com Jukai

    Z: What are you talking about… There were plenty of ‘role players’ around Iverson and they got to the Finals once… then either got out the first round or missed the playoffs entirely. That’s so factually incorrect, it’s aggravating. Iverson needs highly skilled defensive players, specifically in the backcourt, who can take heat off him, and needs players who 100% do not need to work with the ball to score. It’s not “role players.” It’s defensive role players who work off the ball. Humongous difference.
    Whooo!: You’d say KG is better than Malone and Barkley? How so?

  • newjersey devil

    wasnt shawn kemp high school 2 pros? the o’bannon boys had high expectations goin in to the league

  • Shem

    KG is better then barkley and malone is close but hes better then barkley because in todays day, if you start a 6’5 pf (charles barkley) not only will your pgs be close to as tall as him (most pgs are 6’3-6’4) but you will get killed off the block and completely out rebounded. KG is a better passer rebounder and scorer then barkley so i guess that makes him better?

  • whooo!

    Jukai, i definitely think Malone is better than KG when it comes down to the all-time rankings. it’s definitely TD 1st, Malone 2nd, and then unsure how the rest would fill out.

  • whooo!

    and Sham, i don’t agree about the Barkley vs current players thing. Kidd and Deron Williams are considered BIG pg’s, and they’re 6’4 & 6’3 respectively – that is not ‘most’ pg’s by any means (Wade is 6’4). Charle was ike 6’7 in shoes (check his jail mugshot w/ the height chart). he was extremely quick, could handle the ball, and his jumping ability and size would still allow him to board – look at how Ben Wallace has been one of the most dominant big men on defense this generation, as an undersized pf.

  • http://dfjklfl.com Jukai

    Shem: While I’m not SAYING I’d rather have Barkley than Garnett (Garnett is a better rebounder, passer, and defender, but it’s not even close offensively— Barkley is MUCH MUCH better), I think you’re over emphasizing Barkley’s lack of height. Dude was 6’7, I don’t know why people believe he’s smaller (mug shot pretty much proved it. Dude probably slouched when he stood so people thought he was smaller than he really was) and Barkley had hops. I do not believe the league was significantly smaller back in the 90s– maybe by an inch. However, I’d say that the league that Barkley played in was far tougher (ie you’d get smacked around more) and that should relatively negate the height/athleticism difference in eras.
    Don’t make a mistake, Barkley would obliterate if he came into the league prime today.
    I’d agree though, it’s TD, Malone, Garnett, and Barkley. I guess McHale would round up my top five.

  • http://dfjklfl.com Jukai

    Actually, scratch McHale and throw in Elvin Hayes.

  • Shem

    Barkley was 6’7 with shoes, and its not just j kidd and deron williams your also forgetting jose calderon, steve nash, chauncey billups, derrick rose, stevee blake and the list goes on. Just based on career stats their pretty even barkley averaged like 2 more pts, turned the ball over more, garnett had more blocks, even at steals, garnett had more assists, barkley prob averaged a lil more boards, shot a higher % but in todays nba barkley would get killed how would barkley matchup with 7 foot gasol or varejao its like posting up a sg.

    Top 5 pf of all time:
    1.TD 2. Bob Petit 3. Karl Malone 4. Elvin Hayes 5. Barkley (once again KG would be better if barkley played today)

  • http://claydefayette@yahoo.com CDef28

    Man I miss the Cliff Robinson days when he was with Detroit.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Interesting convo.
    I wish KG and AI could have played on the same team in the their primes. Perfect combo. That dummy Marbury didn’t know that he had it good.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Shem the league wasn’t THAT small in the 90′s… There’s a reason Barkley was undersized. You seriously think all Power Forwards were 6’4-6’7? Barkley is better than KG.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    KG is way way WAY better at defense. I don’t think you can compare. I’ve always heard Barkley was a notorious slacker on defense.
    But I don’t think KG is a better rebounder than Barkley, when you compare stats. Barkley averaged 14.6 rebounds per game his third year in the league… Basketball Reference lists him at 6’6; that’s incredible.
    Also, Barkley’s scoring was way better than KG. 28 and 12 ain’t nothing to play with.

  • a_whiteman

    if you put kg on that 01 sixer team with dikembe mutombo helping him out down low, they probably would have still made at least the east finals, only because they had no guard play aside from iverson. But if you put iverson on the minnesota teams kg was on and they are hard pressed to even make the playoffs, let alone do anything once they got there.

  • Shem

    i realize the lg wasnt that small in the 80s and 90s but today, all pfs are about 7 feet. Varejao, Gasol, Nowitzki, Bosh, Okeafor, Duncan, Jamison, KG, Amare etc. and i do think barkley is better but i still do think that if barkley played today he d have trouble posting up, wouldnt get as many boards and would be put at sg or sf let me remind you he didnt have a stellar shot or chris paul like dribbles and @ Teddy the bear yes barkley did have those numbers but career wise he averaged 22 pts, 11 boards, 3 assts, 1.5 stls while KG’s career averages were 20 pts 11 boards 4 assts 1.5 stls and 1.5 blocks OH and he has a championship.

  • http://dfjklfl.com Jukai

    Shem: Why are we talking about height? Let’s talk about defensive abilities. Nowitzki, Jamison, Amare, and Bosh are all under average defenders. Barkley would have a field day with them.
    Also, to note, Garnett is averaging less and less points every year. When it is all said and done, he will have averaged less than twenty points for his career.
    What’s odd is, I’m arguing Barkley is better than you think and I think Garnett is better in the scheme of things. You’re arguing Barkley is worse than we all think and you think he’s better than Garnett. Can someone explain this?

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Jukai
    You’re an arrogant prick who likes arguing.
    See, I explained it.
    Nah, just joking, mostly, except for the part about arguing. You do enjoy arguing.

  • http://dfjklfl.com Jukai

    Allen: I mostly blame it on my Jewish heritage. The rest is the whole “white guy growing up in Dorchester” thing.

  • Shem

    Okay lets clear it up, i think barkley is a better player but i do think that if barkley played today he wouldnt be so great. No barkley wouldnt have a field day on all the forwards you named because a 6’5 guy cant post up bigs it just doesnt work. VC cant postup jamison. The already bad defensive barkley would get benched or put outta position when pau gasol is posting him up every game because all he has to do is drop it in the net. It doesnt matter it ll never get answered. Kudos to sir Charles wade barkley on having a great career while being undersized

  • http://asfkl.com Jukai
  • jcs14

    The Wolves were actually gonna draft Stackhouse even if KG was still available, thank god he went 3rd

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