Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 12:50 pm  |  79 responses

1997 NBA Draft Remix

Big Three or bust!

by JeffTim Duncan Fox

At first glance you’d think that the 1997 NBA Draft was a fantastic one — just look at the names — Duncan, Billups, McGrady. While the first glance might be nice, every glance after that is horrendous. Just look at the names “gracing” the bottom of the list (Fortson, Brevin Knight) and you will understand what a painful process remixing the 1996 NBA draft was.

This could very well be the greatest drop-off in talent from the top guys to the bottom that has ever occurred in draft history. At the very least it is the worst over the past decade. You go from future Hall of Fame players to journeymen at the blink of the eye. So enter at your own peril — first glances can sometimes betray.

1997 NBA Draft

Grade: B-

All-Stars: 3 (Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups, Tracy McGrady)

Biggest Bust: Tariq Abdul-Wahad, Sacramento , pick No. 11  
Second Round Steal: Stephen Jackson, Phoenix, pick No. 42 
Winning Team (in the long run): San Antonio (Tim Duncan)
Career Scoring Leader: Tim Duncan
Career Rebounding Leader: Tim Duncan
Career Assist Leader: Chauncey Billups

Pick No. 1 | San Antonio Spurs
Actual Selection: Tim Duncan
Draft 365 Remix: Tim Duncan (1)

Despite having a future Hall-of-Famer at center in David Robinson, the Spurs couldn’t get themselves into a NBA Finals. The solution? Have Robinson conveniently get hurt in ’96-97, win the draft lottery and select the greatest “power forward” to ever play in the NBA. Simple enough solution, don’t know why more teams don’t try it.

Pick No. 2 | Philadelphia 76ers
Actual Selection: Keith Van Horn
Draft 365 Remix: Tracy McGrady (9)

Despite constantly masquerading as a coach on the bench instead of sweating on the court, surprisingly Tracy McGrady has played the fifth-most career games of this draft class. Keith Van HornAnd despite never have advancing past the first round of the Playoffs, McGrady is also one of the best all-around players of his generation. The man is a paradox.

Pick No. 3 | Boston Celtics
Actual Selection: Chauncey Billups
Draft 365 Remix: Chauncey Billups (3)

Chauncey Billups had one of the strangest rises to stardom as you’re going to find. Billups didn’t really find himself (in a basketball sense) until his sixth season and fifth team in the League. Since that time he’s been the Finals MVP, a four-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection.

Pick No. 4 | Vancouver Grizzlies
Actual Selection: Antonio Daniels
Draft 365 Remix: Stephen Jackson (42)

This is the point where the Draft takes a gigantic dive off of a cliff — we go from future Hall of Famers to non-All-Stars. Stephen Jackson is the best of the bunch, but like Billups it took him years to earn himself a firm place in the League.

Pick No. 5 | Denver Nuggets
Actual Selection: Tony Battie
Draft 365 Remix: Keith Van Horn (2)

The Great White Hope Keith Van Horn might be considered a bust to some, but if you look at his stats he had a very good start to his career, including helping the Nets make it to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately he retired at the age of 30 to spend time with his family (dudes that have made almost $100 million by the age of 30 can afford to do those things). Tony Battie’s greatest claim to fame came from off the court when he saved Paul Pierce’s life by rushing him to the hospital after Pierce was stabbed.

Pick No. 6 | Boston Celtics
Actual Selection: Ron Mercer
Draft 365 Remix: Tim Thomas (7)

Ugh — aren’t we at No. 10 yet?!? No? Fine, lets go with Tim Thomas at pick no. 6.  The ironic thing is Thomas is considered a bust and underachiever (rightfully so) by many, however, in the draft remix he ends up being picked higher than he did in real life!

Pick No. 7 | New Jersey Nets
Actual Selection: Tim Thomas
Draft 365 Remix: Bobby Jackson (23)

Now we’re just rewarding guys for staying power.  Sixth man extraordinaire Bobby Jackson’s best days might be in the rear-view, but at least he’s still in the League (assuming someone signs him for this upcoming season).

Pick No. 8 | Golden State Warriors
Actual Selection: Adonal Foyle
Draft 365 Remix: Derek Anderson (13)

Part of a ridiculously talented Kentucky Wildcats program of the mid 1990s, Derek Anderson had about seven solid all-around NBA seasons before he dropped off.  Meanwhile, $60Tracy McGrady million later, Adonal Foyle is still going strong.

Pick No. 9 | Toronto Raptors
Actual Selection: Tracy McGrady
Draft 365 Remix: Ron Mercer (6)

A Kentucky Wildcats teammate of Anderson (see, told you they were talented), Ron Mercer averaged 19.7 ppg for the Bulls in 2001.  Four seasons later he was out of the League for good.

Pick No. 10 | Milwaukee Bucks
Actual Selection:Danny Fortson
Draft 365 Remix: Anthony Parker (21)

Anthony Parker is a real solid player (and was a real stud on the court in Europe) but the truth of the matter is his sister is a more famous basketball player than he is and, to make matters worse, he isn’t even the best player named Anthony Parker.

Barely missed the Top 10 Remix: Brevin Knight, Antonio Daniels, Maurice Taylor, Danny Fortson.

Next on the Remix: Nash and The Answer are Gunnin’ For That No. 2 Spot in 1996.

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.

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  • ENDS

    No one Caught that. Tony Parker…ta loco…Tony Parker

  • ENDS

    should have his membership revoked for that

  • Solon

    I would take Chauncey over T-Mac any day. Just saying-Finals MVP, been to two finals, 7 consecutive conference championships, proved this year in Denver that a leader does much much more for a team then a scorer.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Z said it best Men lie, women lie numbers don’t. Iverson: for his career 23,983 points, 5511 assits and scoring averages of 27.1 ppg(5th all time), 6.2 apg, 2.4 spg. Playoff averages of 30 ppg second the great MIKE. Single handedly took the Sixers to the Finals. Rookie of the year. 10 Time All-Star, 2 time all star game MVP, 3 time steal champion, 4 time scoring champion and the 2001 NBA MVP. Nash: 2 MVP’s (kobe harsh got robbed for 2), 6 time all star. You got to be pretty crazy to put AI behind Nash. There is some major hate if that happeneds but Jeff seems like a smart enough guy to not do that because well the numbers speak for it. For crying out loud AI has individually accomplished more than Kobe Bryant he even has better stats he won the rookie of the year in his class and 2 more scoring titles and same amount of MVPS.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    Nash is still great though. Expect the SUNS to make the playoffs next year and steal a round I still don’t know why everybodys counting them out? what changed? There back to their bread an butter

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    Look, even I don’t think Nash deserves to top AI in an all-time list and I’m a huge f*cking Suns and Nash fan.
    I’m just saying, playoff success is NOT a great way to judge how much better Iverson was than Nash: as much as I’d like to rant about crooked referees and unfair rulings, they both ain’t won jack sh*t.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    Allen Iverson’s 2001 season was the most legendary and impressive feats ever accomplished in basketball history. Not even kidding.

  • http://www.another48minutes.blogspot.com Gerard Himself

    Olivier Saint-Jean!

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com Jeff Fox

    Of course I think AI led Philly to the Finals, I was just being sarcastic with my comment. What I was trying to point out is I think he is one of the most overrated players in the history of the League. I get why people love him so much (style, excitement, attitude, size, heart, toughness.) but I’m just not impressed by undersized, shot-happy 2-guards. While its true the 2001 Philly were a pretty crappy team, AI did have another fellow future Hall-of-Famer on his squad in Mutombo. And, yes AllenP, Cousy was a crappy shooter too (as well as Pettit & Baylor to name a few others).

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com Jeff Fox

    And can’t you all see I’m just crying out for attention, and the easiest way to make someone pay attention to you around these parts is to criticize AI!! This is a cry for help!!!

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    Jeff fox, are you for real? Overrated? First of all everyone says he doesn’t make his teamates better, who the f*ck were eric snow george lynch and matt geiger before they played with ai? Where did theo ratliff enjoy his best seasons? He doesn’t make other shooting guards or soft players better (I’m looking at you jerry stackhouse and keith van horn), but melo sure seemed to play pretty well off of him ,so too did a one legged chris webber. But we like to forget him playing well with those two guys because it doesn’t fall in line with the rest of the bogus criticism people heap on him. You want numbers? I got numbers go to my blog and read all about it. He’s just a polarizing figure so its easy to find flaws, but lets look at the real facts , he’s not a poorly skilled shooter, just had to take a lot of shots because if he wasn’t putting up 25 shots maybe eric snow would have put up more shots, or dikembe god forbid. A poor shooter is rajon rondo who you can leave, I guarantee no one has ever said leave allen iverson open for a jumper. This hate is ridiculous.

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    You wanna talk overrated , thanks for bringing up dikembe , he won dpoy awards sure, but his post moves were straight out of the 4th grade school yard. And as a matter of fact his dpoy awards were all when they were given out to whoever blocked the most shots in the league not the actual best defender. Dikembe sucked. Period.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Okay Bryan, Iverson is definitely not overrated. Jeff Fox was talking out his behind (no offense).
    But “Dikembe sucked?” Did I just hear that correct? Dikembe is overrated?
    Who the heck said Deke had an offensive skillset in the first place? He’s always been regarded for his defense, which if I may add, was ACTUALLY SUPERB.
    If Dennis freakin’ Rodman, a 6’7 player who couldn’t score worth a dime can be considered top 50 by SLAM (which he shouldn’t be), then how do you figure one of the best defensive big men of all time is overrated?
    “Dikembe sucked. Period.” I’m not trying to insult you, but that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Also @ Jeff Fox: Iverson had Dikembe for defense. But what help did Iverson really have on the offensive end?

  • http://www.alllooksame.com Tarzan Cooper

    999821

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    People like Jeff Fox think Iverson is overrated because people like Bryan make posts like that.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    Melo and Webber played infinitely worse with Iverson. That’s part Iverson but also part coaching: George Karl should never have handed Iverson the keys to the team

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com Jeff Fox

    Why if you criticize a player or mention your opinion on him is it considered “hate”. I don’t hate Allen Iverson – I drove through the worst snowstorm ever to see him play in Toronto while he was at Georgetown. Saying he didn’t lead Philly to the Finals in 01 was me just being sarcastic, so I’m not standing behind or going to defend that statement. However, I am defending the overrated part. I think he gets much more love and praise than he deserves, in part because of who he is (the rebel, anti-establishement, small guy, stylish). Its cool to like AI so you can feel like you are giving the finger to the establishment/mainstream media. I know AI is a great player – I just think he isn’t as good as some people make him out to be. And saying Mutombo sucked is as ridiculous as me saying AI didn’t lead his team to the Finals.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    @Jukai: It didn’t seem like Karl handed Iverson the keys to the team because that whole Nuggets team was just jacking up shots anytime they wanted. There was so many questions with that team.

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    Jeff:That was the basis behind me saying he sucked, but I do think he was overrated for real. Jukai: chris webber and iverson would have worked incredibly well had he been healthy and last time I checked melo won 50 games with iverson sharing the load, just because it didn’t equal playoff wins does not mean they didn’t play well together, melo had his best statistical year as a pro with iverson 25.7 7.5 and 3 plus assists.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Dave

    Jeff, you should probably learn how to use sarcasm before employing it.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Dave

    I have to say, though, that the best thing about this post is how obviously the ’97 draft is irrelevant, as we’re already fiercely arguing over the ’96 before it’s even started.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    The 96 draft is so dominant that about 60 of the 72 comments on this page are about the 96 draft.

  • Sniper

    Isn’t it that Antoine Walker belongs to ’97 draft?

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    Bryan: that’s cause Billups was sharing the load more equally, and Melo got less shots. Melo was clearly more of the man though, check the playoffs if you need an example.
    It’s really not even debatable.

  • http://dfsjklf.com Jukai

    Anyway, predictions:
    Kobe Bryant
    Allen Iverson
    Steve Nash
    Ray Allen
    Peja Stojakovic
    Ben Wallace (if he counts?)
    Stephon Marbury
    Jermaine O’Neal
    Antoine Walker
    Shareef Abdur-Rahim
    Big Z (If Wallace doesn’t count)

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    You’re right jukai what you’re talking about is not debateable unfortunatley like usual what you’re talking about is not what I’m talking about. Yeah they won more and went further in the playoffs with billups so the team was as you said undebatably better. But what I said was that melo didn’t play terrible with ai and neither did webber. Which is also no debatable.

  • Furious

    melo might not have played terribly with ai, but melo wouldnt play terrible with my 11 year old sister on his team, hes a damn good player no matter who else is chucking up shots.
    Also, interesting sidenote: a true indication of how shockingly bad this draft was is that Stephen Jackson is remixed at no. 4, considering he was dropped from his team in the Australian NBL. I cannot stress enough just how big the difference is between the NBL and the NBA. Andrew Gaze hit up the league for several 40ppg (approx) seasons, then went to the NBA and sat on the bench.

  • L

    It was a time when average players and below average players could sign huge contracts and then just disappear : Tarik abdul Wahad, KVH..

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