Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm  |  35 responses

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1989 NBA Draft Remix

Number eight isn’t so great.

by Jeff Fox

It appears that Kobe Bryant knew what he was doing when he switched his jersey from no. 8 to no. 24. After doing countless NBA Draft Remixes it was become clear — the number eight is cursed!

Don’t believe in curses? Then explain why the following players all were picked at no. 8 in the Draft: Bo Kimble, Mark Macon, Shawn Respert, Adonal Foyle, DeSagana Diop, Chris Wilcox, Rafael Araujo, Channing Frye, Brandan Wright and Joe Alexander. And, of course, the 1989 NBA Draft wasn’t exempt to this rule, as pick no. 8 Randy White is the bust of this class. So the No. 8 pick produced a bust 11 out of the 19 Drafts from 1989 to 2008 (although Frye and Wright still have hope). So, did the curse hold true in the 2009 Draft? Pick no. 8 was Jordan Hill, who is riding the pine this season for the Knicks.

But Randy White shouldn’t be singled out as the only bust of the 1989 Draft — the top 10 is a who’s who of NBA Draft busts — Pervis Ellison, Danny Ferry, JR Reid, Stacey King, George McCloud, White, Tom Hammonds. Despite this fact, the draft on a whole was fairly strong.

1989 NBA Draft

Grade: B-

All-Stars: 9 (Sean Elliott, Glen Rice, Mookie Blaylock, Tim Hardaway, Dana Barros, Shawn Kemp, Vlade Divac, Clifford Robinson, B.J. Armstrong)

Biggest Bust: Randy White, Dallas, pick No. 8
Second Round Steal: Clifford Robinson, Portland, pick No. 36
Winning Team (in the long run): Miami (Glen Rice, Tim Hardaway)
Career Scoring Leader: Clifford Robinson
Career Rebounding Leader: Vlade Divac
Career Assist Leader: Tim Hardaway

Pick No. 1 | Sacramento Kings
Actual Selection: Pervis Ellison
Draft 365 Remix: Tim Hardaway (14)

Before he was known for putting his foot in his mouth, Tim Hardaway was the NBA’s best point guard. During his reign in the 1990s he made five All-Star and All-NBA teams and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting three times. Famous for his lightning quick killer crossover (aka the UTEP Two-Step), The Bug was also a long-range threat, currently sitting seventh all-time in career three-pointers made.

Pick No. 2 | Los Angeles Clippers
Actual Selection: Danny Ferry
Draft 365 Remix: Shawn Kemp (17)

With SLAM celebrating its 15th anniversary, now is the perfect time to reminisce over Shawn Kemp’s career. The cover boy from issue no. 2, the Reign Man was as exciting a player as the NBA had in the 1990s (other than that dude who always stuck his tongue out). Before the weight gain, drug abuse and blonde goatee got the best of him, Kemp was a high-flying, death-defying scoring and rebounding machine.

Pick No. 3 | San Antonio Spurs
Actual Selection: Sean Elliott
Draft 365 Remix: Glen Rice (4)

For readers who remember watching Glen Rice play, time to make you feel old — Glen Rice Jr is a freshman with Georgia Tech’s hoops team this season. If Junior has a career half as good as his dad’s, he ought to be mighty proud. Pops was the preeminent long-range bomber during his heyday, averaging at least 20 ppg six times and hit 1559 three-pointers (fifth all-time).

Pick No. 4 | Miami Heat
Actual Selection: Glen Rice
Draft 365 Remix: Vlade Divac (26)

Smoking and drinking aren’t usually a recipe for athletic success, but it worked for Vlade Divac, as he is one of only four players to put up 13000 points, 9000 rebounds, 3000 assists and 1500 blocks(along with Kareem, Hakeem and KG).  And Lakers fans will forever be indebted to him for delivering Kobe Bryant to them (Jerry West traded Divac for the draft rights to Bryant).

Pick No. 5 | Charlotte Hornets
Actual Selection: J.R. Reid
Draft 365 Remix: Cliff Robinson (36)

For a second round pick seemingly in constant violation of the League’s substance abuse rules, Cliff Robinson lasted a real long time in the NBA. Three decades, 18 years and 1380 games to be exact. And he wasn’t just along for the ride — he made an All-Star team, won a Sixth Man of the Year award and made two All-Defensive Teams. Uncle Cliffy is also the lone member (soon to be joined by Rasheed Wallace) of the 1000 threes-1000 blocks-1000 steals club.

Pick No. 6 | Chicago Bulls
Actual Selection: Stacey King
Draft 365 Remix: Mookie Blaylock (12)

Daron Oshay Blaylock — but you can call him Mookie — was a player of many talents. A defensive menace (six All-Defensive Team appearances), an All-Star, a stat-sheet stuffer (career averages of 14, 4, 7 and 2), a leading inspiration in the grunge rock movement. Wait a minute — what was that last part? No typo here — before Pearl Jam made it big, they were named Mookie Blaylock, and their seminal album Ten is named after Blaylock’s jersey number.

Pick No. 7 | Indiana Pacers
Actual Selection: George McCloud
Draft 365 Remix: Sean Elliott (3)

The Admiral’s wingman with the Spurs, Sean Elliott was a two-time All-Star who courageously came back from a kidney transplant to play parts of two more seasons with the team. His no. 32 is one of only six numbers retired by San Antonio.

Pick No. 8 | Dallas Mavericks
Actual Selection: Randy White
Draft 365 Remix: Nick Anderson (11)

The first pick ever by the Orlando Magic franchise, and a very solid NBA player, Nick Anderson is remembered most for missing four straight free throws in Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals, essentially costing his team the game.

Pick No. 9 | Washington Bullets
Actual Selection: Tom Hammonds
Draft 365 Remix: Dana Barros (16)

Dana Barros career was a rags to riches story, an average player who exploded for one season (1995) and made the All-Star team and won the Most Improved Player award. His career went back to rags shortly thereafter.

Pick No. 10 | Minnesota Timberwolves
Actual Selection: Pooh Richardson
Draft 365 Remix: Sherman Douglas (28)

The General Sherman Douglas left Syracuse University as the school’s all-time scoring leader and the NCAA’s all-time assist leader. His NBA career, however, was solid yet unspectacular.

Barely missed the Top 10 Remix: Pooh Richardson, Dino Radja, Blue Edwards, BJ Armstrong.

Next on the Remix: The ‘M’ in Run-TMC hits the scene.

Read more of Jeff Fox at The Hoops Manifesto.