2002 NBA Draft Review

Now in their 5th year in the NBA, I feel as though its time to review the 2002 NBA Draft Class.  There is little doubt that at the time of this draft there was an enormous amount of hype surrounding a mysterious big man from China who had wowed the scouting world with his smooth move, soft touch and feel for the game at the Jordan All-Stars Camp two summers previous. Yao Ming was an incredibly risky proposition at the time.  He was the star of the Shanghai Sharks of the vaunted Chinese Basketball League. Would he be tough enough to compete under the basket with the toughest SOB’s in the basketball world?  Was a NCAA Player of Year, Jason Williams of Duke, more of a sure thing?  What about his teammate, Mike “the next Larry Bird” Dunleavy?

1. Yao Ming -Houston Rockets –  The most important player to enter the league since Michael Jordan. Yao Ming has certainly has his ups and downs in the past 4+ years, but as the first ever international player taken first overall he was and is the centerpiece of the NBA’s growth in the world’s largest market. Oh, and the kid can ball.  Of that there is no doubt.  He’s the best passing big man since Brad Daugherty.  For his career he’s averaging 18pts, 9 boards and 2 blocks.  Pretty darn good even for a first overall pick, but Yao has had more than his share of detractors.  When will he dominate?  Why don’t the Rockets win?  This year, Yao is silencing all his critics with outstanding play.  26.5 ppg and 10rpg.  The Rockets are 14-9 even with TMAC back on the shelf.  Yao has proven his worth beyond any reasonable doubts and if surrounded by a proper supporting cast should have no problem leading his team deep into the playoffs.  

I’ll give him a 9/10…with the only caveat that he needs to get deeper into the playoffs in the very near future.

2. Jason Williams – Chicago Bulls-  Jason was a do everything, Prime Time Player, BABY!  He can’t miss!  Uh, Mr. Vitale, I know you can’t hear or see too well with your advancing age, but maybe you should leave the scouting to the experts.   His Rookie year he managed only 10 points and 4.7 assists and couldn’t crack 40% shooting from the floor.  Things weren’t looking good for another of Coach K’s heroes….when disaster struck on June 19th, 2003.  Jay decided to take his motorcycle for a spin and by spin I mean “test the strength of Chicago’s light poles”.   Jason was lucky to come out alive.  Although he has attempted to return to the floor, his current stint in the NBA D-League does not appear to bode well for his future.

3. Mike Dunleavy – GS Warriors – My favourite part about the scouting reports on Mike Dunleavy Jr. prior to the draft were the discussions of his “uncanny basketball smarts”, “incredible desire” and “great shooting touch”.  What the scouting reports failed to note are Mike’s other qualities “avoids all body contact”, “suffers from iron deficiency” and “likes to appear as feminine as possible at all times”.  All the smarts in the world can’t make up for quivering in fear at the site of a well-muscled defender.  Mike has been a gigantic dissapointment (10ppg, 5rpg, 2.5 apg, 43% FG) and it can all be summed up rather nicely in two words – TERRIBLE PICK.

4. Drew Gooden – Grizzlies.  Jerry West’s first pick with the Memphis Grizzlies cannot be looked at as a success.  While Drew Gooden is certainly one of the better PFs picked in this draft he only lasted one season in Memphis before being shipped out of town for Mike Miller.  Of course it only takes one player drafted lower to make a pick look bad and since Amare Stoudemire was the most explosive big in the game before microfracture surgery this pick doesn’t look too good.  Drew has a penchant for taking dumb fouls, turning the ball over and generally infuriating coaching staffs.  Nobody questions his rebounding skills, but for the 4th overall pick to be known only as a good, but not great rebounder…well that’s not a good thing.

5. Nikoloz Tsiohoihlkgaslghvili….Who?   Exactly.

6. Dajuan Wagner – Cavs.  Dajuan Wagner is known in scouting circles for his one year guarantee at University of Memphis for a total of $250,000.   Unfortunately for Dajuan he had just as much trouble keeping down food (colitis) as he had knocking down jump shots (36% FG career).

7. Nene – Nuggets via the Knicks.  This is tough pick to judge as Nene showed some real signs of ability early in his career Averaging about 10 and 6 in limited minutes.  However injuries and an excessive love of churrasceria has slowed his career dramatically. 

8. Chris Wilcox – Clippers – A slightly more athletic version of Gooden, but with a lower horsepower engine, Chris is just as likely to leave your mouth agape with terrible defense as he is with highlight real dunks.  He does not have a post up game or the ability to put the ball on the floor.  He was a dissapointment in LA with the exception of limited moments of filling in for injured players and eventually was shipped out of Seattle.  His plays reminds me of a kid who suffers from ADD.  When he’s focused he can be incredible, but the focus never lasts nearly as long as his coach would like.

9. Amare Stoudemire – Suns.  If he hadn’t suffered a knee injury in the summer of 2005 he would be recognized as the best big man in the NBA today.  STAT was completely unstoppable in the paint, ran the court like with strides like an antelope and scared little children the world over with the violence of his dunks.  With Steve Nash getting him the basketball in Position A he was completely unstoppable.  Following knee surgery, Amare is showing flashes of his old self and is still explosive enough to beat just about anyone off the dribble, but he appears to have an inability to take the angles he took pre-surgery and thus is as likely to draw contact and lay the ball in as he is to explode to the rim and eat iron.  Still a star but no longer a supernova.

10.  Caron Butler – Heat. Caron fell a few spots in this draft due to concerns that a previous knee injury would not stand the rigours of the NBA.  Wrong.  Caron has kept himself in top shape and has turned himself into the ideal 3rd option on a top team.  Currently averaging 19 and 8 on 47% from the floor, Caron gets to the line almost 6 times a game (and makes 90% of them), he can even find open teammates and does so to the tune of 3.5 apg.  Caron is the third best player in the top 10, so needless to say this pick turned out well (even if the Heat only kept him one year).