Reflecting on NBA draft classes and the league’s history can be quite entertaining. At times, we anticipate a draft class to be exceptional with numerous future superstars, only to see few of them fulfill their potential. Conversely, there are years when we perceive a draft class to be lacking, only to discover it is filled with future Hall of Famers. In this list, we’ll examine the five worst and five best draft classes.

The sequence will be from worst to best:

1. NBA Draft 2015

This draft took place just nine years ago, suggesting there might not be any more unexpected superstars emerging, but there’s still room for growth. While the draft class boasted top talents like Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns, the quality drops significantly after them. Only two other players from the class, D’Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porziņģis, have earned All-Star nods. Both Russell and Porziņģis have showcased their talent with solid seasons, but they’ve also struggled with inconsistency, whether due to their performance or health issues.

Beyond the three All-Star players, the top 10 picks were largely disappointing. Players like Jahlil Okafor (#3), Mario Hezonja (#5), Willie Cauley-Stein (#6), Emmanuel Mudiay (#7), Stanley Johnson (#8), Frank Kaminsky (#9), and Justice Winslow (#10) failed to live up to the expectations set for them.

2. NBA Draft 2002

The 2002 NBA draft class was highlighted by one of the most intriguing and highly anticipated prospects in history, Yao Ming. While Yao enjoyed a stellar albeit brief career, the rest of the class was relatively lackluster. Only four players from this draft class went on to become All-Stars: Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, and Caron Butler, in addition to Yao Ming. However, there were no MVPs or franchise-altering superstars emerging from this class.

Furthermore, a closer look at picks 2 through 6 reveals a series of underwhelming selections. Players such as Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Drew Gooden, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, and Dajuan Wagner failed to live up to the expectations placed upon them, further highlighting the overall mediocrity of the draft class.

3. NBA Draft 2006:

The 2006 NBA Draft showcased notable depth, producing five All-Stars in LaMarcus Aldridge, Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, Paul Millsap, and Brandon Roy. However, none of the players from this class truly ascended to superstar status, although some arguments could be made for Rondo during his time with the Boston Celtics.

Andrea Bargnani, the #1 overall pick, enjoyed a solid career, but he fell short of meeting the lofty expectations typically associated with a top pick. Meanwhile, picks #3 through #5—Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, and Shelden Williams—proved to be genuine busts, failing to make a significant impact in the league.

4. NBA Draft 2013

The 2013 NBA Draft, despite producing Giannis Antetokounmpo, ranks as the second-worst draft class on our list due to its overall lackluster performance. While the Greek Freak emerged as a superstar, the rest of the draft class fell short of expectations.

The draft was not anticipated to be exceptional, with the Cavaliers holding the #1 pick and no obvious standout prospect available. However, the selection of Anthony Bennett at #1 turned out to be one of the worst choices in NBA history, with Bennett playing only four seasons in the league, averaging a mere 12 minutes and 4 points per game.

Apart from Giannis, the draft class featured only three other All-Stars: Rudy Gobert and Victor Oladipo (who had only one All-Star season). Additionally, CJ McCollum, while a standout player, has notably never made an All-Star appearance. Unfortunately, McCollum’s talent alone could not salvage the overall disappointing nature of this draft class.

5. NBA Draft 2000

As expected, the 2000 NBA draft stands out for its underwhelming performance, earning infamy for its lackluster talent pool. While Kenyon Martin, the #1 pick, enjoyed a solid career, he falls short of being considered one of the top #1 overall picks in NBA history.

With only three All-Stars emerging from this draft class—Jamal Magloire, Michael Redd, and Kenyon Martin—the overall lack of star power is evident. Notably, Martin was the sole All-Star selected within the top 10 picks, highlighting the disappointing nature of the lottery selections in this draft.

Names like Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer, DeMarr Johnson, and Chris Mihm populate the top 8 picks, further underscoring the overall underperformance of the class.

For the good ones:

1. NBA Draft 2009:

The 2009 NBA draft class stands out as an exceptionally loaded group, boasting two NBA MVPs—an exceedingly rare occurrence. This talented class is led by MVP-caliber guards Steph Curry and James Harden, selected 7th and 3rd respectively.

In addition to Curry and Harden, the draft class produced four other All-Stars: DeMar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, Jeff Teague, and Jrue Holiday. Despite being the #1 overall pick, Griffin’s stellar performance in the 2010s only placed him as the third-best player from his draft class.

Beyond these standout performers, the draft class featured numerous other skilled point guards who enjoyed lengthy careers, including Brandon Jennings, Ricky Rubio, Ty Lawson, and Darren Collison. Overall, the 2009 draft class left a significant mark on the NBA landscape, contributing several elite talents and enduring contributors to the league.

2. NBA Draft 1985

The 1985 NBA draft class boasted an impressive lineup of talent, with a remarkable 10 All-Stars emerging from the selections. Among them were Michael Adams, Joe Dumars, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, A.C. Green, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Charles Oakley, Terry Porter, and Detlef Schrempf. Notably, this draft class produced two iconic big men of the 1990s in Malone and Ewing, as well as an NBA Finals MVP in Joe Dumars.

Renowned for its depth, the draft also featured notable players such as Gerald Wilkins, Hot Rod Williams, Wayman Tisdale, Benoit Benjamin, Arvydas Sabonis, Spud Webb, and Mario Elie. The selection of Patrick Ewing as the #1 overall pick, notably by the New York Knicks, remains one of the most iconic moments in draft history, albeit one subject to accusations of rigging. Overall, the 1985 draft class left an indelible mark on the NBA landscape, contributing numerous star players and memorable moments to the league’s history.

3. NBA Draft 2003

The 2003 NBA draft class is often hailed as one of the greatest in league history, largely due to the presence of LeBron James, one of the greatest prospects and players of all time. However, despite its remarkable talent, it ranks as the third-best draft class due to the depth of superstars. While LeBron James stands out as the only MVP from the class, it also produced legitimate superstars in Dwyane Wade (an NBA Finals MVP), Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh. Additionally, the class boasted a total of nine All-Stars, although the prime years for the other five players—Josh Howard, Chris Kaman, Kyle Korver, David West, and Mo Williams—were relatively brief and insignificant.

Nevertheless, the 2003 class showcased considerable depth with notable players such as Boris Diaw, Kendrick Perkins, Leandro Barbosa, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, and Luke Ridnour making their mark in the league. Despite the absence of multiple MVPs, the 2003 draft class remains one of the greatest in NBA history, thanks to its combination of superstar talent and overall depth.

4. NBA Draft 1984

The 1984 NBA draft is remembered for one of the biggest draft mistakes in league history: the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Sam Bowie at #2 overall instead of Michael Jordan. While the Houston Rockets made the right choice with Hakeem Olajuwon at #1, the Blazers’ decision to pass on Jordan haunts them to this day.

Despite this infamous blunder, the 1984 draft class boasts one of the greatest foursomes in NBA history: three MVPs and another all-time great in Olajuwon, Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. In addition to these superstars, the class produced seven total All-Stars, including Alvin Robertson, Otis Thorpe, and Kevin Willis.

The draft also featured solid depth with players like Sam Perkins, Jay Humphries, Vern Fleming, Tony Campbell, Ron Anderson, and Jerome Kersey. However, it is ultimately the unparalleled talent at the top of the class that solidifies its legacy, placing it just behind the greatest draft class of all time.

5. NBA Draft 1996

The 1996 NBA draft class is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, characterized by its remarkable depth and abundance of superstars. This class played a significant role in shaping the NBA landscape post-Michael Jordan era, featuring many of the stars who defined the 2000s.

Among the standout performers from this class are three MVPs: Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Allen Iverson, who was the #1 overall pick. Additionally, the class boasted several legitimate superstars of the mid-2000s, including Ray Allen, Jermaine O’Neal, and Stephon Marbury. Furthermore, there were four other All-Stars in Peja Stojakovic, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Antoine Walker.

Beyond the All-Stars, the 1996 draft produced numerous NBA players who enjoyed long and impactful careers. Notable names from this draft class include Marcus Camby, Kerry Kittles, Erick Dampier, Derek Fisher, and Jeff McInnis, further solidifying its status as the greatest draft class of all time.