The 16 best 16th picks ever in the NBA draft

The 16 best 16th picks ever in the NBA draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With the NBA draft coming up next Wednesday and Thursday, the Sixers own the 16th and 41st overall picks.

After our look back at the top 41st selections in NBA history, here’s a rundown of the 16 best players ever taken at No. 16 (in no particular order):

John Stockton

Stockton followed his four years at Gonzaga by playing 19 straight for the Jazz. He remains the NBA’s all-time leader in both steals and assists.

Metta Sandiford-Artest

The 2003-04 Defensive Player of the Year was known as Ron Artest when the Bulls drafted him 15 picks after Elton Brand. It sure wasn’t the steadiest, smoothest career, but Artest was a fantastic defender, unforgettable character and NBA champion.

Dana Barros

Before Tyrese Maxey came along, Barros was the Sixers’ only Most Improved Player. The 5-foot-11 Boston College product shot 41.1 percent from three-point range in his career and knocked down nine triples vs. the Suns on Jan. 27, 1995. Danny Green and Maxey have since tied that franchise record.

Brevin Knight

Another sub-6-foot guard here in Knight, who led the league in total steals his rookie year. He played for nine teams over his 12 seasons.

Nikola Vučević

The Sixers landed Vučević with the pick after Kawhi Leonard in the 2011 draft. The big man didn’t crack Doug Collins’ playoff rotation as a rookie, got traded to the Magic in the Sixers’ deal for Andrew Bynum, and eventually became a (two-time) All-Star.

Tony Delk

Delk went between Steve Nash and Jermaine O’Neal in the incredible 1996 draft. He split his 545-game NBA career between eight teams and dropped 53 points on Jan. 2, 2001.

Jim Price

Price started his career playing point guard alongside Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain on the defending champion Lakers. He made an All-Star Game in 1974-75 when he averaged 16.1 points, 5.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals.

Hedo Türkoğlu

The NBA’s first Turkish-born player was a highly skilled 6-10 forward happy to have the ball in the clutch. Türkoğlu was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2007-08 season and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/16-best-16th-picks-ever-232628755.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2024-06-22 23:26:28

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