Looking Back to the 1999 NBA Draft
What These Players Have Done in the Last Eight Years
Feb 22, 2007
The 1999 NBA Draft featured some fairly strong names up front, like Elton Brand and Lamar Odom, as well as some steals later on. Nine of the top 10 picks had prominent NBA careers (5th pick, Jonathan Bender, was forced into an early retirement due to injuries). Moreover, the 1999 Draft was noteworthy for being the first draft to have four players from the same college picked in the first round. Elton Brand (1st pick), Trajan Langdon (11th pick), Corey Maggette (13th pick) and William Avery (14th pick) all came from Duke University.
Many experts thought Lamar Odom or Steve Francis would be the top pick of the draft, and Chicago Bulls' GM, Jerry Krausse, kept his mouth shut, despite claiming later that he knew all along they'd take Brand, who won co-Rookie of the Year.
Steve "Franchise" Francis was selected with the second overall pick by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He said he would not play for the Grizzlies, so he was traded to the Houston Rockets before putting on a Grizzlies uniform.
There were several players from this draft who had noteable careers, despite being overlooked, including Emanuel "Manu" Ginobili (57th pick), Chris Anderson (undrafted), Raja Bell (undrafted), Milt Palacio (undrafted) and Adrian Griffin (undrafted).
Here's an outlook on the 1999 NBA Draft:
1. Elton Brand - Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 20.3 ppg, 10.3 rbpg, 2.1 bspg
- Best season: (2005-2006) 24.7 ppg, 10.0 rbpg, 2.5 bspg
- Brand has epitomized consistency throughout his career. He is a two-time NBA All Star and was co-Rookie of the Year with Steve Francis in 1999. He currently plays for his second team, the LA Clippers.
2. Steve Francis - Vancouver Grizzlies
- Career averages: 18.5 ppg, 5.7 rbpg, 6.2 apg
- Best season: (2002-2003) 21.0 ppg, 4.2 rbpg, 6.2 apg
- Francis won co-Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 with Brand; he's a three-time All Star, but has struggled in the last few seasons. He currently plays for his third team, the New York Knicks.
3. Baron Davis - Charlotte Hornets
- Career averages: 16.3 ppg, 4.0 rbpg, 7.2 apg, 1.9 spg
- Best season: (2001 - 2002) 18.1 ppg, 4.3 rbpg, 8.5 apg, 2.1 spg
- Davis has been riddled with injuries throughout his career, but has shown the ability to take over games when healthy. He is currently playing for his second team, the Golden State Warriors.
4. Lamar Odom - LA Clippers
- Career averages: 15.9 ppg, 8.6 rbpg, 4.5 apg
- Best season: (2003-2004) 17.1 ppg, 9.7 rbpg, 4.1 apg
- Odom has had a number of injury-riddled seasons. Yet, at 6-10 he's considered a matchup nightmare because of his ability to handle and distribute the ball. He's currently playing for his third team, the LA Lakers.
5. Jonathan Bender - Toronto Raptors (traded immediately to the Indiana Pacers)
- Career averages: 5.6 ppg, 2.2 rbpg
- Best season: (2001-2002) 7.5 ppg, 3.1 rbpg
- Bender's career was plagued by injuries, so much so that he was forced into early retirement in 2006 due to chronic knee pain. However, he has yet to fill out the paper work with the NBA.
6. Wally Szczerbiak - Minnesota Timberwolves
- Career averages: 15.6 ppg, 4.3 rbpg
- Best season: (2001-2002) 18.7 ppg, 4.8 rbpg, 3.1 apg
- Like others in his draft class, Szczerbiak has faced his share of injuries throughout his career. An excellent NBA shooter, he was never much of a defender. He's a one-time All Star and currently plays for his second team, the Boston Celtics.
7. Richard Hamilton - Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 18.0 ppg, 3.3 rbpg, 3.2 apg
- Best season: (2006-2007) 21.5 ppg, 4.0 rbpg, 4.0 apg
- Currently plays for his second NBA team, the Detroit Pistons. Helped them win an NBA Championship in 2004 and was selected to the All Star team in 2006.
8. Andre Miller - Cleveland Cavaliers
- Career averages: 14.1 ppg, 4.2 rbpg, 7.6 apg
- Best season: (2001-2002) 16.5 ppg, 10.9 apg, 1.6 spg
- Led the league in assists in 2001-2002 with 10.9 per game; Currently plays for his fourth team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
9. Shawn Marion - Phoenix Suns
- Career averages: 18.7 ppg, 10.1 rbpg, 1.9 spg
- Best season: (2005-2006) 21.8 ppg, 11.8 rbpg, 2.0 spg, 1.7 bspg
- Marion is a four-time NBA All Star and is known as the ultimate "garbage player," because of his niche for retrieving lose balls.
10. Jason Terry - Atlanta Hawks
- Career averages: 15.8 ppg, 5.3 apg
- Best season: (2001-2002) 19.3 ppg, 3.5 rbpg, 5.7 apg, 1.9 spg
- "The Jet" is an undersized, quick-as-lightning sharp shooter who helped the Dallas Mavericks (his second NBA team) reach the NBA Finals last season.
Other significant picks:
13. Corey Maggette - Seattle Supersonics
16. Ron Artest - Chicago Bulls
- Career averages: 15.2 ppg, 5.0 rbpg, 2.1 spg
- Best season: (2003-2004) 18.3 ppg, 5.3 rbpg, 2.1 spg
18. James Posey - Denver Nuggets
24. Andrei Kirilenko - Utah Jazz
- Career averages: 13.2 ppg, 6.3 rbpg, 1.5 spg, 2.5 bspg
- Best season: (2003-2004) 16.5 ppg, 8.1 rbpg, 3.1 apg, 1.9 spg, 2.8 bspg
57. Emanuel "Manu" Ginobili - San Antonio Spurs
- Career averages: 13.5 ppg, 1.6 spg
- Best season: (2006-2007) 17.1 ppg, 4.4 rbpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg
Also, check out:
"Looking Back to the 2006 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2005 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2004 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2003 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2002 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2001 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 2000 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 1998 NBA Draft"
"Looking Back to the 1997 NBA Draft"
