With the Charlotte Hornets holding the 4th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, I thought instead of profiling another player who might be available, I’d look back at the history of players taken in that spot. Perhaps remember some guys, and learn about some others! Also, waiting for the draft is agonizing so this will help pass the time!
The first NBA draft was in 1947 and the very first 4th pick was Walt ‘Moose’ Droppo by the Providence Steamrollers who despite averaging 20+ points at UCONN never actually played in the NBA. We’re off to a rocky start but the history of the 4th pick had a significantly better 2nd year in 1948 with the Knicks taking local boy Dolph Schayes from NYU. The Rainbow Kid made 12 all-star games on his way to the Hall of Fame, one of the all-time great 4th picks.
In 1955 the Knicks hit again with Kenny ‘Big Cat’ Sears at the 4 spot, Sears was a double-double machine who could score and a 2-time all-star. In ’59 the Syracuse Nationals took Dick Barnett from Tennessee State, the ‘Fall Back Baby’ was a talented swingman who averaged 16/3/3 over the course of a 14-year career.
The 60’s had quite a few notable 4th selections, starting with the Pistons taking big man Ray Scott in 1961 and guard Eddie Miles in ’63, both of whom had long productive careers, and how could I not mention one of the great all time NBA names, Luke ‘Lucious’ Jackson, who played 8 years in Philly averaging nearly a double-double. In ’65 the Baltimore Bullets (who a year later would become the Bulls) took HOF coach Jerry Sloan at 4, who would average 14 ppg over an 11-year playing career. The next year Hall of Fame swingman Lou Hudson would go at pick 4, he went on to make 6 all-star teams for the late 60’s/early 70’s Atlanta Hawks teams.
In 1970 the Celtics missed Pistol Pete by 1 pick but still made a fantastic 4th selection with Dave Cowens. The ROY and MVP won 2 championships for the Celtics on his way to the Hall of Fame. The late 70’s had several key role players. In ’75 the Suns drafted Alvan Adams who would win ROY and play 13 solid seasons. While in ’77 the Bullets took Greg Ballard who played 11 years and helped the Bullets win a title. In 1978 the Knicks took Michael Ray Richardson, a 4x all-star and 2 way player, though they’d probably like to have Indiana’s Larry Bird, who would go 2 picks later to Boston.
In 1983 the Lakers drafted one of the foundational pieces of their showtime era, Arizona State shooting guard Byron Scott, who played 11 of his 14 years in LA, winning 3 rings. 1984 of course could be an article all to itself, the greatest draft in history is full of stories and the 4th pick was literally right in the middle of all-time greatness. At pick 1 the Rockets take Hakeem Olajuwon, and nobody can blame them for taking the University of Houston big man, even today. At pick 2 Portland famously took Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan (they had Clyde Drexler!), Jordan goes to the Bulls at 3 and that leaves us with ‘Sleepy’ Sam Perkins at 4 to the Mavericks, one spot ahead of Sir Charles Barkley at 5 to Philly. Perkins played 17 solid seasons for 4 different teams, but Dallas would like to have that back.
In 1985 the Supersonics took the X-Man, Xavier McDonald, an all-star who averaged 20+ ppg for Seattle, and the next year the Pacers took Chuck Person who had a very similar career. We close out the 80’s with a banger, in ’89 the Heat took Michigan standout Glen Rice at pick number 4. The 3x all-star would play 15 years,winning a ring with the Lakers.
The 90’s had an amazing run of 4th overall picks, just what Hornets fans are hoping for, nearly no misses! Magic G/F Dennis Scott in 1990, who played 10 years and is a 33.4 win player according to basketball reference, is by far the worst 4th pick of the 90’s. Check this awesome and nostalgic list; HOFer Dikembe Mutombo in ’91, Jim Jackson and Jamal Mashburn by the Mavs in back to back years ‘92/93, Donyell Marshall in ’94, Rasheed Wallace in ’95, Stephon Marbury in ’96, Anonio Daniels in ’97, Antawn Jamison in ’98, and Lamar Odom in ’99. As someone who was a teenager in the 90’s, this is an amazing list of names!
The early 2000’s aren’t nearly as notable, with names you remember like Marcus Fizer, Eddy Curry, and Drew Gooden, but then we get to 2003, which like 1984 could be it’s own story. LeBron goes 1, the Pistons absolutely blow it with Darko Milicic at 2, the Nuggets take Melo at 3, and the Raptors take Chris Bosh at 4. Bosh is in the NBA Hall of Fame, made 11 all-star appearances and won 2 rings, but he wasn’t quite the player his future teammate Dwyane Wade was, who went a pick later.
In 2005 we have a painful one for Charlotte fans, as the greatest 4th pick in history based on win share is future Hall of Famer, Wake Forest PG Chris Paul going to the New Orleans Hornets, 1 pick before the then Charlotte Bobcats took Raymond Felton. Still stings, no pun intended. In 2007 another fantastic 4th pick as the Grizzlies took Mike Conley who played 18 great seasons, and in 2008 the Thunder grabbed Russell Westbrook at 4, who like CP3 is also headed for the Hall of Fame. The 2000’s closed out with Tyreke Evans to the Kings in ’09, really a terrific decade for the 4th pick.
The 2010’s kick off with some decent bigs in Tristan Thompson, Aaron Gordon, and Kristaps Porzingis, but there are some Dragen Benders and Cody Zellers (sorry) and Josh Jackson’s in there too. Our first big hit is in 2018 with the Grizzlies taking Jaren Jackson Jr sandwiched between Luka at 3 and Trae Young at 5. He might never be either of those 2 players but at 25 he’s already a 2x all-star.
As for the last 5 years, Patrick Williams is looking like a miss by the Bulls, Scottie Barnes has already been a ROY and an all-star for the Raptors. Keegan Murray looks like a role player for the Kings, same with Amen Thompson of the Rockets, and as a fun final note the reigning 4th overall pick is also the reigning rookie of the year, Stephon Castle of the Spurs.
What does all of this mean for the Hornets? Admittedly almost nothing, other than picking at 4, historically, has yielded some fantastic NBA talent. Want a recap? Me too, so here’s my all-time NBA team of players drafted 4th overall, (with their basketball reference win share in parenthesis).
C- Dikembe Mutombo (117)
PF – Chris Bosh (106)
SF – Dolph Schayes (142.4)
SG- Russell Westbrook (112.5)
PG – Chris Paul (215.1)
That will be 5 NBA Hall of Fame players once the dust settles on Westbrook and Paul’s careers. My bench will be Dave Cowens, Lou Hudson, Glen Rice, Jaren Jackson, and all those guys from the 90’s and it would be a hell of a team.
Ok NBA draft, hurry up and get here before the waiting drives us all insane.