Best of Class

The following are my picks for the best players from each individual post-merger NBA Draft [(pick #) and selecting team]:

1977: Bernard King (7) New York Nets
1978: Larry Bird (6) Boston Celtics
1979: Magic Johnson (1) Los Angeles Lakers
1980: Kevin McHale (3) Boston Celtics
1981: Isiah Thomas (2) Detroit Pistons
1982: Dominique Wilkins (3) Utah Jazz
1983: Clyde Drexler (14) Portland Trail Blazers
1984: Michael Jordan (3) Chicago Bulls
1985: Karl Malone (14) Utah Jazz
1986: Dennis Rodman (27) Detroit Pistons
1987: Scottie Pippen (5) Seattle SuperSonics
1988: Mitch Richmond (5) Golden State Warriors
1989: Shawn Kemp (17) Seattle SuperSonics
1990: Gary Payton (2) Seattle SuperSonics
1991: Dikembe Mutombo (4) Denver Nuggets
1992: Shaquille O'Neal (1) Orlando Magic
1993: Chris Webber (1) Orlando Magic
1994: Jason Kidd (2) Dallas Mavericks
1995: Kevin Garnett (5) Minnesota Timberwolves
1996: Kobe Bryant (13) Charlotte Hornets
1997: Tim Duncan (1) San Antonio Spurs
1998: Dirk Nowitzki (9) Dallas Mavericks
1999: Manu Ginobili (57) San Antonio Spurs
2000: Michael Redd (43) Milwaukee Bucks
2001: Pau Gasol (3) Atlanta Hawks
2002: Amar'e Stoudemire (9) Phoenix Suns
2003: LeBron James (1) Cleveland Cavaliers
2004: Dwight Howard (1) Orlando Magic
2005: Chris Paul (4) New Orleans Hornets
2006: Brandon Roy (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
2007: Kevin Durant (2) Seattle SuperSonics
2008: Derrick Rose (1) Chicago Bulls
2009: Blake Griffin (1) Los Angeles Clippers
2010: John Wall (1) Washington Wizards

**Selections from 1999 onwards are subject to change due to injury and/or future performance