Potential is what the NBA draft is all about. Every organization puts forth extraordinary effort to successfully analyze players’ history and determine how well each player will mesh in the big leagues. Sometimes they nail it, sometimes they don’t.
This summer, the Jazz own the No. 12 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. To prepare for the event, let’s take a look at the top 10 draft picks of Utah Jazz history.
Note: This list includes the top 10 picks based on talent alone. This includes players who were dealed, played one year or their entire career with Utah. All statistical information was obtained through the Utah Jazz Media Guide and basketball-reference.com.
10. Dell Curry Pick: 15th Year: 1986 College: Virginia Tech
Father of current sensation Steph Curry, Dell Curry played only one year in Utah. His rookie season, he averaged 4.9 points, .9 assists and a .426 field goal percentage over 69 games played for the Jazz. After his first season, the Jazz traded Curry to Cleveland for Darryl Dawkins and Mel Turpin in a three-team deal. Neither Dawkins nor Turpin lasted more than one year or had much impact in Utah.
Curry went on to have a successful 16-year NBA career. Ten of those years were played in Charlotte, where he averaged 14 points per game and won the 1994 sixth man award. Comparing per game stats to Gordon Hayward, Curry has very similar statistics while playing eight minutes less per game. Due to this, Curry edges in just ahead of Hayward. I believe Hayward will make it on this top 10 list sooner rather than later, possibly next season.
9. Andrei Kirilenko Pick: 24th Year: 1999 Country: Russia
In 1999, Andrei Kirilenko became the youngest European player ever drafted up to that time at the age of 18. "AK-47" began his NBA career two years later in the 2001-02 season. Kirilenko became a quick fan favorite for his tenacity on defense and unique shot-blocking ability. Kirilenko was voted an All-Star in 2004, the first all-defensive team in 2006 and made it to second place in the Jazz record books for blocked shots at 1,380. He averaged 12.4 points, 2 blocks and 1.4 steals.
The Utah Jazz signed Kirilenko to a maximum six-year $86 million deal in 2004. To put this contract into perspective, consider LeBron James made less money than Kirilenko from 2007-2010 after both were signed to enhanced deals. Though Kirilenko thrived in a two-guard system with his sneaky assisting abilities, Kirilenko struggled during the Deron Williams years almost immediately after signing the max deal and eventually saw reduced minutes as a reserve player. His infamous Houston interview in 2007 showed Kirilenko’s emotions boil over as he cried due to his limited role. Despite his frustrations and that most considered Kirilenko overpaid, he made wonderful contributions to the Jazz organization.
8. Thurl Bailey Pick: 7th Year: 1983 College: North Carolina State University
Thurl Bailey played a total of 10 seasons in Utah. He averaged 14 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with the Jazz. Bailey was never known for saying too much in an interview and his professionalism was appreciated by the Utah Jazz. Bailey appeared in the playoffs nine times in a Jazz uniform, where his per game statistics remained almost equal to his regular-season stats at 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Bailey was traded with a second-round pick to the Timberwolves for Tyrone Corbin in 1991. Bailey currently works for the Jazz organization as a studio host.
7. Paul Millsap Pick: 47th Year: 2006 College: Louisiana Tech
At the 47th pick, Paul Millsap was an absolute steal. He played in a Jazz uniform for seven years. Once Carlos Boozer went to Chicago in 2010, Millsap became and remained a starter. Millsap and Al Jefferson ruled the paint together and became franchise cornerstones during their playing time from 2010-2013.
Millsap averaged 17.3, 16.6, and 14.6 points per game over those three seasons despite his undersized disadvantage at the power forward position.
Millsap has enjoyed rampant success since parting ways with the Jazz in 2013. In addition to two All-Star bids, he has played in four playoff series over a two-year span, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
6. Mark Eaton Pick: 72nd Year: 1982 College: University of California, Los Angeles
If Paul Millsap was a steal at 47th, Mark Eaton was a revelation at 72nd. In Utah Jazz history, a player has had at least 10 blocks in a single game 22 times. Eaton did this 18 of those 22 times. Eaton blocked 14 shots in one game twice, 13 once, 12 four times, 11 four times, and 10 on seven different occasions. Kirilenko owns the second most blocks in Jazz history at 1,380. Eaton sits comfortably over Kirilenko at over twice that amount for the Jazz record of 3,064. Not enough? Eaton owns the NBA record of blocked shots per game at 3.51 over his 11-year career. Not bad for a guy who focused on water polo more than basketball in high school and showed a mediocre-at-best college career.
In addition to his defense, the 7-foot-4 center was a good rebounder at 7.9 per game, and threw in an additional 6 points per game as well. Eaton’s jersey No. 53 was retired in March 1996.
5. Deron Williams Pick: 3rd Year: 2005 College: University of Illinois
Deron Williams played for the Utah Jazz for six seasons. Williams became the face of the franchise quickly and remained so for five seasons. With Williams and Carlos Boozer, the Jazz made the playoffs four consecutive times and the Western Conference Finals in 2007. A double-double machine, Williams averaged 21.1 points and 9.6 assists with the Utah Jazz. During his tenure in Utah, Williams was constantly compared to Chris Paul, the No. 4 selection of the 2005 draft.
Since Williams left in 2011 shortly after a confrontation with coach Jerry Sloan, Williams' career has declined. Now in a contract situation similar to that of Kirilenko’s max deal, Williams comes off the bench and rakes in over $19 million per season. If this makes you wonder if he should still be No. 5 on this list, consider this: With Williams, the Jazz were 20-24 in playoff games over four seasons. Since his departure, the Jazz have not won a playoff game. The Jazz only appeared in one playoff series over five seasons, a quick 0-4 skid against San Antonio in 2012.
4. Darrell Griffith Pick: 2nd Year: 1980 College: University of Louisville
If this were a list of coolest Jazz nicknames, “Dr. Dunkenstein” would be easy argument for top spot. A high-energy player, Darrell Griffith contributed immediately to the Utah Jazz, shown by his 1980-81 Rookie of the Year Award. Griffith is the fourth all-time Jazz scorer, third in 3-pointers made and led the league in 3-point percentage in the 83-84 season. Griffith averaged 16.3 points per game and 1.2 steals. Griffith was part of the Utah Jazz team that made its first playoff appearance under former coach Frank Layden in 1984. In the playoffs, Griffith averaged 15.1 points per game. Griffith played his entire 10-year career for the Jazz. His No. 35 jersey was retired in 1993.
3. Dominique Wilkins Pick: 3rd Year: 1982 College: University of Georgia
Dominique Wilkins? He never played for the Jazz, right? Well, no, he did not. The Utah Jazz traded Dominique Wilkins to the Atlanta Hawks for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and much needed cash (rumored to be $1 million). In 1982, the Jazz organization was 7 years old, had relocated to Salt Lake City from New Orleans and was yet to make a profit in either location. The following year, the Jazz were so cash-strapped they played a portion of their home games in Las Vegas instead of Utah to generate extra revenue. The cash received for Wilkins may very well be the reason the Jazz are still in Utah.
Wilkins enjoyed an incredible career. “The Human Highlight Film” played in the NBA 16 years, 12 of those with Atlanta. Wilkins averaged a robust 24.8 points per game and 6.7 rebounds. He made the playoffs 10 times, was named to the All-Star squad nine times and is considered one of the best dunkers of all time. Wilkins currently sits at No. 12 on the NBA’s all-time scorers list.
2. John Stockton Pick: 16th Year: 1984 College: Gonzaga University
Yet another steal in the draft, Stockton enjoyed a historic career with Utah. Stockton played for the Jazz organization for 19 years, the most any player has played for one franchise. Incredibly durable, Stockton only missed 23 games, 18 in one season due to a knee injury. Stockton owns the NBA record for assists at 15,806, a record many consider unbreakable as Jason Kidd trails by nearly 4,000 and is second on the same list. Only nine times in NBA history has a player had over 1,000 assists in one season, and Stockton contributed seven of those nine instances. Stockton is also the NBA steals leader at 3,265, ahead of Kidd by over 500.
Stockton is a two-time gold medalist, was part of the Dream Team, named one of the 50 greatest NBA players during the NBA’s 50th anniversary and earned co-MVP in the 1993 All-Star game (one of 10 he was part of) with counterpart Karl Malone. Stockton made the most prolific shot in Jazz history when he sank a 3-point buzzer-beater to lift Utah over Houston in the 1997 Western Conference Finals. The shot marked the first of two years that the Utah Jazz made it to the NBA Finals. Stockton retired in 2003 having made the playoffs each of the 19 years he played for the Jazz. Thoroughly loved and honored, Stockton’s jersey was retired in 2004 and a bronze statue was erected in front of EnergySolutions Arena (then the Delta Center) in 2005.
1. Karl Malone Pick: 13th Year: 1985 College: Louisiana Tech
Karl Malone is the most dynamic player the Jazz have ever had. Malone commanded respect through his gritty and physical play. Malone made the All-Star team in only his third season as a Utah Jazz player and returned an additional 13 times. Malone is the Jazz all-time scoring champion and lands at No. 2 in the NBA’s scoring ranks with 36,928 points. Malone averaged a double-double with 25 points and 10.1 rebounds. Though Malone faced some of the most physical players during his career, he showed incredible durability, only missing 10 games as a Jazz player.
Malone was a member of the Dream Team, a two-time gold medalist, two-time NBA MVP (’96-’97 and ’98-’99) and was co-MVP in the ’93 All-Star game with Stockton. Malone leads the league in both free throws attempted and defensive rebounds. Malone was named as one of the 50 greatest NBA players during the 50th anniversary of the NBA, and has been considered by some as the greatest power forward to ever play the game. The No. 32 jersey was retired in Malone’s honor and a bronze statue of Malone was unveiled in front of EnergySolutions Arena (then the Delta Center) in 2006.
Dustin Jensen is a Utah native. Dustin is studying accounting at the University of Utah, enjoys running, and is a Utah Jazz fanatic. You can e-mail Dustin at big_jazz_fan@hotmail.com.