We have the NBA draft class that delivered icons like Michael Jordan and LeBron James, while there are also draft classes that fizzle out. The 2000 NBA draft, held on June 28, 2000, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, is widely regarded as the worst in league history. Let’s dissect why this class failed so spectacularly.
Why the 2000 Draft Disappointed Fans
To grasp the 2000 draft’s failure, we need some context. The draft came during a shift in the NBA, with teams prioritizing raw athleticism and potential over proven skills. Held at the Minnesota Timberwolves’ arena, it was the last time a college senior, Kenyon Martin, went first overall, marking a turn toward younger prospects.
Unlike legendary drafts like 1984, with Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, or 1996, with Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, the 2000 class lacked star power and depth. The 2000 draft’s top selections carried high hopes but delivered limited results.
Kenyon Martin, chosen first by the New Jersey Nets, was a solid power forward. He earned an All-Star nod in 2004 and helped the Nets reach two straight Finals in 2001 and 2002, respectively. His career averages of 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game were dependable but not transformative.
Michael Redd, a second-round gem at 43rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, became a scoring standout, averaging 19.0 points per game and making the 2004 All-Star team. Jamal Crawford, selected eighth by the Cleveland Cavaliers, enjoyed a 20-year career, winning three Sixth Man of the Year awards in 2010, 2014, and 2016 for his scoring flair off the bench.
Beyond these exceptions, the talent pool dried up fast. Stromile Swift, picked second by the Memphis Grizzlies, and Darius Miles, third by the Los Angeles Clippers, though they flashed athletic promise, but were derailed by injuries and inconsistency. Marcus Fizer, the fourth pick by the Chicago Bulls, suffered three ACL injuries.
Numbers Reveal a Historic Lack of Impact
According to Basketball-Reference, only three players, Redd, Martin, and Jamaal Magloire, earned All-Star appearances, all in 2004, totaling just three selections, the lowest for any draft since 1952.
Only Michael Redd made an All-NBA team, earning Third Team honors in 2004. Major awards were sparse: Hedo Türkoğlu won Most Improved Player in 2008, Mike Miller claimed Rookie of the Year in 2001 and Sixth Man in 2006, and Crawford secured his three Sixth Man awards.
Bill Simmons said the entire 2000 NBA Draft class only played 61 minutes combined in an all star game. Only All NBA player is a 3rd team for Michael Redd. The worst draft class in sports history.
— Scenario Jenkins (@tryna_be_famous) April 6, 2020
A closer look at the metrics shows things are even more troubling than they seem. The Win Above Replacement Player metric shows the class produced 17.3 fewer wins than replacement-level players, the only draft with a negative impact.
Eight players, including San Antonio Spurs picks Chris Carrawell and Cory Hightower, never played an NBA game, highlighting the class’s lack of depth. Compared to the 1996 draft’s 36 All-Star appearances, the 2000 class’s numbers are a stark letdown.
Experts Label It a Drafting Disaster
Analysts universally pan the 2000 draft. Sports Illustrated ranked it as the sixth biggest bust of the modern era, the only entire draft class to earn such a distinction, as noted in their 2005 analysis Sports Illustrated, 2005.
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ESPN’s David Schoenfield gave it an ‘F’ grade in a 2009 review of drafts since 1985, stating, “It’s hard to imagine a draft producing less star power” ESPN, 2009. Fans echo this sentiment, with one Reddit user calling it “hauntingly terrible” in a 2023 discussion Reddit, 2023.
The draft’s failure was rooted partly in missed opportunities, like overlooking players such as Manu Ginóbili, who was drafted in 1999 but starred in the 2000s, and a lack of focus on international talent, which later became a draft priority.
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