NBA Draft History: Top Four 4th Overall Picks
By William Lee
May 25, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) goes up for a dunk against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Oklahoma City won 106-97. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Honorable Mentions
Now the honorable mentions listed below are in no particular order but they were the ones I felt the most difficult to leave out of the top four and waffled back and forth on who was the fourth best 4th overall pick. Some more names that would have filled out a top ten list (again in no particular order) are Dennis Scott, Antawn Jamison, Lamar Odom, and Stephon Marbury.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook was probably the easiest to leave off the top four being so young and having a couple of injury plagued seasons after starting off his career as a complete iron man. Westbrook came back this season as a man possessed, in February he averaged 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game, and became just the second player in NBA history to average 30 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists per game for a calendar month with at least 10 games played, joining Oscar Robertson as the only other player to do so.
Westbrook then became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to have four consecutive triple-doubles, and the first since Jordan that year to have back-to-back triple-doubles with at least 40 points.
Westbrook finished the season as the scoring champion at 28.15 points per game. Along with the incredible output of triple-doubles Westbrook’s name was vaulted into the NBA MVP race, despite missing 15 games in the regular season. Westbrook finished fourth in the 2014-2015 NBA MVP voting.
List of Achievements
- 4× NBA All-Star (2011–2013, 2015)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2015)
- 4× All-NBA Second Team (2011–2013, 2015)
Jamal Mashburn
Jamal Mashburn was a deadly scorer, when healthy…and that was ultimately why he was left off the list. Mashburn was a career 19.1 points per game player but was constantly injury plagued. Mashburn falls in the list of players to have their career’s cut short by mircofracture surgery.
List of Achievements
- NBA All-Star (2003)
- All-NBA Third Team (2003)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1994)
Glen Rice
Glen Rice was drafted by the Miami Heat in 1989, and would become top ten in every statistical category for the Heat’s franchise in six seasons of play. Rice averaged 19.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in his time with Miami.
Rice was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Alonzo Mourning prior to the 1995-1996 season starting. Again Rice would leave his mark, becoming the All-Time leader in points per game and minutes played per game, as well as being top ten in every offensive category for the Hornets’ franchise.
In the 1998-1999 lockout shortened year, Rice was again traded and became the perfect complimentary player to the dynamic duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, winning a NBA Championship in 2000.
Rice would go on to play for the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2004. Rice is currently the 63rd All-Time leading scorer in NBA history.
List of Achievements
- NBA champion (2000)
- 3× NBA All-Star (1996–1998)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1997)
- All-NBA Second Team (1997)
- All-NBA Third Team (1998)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1990)
- NBA Three-Point Shootout champion (1995)
Next: No. 4 Ball Don't Lie!