3) Best 8th overall picks: Jack Sikma
Nicknamed “Goldilocks” for his curly blonde hair, Jack Sikma built a Hall-of-Fame career after being selected 8th overall by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1977 NBA Draft.
Chosen one spot after Bernard King was picked by the New Jersey Nets, Sikma became an NBA All-Star by his second season in the league, earning that status seven times in his career.
The 6-foot-11 big man was a player before his time. History allowing NBA historians to look at him a bit differently today, as he was one of the first centers to prove the value of shooting away from the hoop. By the end of his career, he was averaging nearly three, 3-pointers per game, unheard of in the late eighties from a center of his size.
Sikma was a slick shooter who once went 51 games without missing a free throw. His 92.2% accuracy from the line in 1987-88 led the NBA.
Known more for just shooting, the Illinois native also earned an All-Defensive team honor after the 1981-82 season.
By the end of his playing days, Sikma accumulated 17,287 points, which ranks 93rd all-time. His career 84.9% free throw percentage also ranks highly as 64th best in NBA history. Before the game was flooded with shooting big man, Sikma led the way.