1998 NBA draft

Last updated

1998 NBA draft
General information
SportBasketball
Date(s)June 24, 1998
Location General Motors Place (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Network(s) TNT, TSN
Overview
58 total selections in 2 rounds
LeagueNBA
First selection Michael Olowokandi (Los Angeles Clippers)
  1997
1999  

The 1998 NBA draft took place on June 24, 1998, at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around four struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, the Boston Celtics, and the Toronto Raptors.

Contents

The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were not able to win the NBA draft lottery; as they were expansion teams, they were not allowed to select first in this draft.

The Mavericks, despite having a talented nucleus of Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson in the mid-1990s, had not had a winning season since 1989-90, which was also the last time they made the playoffs. By the end of the 1997 season, all three players were traded and it was time to rebuild. With the sixth selection in 1998, they drafted Robert Traylor and quickly traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity. They then traded Garrity in a package to the Phoenix Suns for Steve Nash. With Nash and Nowitzki, the Mavericks quickly went from a lottery team in the late 1990s to a perennial playoff contender throughout the 2000s. Nowitzki went on to win the 2011 NBA Finals with Dallas without Nash, but with Kidd.

Meanwhile, the Raptors were a recent expansion team that had failed to win more than 30 games in its first three seasons. With the fourth pick they selected Antawn Jamison, whom they quickly dealt to the Golden State Warriors for Vince Carter. Carter went on to win Rookie of the Year.

First overall pick Michael Olowokandi from mid-major University of the Pacific is regarded by Sports Illustrated as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. [1] As of February 2019, he is the last top selection to come out of a university that is considered mid-major.

Five players from the 1998 draft class played in the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their careers: Nowitzki, Carter, Jamison, Paul Pierce and Rashard Lewis. All of them except Lewis scored at least 20,000 career points.

Carter retired in 2020, making him the last active player drafted in the 1990s to retire. He set the record for most seasons played in the NBA with 22, becoming the first player to ever appear in NBA games in four different decades. Nowitzki missed the same four-decade status by nine months, retiring from the Mavericks in April 2019 as the first player to ever spend more than 20 NBA seasons with one team.

Draft selections

Antawn Jamison was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors (traded to the Golden State Warriors). Antawn Jamison Wizards 2006-07.jpg
Antawn Jamison was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors (traded to the Golden State Warriors).
Vince Carter was selected 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors (traded to the Toronto Raptors). Lipofsky Vince Carter.jpg
Vince Carter was selected 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors (traded to the Toronto Raptors).
Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Dallas Mavericks). Dirk Nowitzki 2.jpg
Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Dallas Mavericks).
Paul Pierce was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics. Paul pierce 1.jpg
Paul Pierce was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics.
Rashard Lewis was selected 32nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. Rashard Lewis.jpg
Rashard Lewis was selected 32nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.
PG Point guard SG Shooting guard SF Small forward PF Power forward C Center
^Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
*Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team
+Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game
#Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular season or playoff game
~Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationality [n 1] NBA teamSchool/Club team
11 Michael Olowokandi CFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Los Angeles Clippers Pacific (Sr.)
12 Mike Bibby PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Vancouver Grizzlies Arizona (So.)
13 Raef LaFrentz C/FFlag of the United States.svg United States Denver Nuggets Kansas (Sr.)
14 Antawn Jamison +FFlag of the United States.svg United States Toronto Raptors (traded to Golden State) North Carolina (Jr.)
15 Vince Carter *~SF/SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Golden State Warriors (traded to Toronto) North Carolina (Jr.)
16 Robert Traylor F/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Dallas Mavericks (traded to Milwaukee) Michigan (Jr.)
17 Jason Williams PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Sacramento Kings Florida (Jr.)
18 Larry Hughes SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Philadelphia 76ers Saint Louis (Fr.)
19 Dirk Nowitzki ^PFFlag of Germany.svg Germany Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Dallas) DJK Würzburg (Germany, 2nd division)
110 Paul Pierce ^SF/SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Boston Celtics Kansas (Jr.)
111 Bonzi Wells G/FFlag of the United States.svg United States Detroit Pistons Ball State (Sr.)
112 Michael Doleac CFlag of the United States.svg United States Orlando Magic Utah (Sr.)
113 Keon Clark F/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Orlando Magic (from Washington via Golden State) UNLV (Sr.)
114 Michael Dickerson SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Houston Rockets Arizona (Sr.)
115 Matt Harpring F/GFlag of the United States.svg United States Orlando Magic (from New Jersey) Georgia Tech (Sr.)
116 Bryce Drew PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Houston Rockets (from New York via Portland and Toronto) Valparaiso (Sr.)
117 Radoslav Nesterovič CFlag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Minnesota Timberwolves Kinder Bologna (Italy)
118 Mirsad Türkcan PFFlag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Houston Rockets (from Portland via Toronto) Efes Pilsen (Turkey)
119 Pat Garrity PFFlag of the United States.svg United States Milwaukee Bucks (from Cleveland, traded to Phoenix) Notre Dame (Sr.)
120 Roshown McLeod SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Atlanta Hawks Duke (Sr.)
121 Ricky Davis G/FFlag of the United States.svg United States Charlotte Hornets Iowa (Fr.)
122 Brian Skinner F/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Miami) Baylor (Sr.)
123 Tyronn Lue PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Denver Nuggets (from Phoenix traded to L.A. Lakers) Nebraska (Jr.)
124 Felipe López SGFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic San Antonio Spurs (traded to Vancouver) St. John's (Sr.)
125 Al Harrington FFlag of the United States.svg United States Indiana Pacers St. Patrick's High School (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
126 Sam Jacobson SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Los Angeles Lakers Minnesota (Sr.)
127 Vladimir Stepania C Flag of Georgia (1990-2004).svg Georgia Seattle SuperSonics Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia)
128 Corey Benjamin SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Chicago Bulls Oregon State (So.)
129 Nazr Mohammed C/FFlag of the United States.svg United States Utah Jazz (traded to Philadelphia) Kentucky (Jr.)
230 Ansu Sesay SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Dallas Mavericks (from Toronto) Mississippi (Sr.)
231 Ruben Patterson SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Los Angeles Lakers (from Vancouver) Cincinnati (Sr.)
232 Rashard Lewis +PFFlag of the United States.svg United States Seattle SuperSonics (from Detroit) Alief Elsik HS (Houston, Texas)
233 Jelani McCoy F/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Seattle SuperSonics (from L.A. Clippers) UCLA (Jr.)
234 Shammond Williams PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Chicago Bulls (from Golden State) North Carolina (Sr.)
235 Bruno Šundov CFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Dallas Mavericks Split (Croatia)
236 Jerome James CFlag of the United States.svg United States Sacramento Kings Florida A&M (Jr.)
237 Casey Shaw CFlag of the United States.svg United States Philadelphia 76ers Toledo (Sr.)
238 DeMarco Johnson PFFlag of the United States.svg United States New York Knicks (from Boston) Charlotte (Sr.)
239 Rafer Alston PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Milwaukee Bucks Fresno State (Jr.)
240 Korleone Young SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Detroit Pistons Hargrave Military Academy
241 Cuttino Mobley SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Houston Rockets Rhode Island (Sr.)
242 Miles Simon SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Orlando Magic Arizona (Sr.)
243 Jahidi White F/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Washington Wizards Georgetown (Sr.)
244 Sean Marks PFFlag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand New York Knicks California (Sr.)
245 Toby Bailey SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Los Angeles Lakers (from New Jersey) UCLA (Sr.)
246 Andrae Patterson SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Minnesota Timberwolves Indiana (Sr.)
247 Tyson Wheeler PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Toronto Raptors Rhode Island (Sr.)
248 Ryan Stack CFlag of the United States.svg United States Cleveland Cavaliers South Carolina (Sr.)
249 Cory Carr SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Atlanta Hawks Texas Tech (Sr.)
250 Andrew Betts #CFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Charlotte Hornets Long Beach State (Sr.)
251 Corey Brewer #PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Miami Heat Oklahoma (Sr.)
252 Derrick Dial SGFlag of the United States.svg United States San Antonio Spurs Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
253 Greg Buckner SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Dallas Mavericks (from Phoenix) Clemson (Sr.)
254 Tremaine Fowlkes SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Denver Nuggets (from Indiana) Fresno State (Sr.)
255 Ryan Bowen SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Denver Nuggets (from Seattle) Iowa (Sr.)
256 J. R. Henderson SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Vancouver Grizzlies (from L.A. Lakers) UCLA (Sr.)
257 Torraye Braggs PFFlag of the United States.svg United States Utah Jazz Xavier (Sr.)
258 Maceo Baston PFFlag of the United States.svg United States Chicago Bulls Michigan (Sr.)
  1. Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.

Notable undrafted players

Earl Boykins, a notable undrafted player, is known for being the second shortest player in NBA history. Earl Boykins Bucks.jpg
Earl Boykins, a notable undrafted player, is known for being the second shortest player in NBA history.
Brad Miller was not drafted but had a successful 14-year career in the NBA that included two All-Star selections. Brad Miller.jpg
Brad Miller was not drafted but had a successful 14-year career in the NBA that included two All-Star selections.
Sarunas Jasikevicius was not drafted but later played in the NBA and is regarded as one of Europe's all-time greatest basketball players. Sharas118.JPG
Šarūnas Jasikevičius was not drafted but later played in the NBA and is regarded as one of Europe's all-time greatest basketball players.

These players eligible for the 1998 NBA Draft were not selected but played at least one game in the NBA.

PlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
Earl Boykins PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Eastern Michigan (Sr.)
Gerald Brown SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Pepperdine (Sr.)
Anthony Carter PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Hawaii (Sr.)
Sean Colson PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Charlotte (Sr.)
Rubén Garcés F/CFlag of Panama.svg  Panama Providence (Sr.)
Steve Goodrich PF/CFlag of the United States.svg United States Princeton (Sr.)
Zendon Hamilton CFlag of the United States.svg United States St. John's (Sr.)
Randell Jackson PFFlag of the United States.svg United States Florida State (Jr.)
Mike James PGFlag of the United States.svg United States Duquesne (Sr.)
Šarūnas Jasikevičius PGFlag of Lithuania (1988-2004).svg  Lithuania Maryland (Sr.)
Charles Jones SGFlag of the United States.svg United States LIU Brooklyn (Sr.)
Mark Jones SFFlag of the United States.svg United States UCF (Sr.)
Kelly McCarty SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Southern Miss (Sr.)
Slava Medvedenko PFFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Budivelnyk Kiev (Ukraine)
Brad Miller +CFlag of the United States.svg United States Purdue (Sr.)
Makhtar N'Diaye PFFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal North Carolina (Sr.)
Tyrone Nesby SFFlag of the United States.svg United States UNLV (Sr.)
Daniel Santiago CFlag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Saint Vincent (Sr.)
Jeff Sheppard GFlag of the United States.svg United States Kentucky (Sr.)
Billy Thomas SGFlag of the United States.svg United States Kansas (Sr.)
Óscar Torres SF/SGFlag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela Marinos (Venezuela)

Early entrants

College underclassmen

The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance. [2]

High school players

The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance. [2]

International players

The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance. [2]

See also

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References

  1. "Sports Illustrated photo gallery".
  2. 1 2 3 "1998 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. Retrieved December 17, 2022.