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Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time

The Utah Jazz have scored some major NBA Draft wins over the years; from John Stockton and Karl Malone in the '80s to the steal of 2017, Donovan Mitchell.

Utah Jazz: Top 15 draft picks of all time

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Mo Williams Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide, 2003 (No. 47 Overall) On December 30, 2002, Jazz GM Kevin Ou2019Connor watched the University of Utah Runninu2019 Utes upset the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Although u2018Bama lost the game, sophomore guard Mo Williams made a big impression on Ou2019Connor with his efforts. So, with Utahu2019s second-round pick at No. 47 in the u201903 NBA Draft, Ou2019Connor selected Williams, who went on to break the second-round mold. The u201903-04 NBA season was kind of magical for the Jazz band all around. Despite being forced to begin anew after the departure of Karl Malone and John Stockton,u00a0the Jazzu00a0nearly made the playoffs. Some had expected the team to win less than 10 games that season; instead, they finished 42-40. Williams was a big part of that success. He played so well, in fact, that he went on to sign a mid-level deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that was too rich for the Jazz to match. Ou2019Connor would later call letting him walk the biggest mistake of his career. In total, Williams spent just two seasons in a Jazz uniform (u201903-04 and u201912-13). However, he played in the league for over a decade, averaging 13 points and five ists per game. He also played in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game and won a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. Not bad for a guy picked near the end of the draft. Next: No. 14},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/3/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: December 3, 1994: University of Kansas center Greg Ostertag yells to his teammates during the Jayhawksu2019 81-75 win over U-M at the John Wooden Cl ic. Credit: Al Bello/ALLSPORT 14 Greg Ostertag Center, Kansas Jayhawks, 1995 (No. 28 Overall) I know what youu2019re saying to yourself as you read this: u201cGreg Ostertag? Really?!u201d And I understand it, too. After all, Ostertag often seemed like the stereotypical big,u00a0awkward white guy. So much so, in fact, he even played one in a major motion picture. He also spent a record amount of days inu00a0Jerry Sloanu2018s doghouse and was perpetuallyu00a0maligned by fans and the media alike throughout his Jazz career. Regardless, the fact remains that he was the starting center on the best teams in Jazz history. Iu2019m talking about squads that pushed MJ and the Chicago Bulls to the brink in two NBA Finals.u00a0u2018Tag also shows surprisingly well among the leagueu2019s all-timeu00a0leaders in blocked shots (37th in blocks per game, 47th in total blocks). In total, he averaged five points, five boards and 1.7 blocks over 756 career games. Getting a player who enjoys a decade-long career and registers that level of production with a late first-round pick (28th overall in 1995) is an epic draft win. Next: No. 13},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/4/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: NEW YORK u2013 JUNE 26: Rodney Hood addresses the media after being selected 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz during the 2014 NBA Draft on June 26, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/NBAE via Getty Images) 13 Rodney Hood Wing, Duke Blue Devils, 2014 (No. 23 Overall) This is another one that might feel weird, especially given the way his 2017-18 season ultimately played out. Letu2019s not play the revisionist history game, though u2014 getting Rodney Hood in the 20s was huge. Ahead of the 2014 NBA Draft, Dukeu2019s Jabari Parker was being heralded as a potential franchise player. In the meantime, Hood, Parkeru2019s Blue Devils teammate, failed to make waves among the leagueu2019s decision-makers. He was simply too old and not long enough or athletic enough to warrant a high first-round selection.u00a0So he slipped on draft night, all the way down to the Jazz at No. 23. At this point, itu2019s not off-base to say that Hood has had the better career of the two to date. Iu2019m sure the Memphis Grizzlies, who took Jordan Adams (whou2019s now out of the league) at No. 22, would love to have him. Over parts of four seasons with the Jazz, Hood played in 227 games, averaging 13 points per contest and shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.u00a0Despite his status as a late first-round pick, heu2019s been one of the better scoring two-guards in the ociation at times. Iu2019ll give him a Mulligan for his recent Cleveland collapse. Heu2019s still got loads of buckets to get yet. Next: No. 12},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/5/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: Bryon Russell (L) of the Utah Jazz takes Glen Rice (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers off a Greg Ostertag pick during the first quarter of the Jazz u2013 Lakers game 17 April 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo credit: GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images) 12 Bryon Russell Wing, Long Beach St. 49ers, 1993 (No. 45 Overall) Coming out ofu00a0Long Beach State as a second-round guy, Bryon Russell was little more than a defensive prospect from a mid-major school. After a bumpy start, however, Russell developed into one of the ociationu2019s OG 3-and-D specialists and a true weapon on both sides of the ball. After a solid rookie season, he struggled to get minutes in years two and three. But his run during the 1996 NBA Playoffs helped Russell propel himself into a spot as an integral piece of a legit championship contender. He went on to start 366 games for the Jazz over the course of nine seasons, averaging 9.4 points, nearly four rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest. He also knocked down 37 percent of his triples. All the while, he earned a reputation for playing lock-down defense on some of the gameu2019s best scorers.u00a0Unfortunately, heu2019s better remembered for getting torched (shoved?) by His Airness than any of the good things he did for the Jazz u2014 Next: No. 11},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/6/,shortCodeTitle:null,content:u00a0 24 MAR 1980: UCLA guard Michael Holton (14) and Louisville guard Darrell Griffith (35) during the NCAA Menu2019s National Basketball Final Four championship game held at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN. Louisville defeated UCLA 59-54 for the championship. Griffith was named MVP for the tournament. Photo by Rich Clarkson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images 11 Darrell Griffith Guard, Louisville Cardinals, 1980 (No. 2 Overall) Before Donovan Mitchell came to play, another Louisville Cardinals guard slam-dunked his way into the hearts of Utah Jazz fans. Iu2019m talking about the Golden Griff, Dr. Dunkenstein in the flesh, Darrell Griffith. While there are some similarities between the two, Griffith entered the league with a lot more fanfare than Utahu2019s current go-to guy. He led the Cards to the 1980 NCAA championship, was named the Final Fouru2019s Most Outstanding Player and won the John R. Wooden Award, which honors college hoopsu2019 best baller. As a result, he went No. 2 overall in the draft. For the next five years, he and Adrian Dantley combined to form one of the hottest scoring duos of the u201980s. Griffith averaged 21 points per contest over that span and, by year four, had addedu00a0one of the leagueu2019s more dependable 3-point shots, knocking down 36 percent of his three attempts per game. Unfortunately, a stress fracture in his foot cost him the entirety of the 1985-86 season. That injury, combined with knee problems and the emergence of Stockton-to-Malone, really took the wind out of his sails as a player. Still, he remains an important player in the annals of Jazz lore. Next: No. 10},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/7/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: SALT LAKE CITY u2013 JUNE 29: Paul Millsap is introduced by the Utah Jazz as a second round draft pick in the 2006 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at the Utah Jazz Zionu2019s Bank Practice facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2006 (Photo By Kent Horner/ NBAE via Getty Images) 10 Paul Millsap Forward, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 2006 (No. 47 Overall) Clearly, the Jazz have generally done pretty well for themselves in the second round of the draft. In addition to the players Iu2019ve already mentioned, you could also point to Jeremy Evans, CJ Miles, Jarron Collins and Shandon Anderson as second-rounders whose careers wildly exceeded their draft position over the last two decades. That said, none of them have enjoyed the level of success that Paul Millsap hasu00a0attained. Although he led the NCAA in rebounds per game for three straight seasons at Louisiana Tech, Millsapu2019s measurables didnu2019t set the world on fire when he entered the draft in u201906. So he fell to the Jazz at No. 47. All heu2019s done since then is prove the doubters wrong. Millsap was a fan favorite in Utah thanks to his blue-collar style, a knack for cleaning the gl and some hard-nosed defense. In seven seasons with the Jazz, he averaged 12 points, seven boards, one block and one steal per game.u00a0Ifu00a0Carlos Boozer hadnu2019t been on the team for a large chunk of his run, he may have been represented his squad in the All-Star Game. The versatile big man did just that when he finally joined the Atlanta Hawks, picking up four All-Star nods and making the All-Defensive second team in 2016. Heu2019ll always be remembered by Jazz fans for 2010u2019su00a0u201cMiracle in Miamiu201du00a0when heu00a0led the team to an unlikely overtime win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat. u2018Sapu00a0scored 46 points in the contest, hitting timely shots to secure the 116-114 victory. It remains one of the more memorable performances in Jazz history. Next: No. 9},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/8/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: SALT LAKE CITY u2013 JUNE 29: Deron Williams, third pick in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, speaks with the media June 29, 2005 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo By Kent Horner/NBAE via Getty Images) 9 Deron Williams Guard, Illinois Fighting Illini, 2005 (No. 3 Overall) Given the path his career took after he was dealt to the Nets, younger Jazz fans may not realize just how good Deron Williams was at the height of his powers. Make no mistake about it u2014 he achieved sheer greatness on the hardwood. For several years, one of the great debates in NBA circles wasu00a0whether he or Chris Paul was the best point guard in the league. Chances are that few outside of the 801 area code gave D-Will the nod, but it was far from an open-and-shut case. He was that good. Over 439 games with the franchise, Williams averaged better than 17 points, nine ists and one steal per contest. In doing so, he led Utah to multiple playoff berths, including a run to the u201907 Western Conference Finals.u00a0Really, Williamsu2019 Jazz squads were ahead of their time offensively with him directing the attack, an elite floor-spacer in Mehmet Okur and a mobile four-man inu00a0Boozer. Williams was the linchpin to that entire process.u00a0Heu2019d rank higher on this list if not for the fact that he was drafted ahead of CP3. Nevertheless, D-Will was a multi-time All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist as part of 2008u2019s Olympic u2018Redeem Teamu2019 and the face of the franchise during his time in Utah. Next to the glory days of Stockton-to-Malone, the Williams-led Jazz were the most successful iteration of the team. Although that may soon change. Next: No. 8},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/9/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: 5 APR 2010: Gordon Hayward (20) from Butler battles for control of a rebound with Kyle Singler (12) from Duke during the Menu2019s Basketball Championship held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Duke went on to defeat Butler 61-59 to claim the championship title. Chris Steppig/NCAA Photos via Getty Images 8 Gordon Hayward Wing, Butler Bulldogs, 2010 (No. 9 Overall) The recurring theme of guys that left a bad taste in Jazz fansu2019 mouths, but were nonetheless really good players and draft-night steals, continues! Sure, Gordon Hayward was a lottery pick at No. 9, and the goal is always to make a splash in the top 10, but clearly the Jazz knew something that others did not. And Iu2019ve got no issue with admitting that I was a member of the un-learned m es. Back in the summer of u201910, the Jazz were shifting gears. It wasnu2019tu00a0so much a rebuild as it was a reboot; the team still had D-Will, but Boozer was on his way out of town and Memo was set to join the AARP pool. With a glaring hole in the frontcourt, I was hoping Utah could trade up to pick Derrick Favors and play him behind Paul Millsap. When that pipe dream didnu2019t come true, I hoped for Ed Davis. Instead, they drafted Hayward, the skinny white kid who had just come off a crazy run in the NCAA Tournament with Butler. The crowd at the teamu2019s draft party booed the pick. I wasnu2019t there, but I wasnu2019t feeling it either. That said, the Hayward pick is a prime example ofu00a0why you almost always take the best player available on your draft board, regardless of position. Between Millsap, Al Jefferson and, later, Favors, the Jazz were strong at the four spot for years to come. In the meantime, Haywardu2019s game blossomed. Eventually, he became the Jazzu2019s go-to scorer, a plus defender, an All-Star in u201917 and one of the leagueu2019s premiere wing talents. In his final year with the team, Hayward put up 22 points, five boards and four ists per game while shooting 40 percent from . Then he bolted for Beantown. Great. Next: No. 7},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/10/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: SEATTLE, WA u2013 1988: Thurl Bailey #41 of the Utah Jazz rebounds against the Seattle Supersonics at the Seattle Coliseum in Seattle, Washington circa 1988. Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) 7 Thurl Bailey Big, North Carolina St Wolfpack, 1983 (No. 7 Overall) Letu2019s get back to the radical u201980s, shall we? A time when Duran Duran ruled the radio waves, Dallas was all the rage on TV and the Jazz drafted one of Jimmy Vu2019s key guys at NC State with the seventh pick in the u201983 NBA Draft. u2018Big Tu2019 Thurl Bailey was low-key one of the better frontcourt players in the league and a crucial piece to the Jazz for a decade. He probablyu00a0would have started for most of the leagueu2019s other teams throughout the u201980s, but ended up playing second fiddle to arguably the greatest power forward of all-time instead. Still, the man in the goggles was a cornerstone piece to the Jazz asu00a0they transitioned from cellar-dwellers to title contenders. At one point, Bailey registered back-to-back seasons of averaging nearly 20 points per game (19.5 and 19.6 ppg in u201987-88 and u201988-89, respectively). And he did so largely as a bench player. In 708 games in a Jazz uniform, he put up 14 points and nearly six rebounds per game. Following a move to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the early 90s, Big T eventually returned to finish his career with Utah during the u201998-99 season. It may be controversial, but I give him the nod over Williams and Hayward in this list for his longevity and continued role with the team.u00a0To this day, heu2019s a pillar of the Salt Lake community and an active part of the Jazz organization as a broadcaster and amb ador. Next: No. 6},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/11/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: BOSTON, UNITED STATES: Vin Baker (L) of the Boston Celtics fouls Andrei Kirilenko (R) of the Utah Jazz 11 November, 2002 at the Fleet Center in Boston, M achusetts in the first quarter of action. (Photo credit: JOHN MOTTERN/AFP/Getty Images) 6 Andrei Kirilenko Forward, CSKA Moscow - Russia, 1999 (No. 24 Overall) At this point in time, the NBA is a truly global league, flush with talent from every corner of the globe. That wasnu2019t the case back in the summer of u201999, however.u00a0 Back then, you could really only point tou00a0handful of guys u2014 players like Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon, Arvydas Sabonis and Detlef Schrempf u2014 as legit foreign-born stars. So, the Jazzu2019s decision to draft a Russian ager named Andrei Kirilenko with the 24th pick in the u201999 draft didnu2019t exactly set the hoops world ablaze.u00a0Nevertheless, when Kirilenko finally debuted for the Jazz in 2001, it quickly became apparent that AK-47 was as deadly as his moniker suggested on the court. In short order, AK established himself as one of the NBAu2019s elite defenders and most versatile frontcourt playmakers. Over the course of a decade in a Jazz uniform, he averaged 12 points, six rebounds, nearly three ists, two blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Howu2019s that for stuffing a stat sheet? When people called him theu00a0master of the 5u00d75, they werenu2019t kidding. Kirilenko also played in an All-Star Game (and was voted in over Carmelo Anthony by West coaches, no less) and was a three-time All-Defensive team selection. As great as he was, though, AKu00a0was also ahead of his time. In the modern NBA, heu2019d be Draymond Greenu2026or better. Seriously. Next: No. 5},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/12/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA u2013 FEBRUARY 06: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Louisville Cardinals looks for an open p during Louisvilleu2019s game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 6, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) 5 Donovan Mitchell Guard, Louisville Cardinals, 2017 (No. 13 Overall) After just one (magical, incredible, amazing) year in the league, Donovan Mitchell enters this list in the top five. And if he continues to progress like we think he will, the former No. 13 overall pick in 2017 will challenge The Statues. Itu2019s crazy to think about in hindsight, but Mitchell almost elected to forego the draft process entirely in favor of another year at Louisville. Even when he ultimately decided to give the pro game a go, nobody would have predicted what was to come. Now, heu2019s a bona fide franchise player for one of the best teams in the league. During his rookie season, Mitchell put up 20 points, four ists and four rebounds per game. Along the way, he broke Damian Lillardu2018s rookie record for 3-pointers made, was the first rookie to log 1500 total points and 100 steals since LeBron and the first to lead a playoff squad in scoring since Carmelo. I could go on and on listing the ways in which he made history. If you really dig in with the statistical stuff, youu2019ll find categories that group him with guys like MJ, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and others of the Hall of Fame ilk. In short, he single-handedly helped the Jazz maintain their trajectory toward the top of the ociation in spite of Gordon Haywardu2019s exodus. I to think about whatu2019s to come. Next: No. 4},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/13/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: SALT LAKE CITY, UT u2013 June 28: Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz poses for a photo after a press conference at the Zions Bank Basketball Center on June 28, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) 4 Rudy Gobert Center, Cholet - France, 2013 (No. 27 Overall) On the night of the 2013 NBA Draft, the Jazz more or less bought the No. 27 pick from the Nuggets to take Rudy Gobert. Five years later, he probably goes No. 2 overall in a re-draft; just behind Milwaukee Bucks staru00a0Giannis Antetokounmpo.u00a0Some may even select him with the first overall pick. Thatu2019s about as big a draft steal as is even possible. In any case, the Stifle Tower has gone from being relative unknown to a cornerstone player and a star in the league. Heu2019s been developing and diversifying his game around his elite size and length since his first game in the ociation. In doing so, the Frenchman has morphed from a 12th man to a defensive specialist to a game-changing rim protector. Now, heu2019s a top two or three center in the NBA. He could bring home the leagueu2019s Defensive Player of the Year trophy this summer, and it would be a major shocker if he doesnu2019t play in his first All-Star Game next season.u00a0Itu2019s downright unbelievable at this point that he once played behind guys likeu00a0Enes Kanter and Jeremy Evans. Iu2019m nou00a0Tyrone Corbin hater, but dudeu2026really? Over his half-decade with the Jazz, Gobert has averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. However, his impact goes way beyond numbers. He literally alters the way opponents play against the team, much to their own detriment. More than any player in recent years u2014 even Mitchell and Hayward u2014 Gobert defines the identity of the Utah Jazz. Next: No. 3},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/14/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: LOS ANGELES u2013 1988: Mark Eaton #53 of the Utah Jazz rests next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in 1988. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images) 3 Mark Eaton Center, UCLA Bruins, 1982 (No. 72 Overall) If getting a player like Gobert at No. 27 was lucky, Utahu2019s drafting of Mark Eaton was a case of divine intervention. Dude was literally discovered under the hood of a car in an auto shop. That was followed by two years of JUCO ball, after which he transferred to UCLA. The latter move may sound like a potential springboard to success, except Eaton played in just 30 games from 1980-82, averaging 1.8 points in less than seven minutes per contest.u00a0Nevertheless, former Jazz GM and coach Frank Layden liked his height and decided to take a chance on the mechanic-turned-hoopster in the fourth round of the 1982 NBA Draft. Yep, the FOURTH round. Big Mark would go on to become one of the most intimidating defensive forces in the history of the league. If he lands with a perennial title contender of the Lakers or Celtics mold, heu2019s probably a Hall of Famer right now. Ultimately, he became a Jazzman, and along with Dantley, Griffith, Bailey andu00a0Rickey Green, he made the team relevant for the first time. The 7-foot-4 center led the league in blocked shots four times and averaged more than four per game in four different seasons. To this day, he holds the records for blocks in a season (456 during the u201984-85 campaign), not to mention blocks per game in a season (5.56 in that same year) and for his career (3.5). Eaton twice received the Defensive Player of the Yearu00a0trophy, was a five-time All-Defensive team selection and represented the Jazzu00a0in the 1989 All-Star Game. Looking beyond the accolades, though, he was arguablyu00a0the greatest shot-blocker the game has ever seen. Next: No. 2},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/15/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: 2 John Stockton Guard, Gonzaga Bulldogs, 1984 (No. 16 Overall) Given his status as perhaps the greatest pure point guard ever to grace the court, it’s hard to fathom that even John Stockton himself was surprised when the Jazz drafted him No. 16 overall out of Gonzaga back in ’84. Equally insane is the fact that it was a pretty unpopular decision at the time, as evidenced by the video above. Clearly, when commissioner David Stern called Stockton’s name on draft night, fans in Jazzland were less than impressed. Now, it’s virtually unthinkable that he fell to the middle of the first round. In what’s largely consider the greatest draft cl in league history, he should’ve been up in the top four with the likes of Jordan, Hakeem the Dream and Charles Barkley. Despite the lukewarm reception, Stockton went from being an unknown to Green’s back-up to one of the best players of his or any other generation. Over 19 seasons, he averaged 13 points, over 10 ists and 2.2 steals per game. He also made over 50 percent of his shots as a perimeter player and boasts a career 3-point percentage of 38.4. To try to list all of his accomplishments here would be folly, but here are some of the fruits of Stockton’s two decades spent in a Jazz uniform — 10-time NBA All-Star and ’93 ASG MVP 11-time All-NBA selection Five-time All-Defensive team selection Nine-time league-leader in ists Two-time Olympic gold medalist All-time leader in ists (15,806) and steals (3,265) That last line looms largest; it represents the two most unbreakable records in professional sports. Next: No. 1},{title:Utah Jazz: Ranking the 15 best draft picks of all time,permalink:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/16/,shortCodeTitle:null,content: 1 Karl Malone Big, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 1985 (No. 13 Overall) There’s no denying the fact that John Stockton was a transcendental talent. However, it was the arrival of ‘The Mailman’ Karl Malone that transformed the Jazz from a fun little team that was better than people thought it was to one of the elite franchises in the NBA and a perennial title contender. Like Stockton, he was a steal in the middle of the first round. And while some of the players taken in the lottery ended up becoming stars in their own right, none of them had a career like the Mailman. More from The J-Notes Utah Jazz: LeBron James officially OUT for Friday’s bout in SLC Opinion: Utah Jazz should have drafted Landry Shamet over Grayson Allen Utah Jazz: Raul Neto is more than capable of uming PG mantle A grand opportunity to get above .500 begins as Utah Jazz host Magic Utah Jazz: It’s time for Naz Mitrou-Long to get an opportunity But that comes as no surprise; Malone was a two-time NBA MVP and arguably the best power forward in league history. For frame of reference, the three players taken immediately before Malone were Ed Pinckney, Keith Lee and Kenny Green. That’s one career role-player and two guys who were quickly out of the league, if you’re keeping score at home. It goes to show how unlikely it is to win big in the NBA Draft and Malone ranks among the biggest wins of all time. As with Basketball John, I won’t keep you here reading his entire list of basketball accomplishments, but here are some of the most notable — NBA Most Valuable Player in ’97 and ’99 14-time NBA All-Star and ASG MVP in ’89 and ’93 11-time All-NBA first team selection Two-time All-NBA second-team selection All-NBA third team in ’01 Three-time All-Defensive first team selection Two-time Olympic gold medalist No. 2 scorer in NBA history Next: Utah Jazz: 10 best international players in team history In just under 1,500 career games, Malone averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds, four ists and 1.4 steals per contest. Wow.}],useSlideSources:true,themeType:cl ic,prevPost:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/13/utah-jazz-2018-nba-draft-profile-donte-divincenzo/,nextPost:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-2018-nba-draft-profile-melvin-frazier/,prevText:Prev,nextText:Next, onWidth:0, onWidth_post:0,postUrl:https://thejnotes.com/2018/06/14/utah-jazz-all-time-rank-top-draft-picks/,postId:69973,refreshAds:true,refreshAdsEveryNSlides:1,adRefreshingMechanism: ascript,siteUrl:https://thejnotes.com,prevText_post:Prev post,nextText_post:Next post};(function ($) {$(do ent).ready(function () {try {tpsInstance = new tps.createSlideshow(tpsOptions);} catch(e) {}});}(jQuery)); Load Comments Top StoriesThe J-Notes 6 monthsKawhi Leonard to Utah Jazz an intriguing thought, but still as unlikely as everBleacher Report 6 monthsRory McIlroy Shoots Even Par at US Open 2018 on Friday, in Danger of Missing CutThe J-Notes 6 monthsUtah Jazz: David Stockton set to re-join Team USA this monthThe J-Notes 6 monthsLess than a week before draft, Utah Jazz holding important workoutThe J-Notes 6 monthsUtah Jazz 2018 NBA Draft Profile: Kevin Huerter Newsletter