The Brooklyn Nets are scheduled to have the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Let’s take a look at the Nets best NBA Draft picks in franchise history. It’s not necessarily the 10 best players ranked in order as where they were selected was taken into consideration. This includes their time as the New Jersey Nets as well. Only time with the team is credited, so someone like Bernard King isn’t here due to lack of time with the team. Along with King, other honorable mentions include Albert King, Jarrett Allen, Mookie Blaylock, Nenad Krstic, and P.J. Brown.
10 Best NBA Draft Picks In Brooklyn Nets History
10. Chris Morris (4th overall, 1988)
Spending seven seasons with the Nets, Chris Morris averaged double figures in scoring each one. Morris also averaged more than a steal per game in each of those years. The 6-foot-8 forward finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1988-89.
9. Mike Gminski (7th overall, 1980)
Look at the Nets career leaders, and you’ll find Mike Gminski near the top in quite a few categories. His 550 games rank third, 3,671 rebounds are fifth, and 599 blocks are fourth. Gminski averaged more than 16 points and eight rebounds each of his last two seasons with the Nets.
8. Cam Thomas (27th overall, 2021)
Still just 23 years old, Cam Thomas can move up this list if the Nets re-sign the soon-to-be restricted free agent. While he appeared in just 25 contests last season, he has proven to be Brooklyn’s top bucket-getter. Thomas has averaged 22.9 points in 91 games over the last two years.
7. Kerry Kittles (8th overall, 1996)
Kerry Kittles played seven seasons with the Nets (missed 2000-01 with injury). He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in 1996-97. In each of his years with the team, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged at least 12.9 points and 1.3 steals.
6. Nic Claxton (31st overall, 2019)
Through six seasons, Nic Claxton has overachieved compared to where he was drafted (second round). The 6-foot-11 center finished ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022-23. That season, Claxton also led the league in field goal percentage.
5. Kenyon Martin (1st overall, 2000)
While he played just four years for the Nets, Kenyon Martin was the starting power forward on NBA Finals teams in his second and third years. While his numbers weren’t eye-popping as a first overall pick, it was a notoriously weak draft. Martin was named an All-Star in his final year for the Nets.
4. Kenny Anderson (2nd overall, 1991)
Kenny Anderson was an excellent floor general in his 4.5 years with the Nets as evidenced by his assist-to-turnover ratio of three. Anderson was named an All-Star in 1993-94 and twice averaged more than nine assists. He had five triple-doubles in a Nets uniform.
3. Derrick Coleman (1st overall, 1990)
While some believe Derrick Coleman could have been even better, he was still mighty productive. In five seasons with the Nets, he twice was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Coleman averaged a double-double in his Nets tenure of 19.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.
2. Brook Lopez (10th overall, 2008)
An All-Star in 2012-13, Brook Lopez played nine seasons with the Nets. With the team, he posted averages of 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He is the franchise all-time leader in points (10,444) and rejections (972).
1. Buck Williams (3rd overall, 1981)
The franchise’s all-time leader in games played, Buck Williams was on the Nets for eight years. Named to three All-Star teams, he averaged a double-double in each of his first seven seasons. Williams was seventh in MVP voting for the 1982-83 season.
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