The 1998 NBA Draft


© Chris Lin
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Jun 2, 1998


It's Utah vs. Chicago in the 1998 NBA Finals. As this exciting season comes to a close, new faces emerge, ready to replace the aging veterans of pro basketball. There are no Tim Duncans in this group, but there is plenty of talent to spread around. Here are some of the top prospects.

Antawn Jamison is probably the best player in this draft. He was an All-American and won the Player of the Year Award. He also led North Carolina to the Final Four two years in a row. He is the most polished player in this draft and will definitely be in the Top 5. However, even though he will create an instant impact, he will only be a solid player for his NBA career, never a superstar.

Mike Bibby is the best guard in the draft. From Arizona, Bibby is fast, can shoot, and has great quickness. This is a guy with a whole lot of talent who can have a team built around him. If he gets a better perspective of the court, he could be a star. With the first pick, the Clippers could use this great leader to start rebuilding the franchise.

Michael Olowokandi is a big center who can score and play defense. Even though Vancouver says than Olowokandi is their man at second pick, they are stacked at center and they don't really need him. However, Denver, with the worst record in basketball, could use a guy like Olowokandi to beef up the front line.

Paul Pierce is a great all-around forward from Kansas. With Raef LaFrentz as his teammate, the two combined for excellent numbers and both were first-team All-Americans. He still hasn't reached his full potential, but if he can, he could do some major damage.

Raef LaFrentz, Pierce's teammate, is a great asset. On some teams he could be a starting center, but on others, he would likely be the backup. Although he has a great all-around game, he doesn't have that something special to be a superstar. Yet he will be instant offense and defense, and look for him to make his name heard in the NBA.

Al Harrington would be a gamble for any team willing to take him, but if he can succeed, he would be a great investment. He was the best player in high school basketball, and could be great. On the other hand, he could be a magnificent bust. Look for a solid, veteran team, such as Chicago, Utah, Seattle, or Indiana to try and pick up this talent.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
1.   May 4, 1998 2:04 PM
Picking Duke is like picking IBM as a stockpicker: If you're right, everyone pats you on the back for the "great" prediction. If you're wrong, no one cares, because everyone else picked it too.

Nev ...

-- posted by bnham



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