21-29
13 out of 13
21. Golden State Warriors: Jumaine Jones
Operating mostly as a small forward but capable of filling in at power forward or shooting guard, Jumaine Jones possessed a reliable three-point shot (34.9 percent) and was an exceptional rebounder for his size. Of all the prospects drafted in 1999 measuring 6’8″ or under, only Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, and Tim Thomas outperformed Jones in rebounding percentage.
Additionally, Jones recorded 11 matchups where he connected on five or more shots from beyond the arc, and he surpassed the 20-point threshold 20 times during his playing days. That represents solid value for the 21st pick.
22. Houston Rockets: Pablo Prigioni
Even though his first NBA season didn’t occur until 2012-13 when he was already 35, Pablo Prigioni belongs to this draft crop chronologically. Disregarding his short four-year tenure in the league, we can appreciate the clever playmaker’s outstanding perimeter shooting and passing ability. His 24.4 percent assist rate stands sixth among his draft peers.
Connecting on 37.9 percent of his long-range attempts, Prigioni registered positive defensive box plus/minus numbers in each of his professional seasons and recorded a true shooting percentage that was above-average in three of those campaigns. Indeed, many Knicks supporters who watched him play heavy minutes for over two years would argue that he was far too unselfish and should have taken shots more often.
23. Los Angeles Lakers: Gordan Giricek
Known for his aggressive style and fluid shooting form, Gordan Giricek played for five different franchises over a six-year span, providing instant offense at every stop. He produced 15.0 points per 36 minutes and surpassed the 20-point mark 24 times.
At this stage of the draft order, finding players with notable league accolades is rare, which highlights the importance of Giricek’s selection to the 2002-03 All-Rookie team.
24. Utah Jazz: Eddie Robinson
As a classic, old-school small forward, Eddie Robinson lacked perimeter range but boasted elite vertical athleticism. He belongs to a rare group of players who completed a self-pass alley-oop during live game action, even if the low-resolution lens of standard definition makes it hard to fully witness.
His reputation as a difficult personality with a questionable work ethic cut his career short at just five seasons, yet his exceptional athleticism and efficient 50.7 percent field-goal rate (thanks to easy dunks) are plenty to earn him a spot inside the top 25.
25. Miami Heat: Todd MacCulloch
Chronic foot ailments cut Todd MacCulloch’s career short at just 27 years old, yet he functioned as a highly reliable starting center during his final two campaigns from 2001 to 2003. The 7-foot Canadian enjoyed his finest season at age 26 with New Jersey, putting up averages of 9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks on 53.1 percent shooting.
Even with his prematurely shortened career, MacCulloch ranks 20th overall in total win shares and 19th in VORP among all players drafted in 1999.
26. Indiana Pacers: Calvin Booth
An impressive 6.0 percent block rate allowed Calvin Booth to carve out a 10-year NBA career, although various injuries and deep reserve roles restricted his availability to just 366 appearances over that ten-year period.
Standing 6’11”, Booth enjoyed his most effective years with the Seattle SuperSonics between 2001 and 2004, highlighted by a 10-block performance on January 13, 2004. Andrei Kirilenko is the sole other member of this draft class to record a double-digit block game, though it is worth highlighting that Booth achieved his ten rejections in a mere 17 minutes on the court.
He is also remembered for throwing down a vicious poster dunk on Mike Dunleavy Jr.
27. Atlanta Hawks: Lee Nailon
During the two seasons he served as a primary starter, Lee Nailon posted double-digit scoring averages, netting 10.8 points per contest for the 2001-02 Charlotte Hornets and a personal-best 14.2 points for the franchise after its move to New Orleans for the 2004-05 season.
Without a reliable outside shot, the versatile forward used his 6’9″, 238-pound physical profile to finish efficiently in the paint while also converting a solid 39.2 percent of his long mid-range jumpers. Operating as an intelligent cutter with sufficient ball-handling to generate his own mid-range opportunities, Nailon uncovered numerous paths to scoring without relying on the three-point line.
28. Utah Jazz: Francisco Elson
Focused chiefly on rebounding and interior defense, the 7-foot Francisco Elson appeared in 472 total contests over nine seasons with six different franchises. Although the Nuggets drafted him 41st overall in 1999, Elson spent four seasons playing overseas before making his NBA debut in 2003-04. While his averages never exceeded 5.0 points or 21.9 minutes per match, his 13.3 percent rebounding rate stands seventh among all 1999 draft selections who logged a minimum of 400 professional appearances.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Jonathan Bender
Calling him a draft bust is unjustified because physical ailments, rather than deficiency in skill, derailed Jonathan Bender’s professional path. Selected fifth overall by Toronto before being traded to Indiana for Antonio Davis, the 6’11” high school phenom possessed guard-like abilities but could never maintain his health long enough to find his stride, appearing in just 21 games at age 23, seven at age 24, and only two at age 25.
Severe knee complications kept him completely sidelined for three consecutive seasons between 2006 and 2009, and following a brief 25-game run with New York in the 2009-10 campaign, his playing days concluded.
The perfect concept of Bender was a guard trapped in a center’s body, and he offered tantalizing, fleeting glimpses of this talent early on, converting 36.0 percent of his attempts from deep during 2001-02, which was his healthiest season.
Lest his placement here seem unearned, his 3.8 lifetime win shares actually rank 28th among his peers. Despite playing so rarely at peak health, his numbers provide a solid analytical justification for this ranking.
Statistical data provided by Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass except where specified.
