Top NBA draft picks from Montana
Summer may not be professional basketball season, but there is one thing that brings fans, teams, and college ball players the same excitement and anticipation as any headline matchup—the National Basketball Association's annual Draft.
The draft has evolved over the years from the sort of thing you'd read about in the newspaper to a fully televised event that has become a significant draw for the NBA, both from a revenue and brand reinforcement standpoint. The draft's key role for teams is to allow them to pinpoint their deficiencies in order to identify precisely what kind of player they need coming out of the annual raffle, and also to effect strategic trades either for (or with) draft picks to plan for the future.
The draft's impact at the college level is even bigger. Since it is the ambition of most college ball players to go pro, each year's draft presents them with a new chance to level up. Now that high school players cannot qualify except after a gap year (of either college ball or not) due to 2006's "one-and-done rule," the annual pool of eligible college players is the NBA's best source of fresh talent.
In summer 2022, colleges and universities across the country will see their top players try to fulfill their dream of playing at the professional level. Many schools are known for their basketball programs, and many more seem to slip under the radar while surprising teams and fans alike by producing some of the greatest players ever to take the court. For every Reggie Miller (UCLA), there's a Stephen Curry (Davidson College). That's what makes the draft so exciting for sports fans—they get to bear witness to dreams coming true and potential being rewarded. After more than 70 years, the NBA Draft retains its power to change the face of the game and help teams transform themselves into championship contenders.
With the next draft set for June 23, 2022, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NBA draft picks from [university], using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Before the 2022 draft class is decided, take a look back at the top picks from your favorite college team down through NBA history.
#10. Don Rae (F)
- Born: Butte, Montana
- Draft pick: #83 overall in 1965
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Lakers
- School: Montana State
- Years in NBA: 0
#9. Les Craft (C)
- Born: Bozeman, Montana
- Draft pick: #66 overall in 1983
- Drafted by: Cleveland Cavaliers
- School: Kansas State
- Years in NBA: 0
#8. Rich Froistad (F)
- Born: Helena, Montana
- Draft pick: #65 overall in 1963
- Drafted by: Baltimore Bullets
- School: Iowa State
- Years in NBA: 0
#7. Chuck Curtis (F)
- Born: Big Timber, Montana
- Draft pick: #57 overall in 1959
- Drafted by: Detroit Pistons
- School: Pacific Lutheran University
- Years in NBA: 0
#6. Les Roh (G)
- Born: Hardin, Montana
- Draft pick: #53 overall in 1956
- Drafted by: Syracuse Nationals
- School: Idaho State University
- Years in NBA: 0
#5. Jim Creighton (SF)
- Born: Billings, Montana
- Draft pick: #40 overall in 1972
- Drafted by: Seattle SuperSonics
- School: Colorado
- Years in NBA: 1
#4. Larry Krystkowiak (PF)
- Born: Missoula, Montana
- Draft pick: #28 overall in 1986
- Drafted by: Chicago Bulls
- School: Montana
- Years in NBA: 9
#3. Phil Jackson (PF)
- Born: Deer Lodge, Montana
- Draft pick: #17 overall in 1967
- Drafted by: New York Knicks
- School: University of North Dakota
- Years in NBA: 12
#2. Brad Holland (SG)
- Born: Billings, Montana
- Draft pick: #14 overall in 1979
- Drafted by: Los Angeles Lakers
- School: UCLA
- Years in NBA: 3
#1. Adam Morrison (SF/PF)
- Born: Glendive, Montana
- Draft pick: #3 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Charlotte Bobcats
- School: Gonzaga
- Years in NBA: 3
