Best draft picks in Washington Wizards history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also reportedly worth hundreds of millions to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Washington Wizards history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Darren Daye
- Stacker score: 2.0
- 57th overall pick in 1983
- Played three seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 9.3 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#49. Calbert Cheaney
- Stacker score: 2.0
- Sixth overall pick in 1993
- Played four seasons with Washington Bullets and two seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 9.5 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -2.5 box plus/minus, -2.9 VORP
#48. Bill McGill
- Stacker score: 2.0
- First overall pick in 1962
- Played one season with Chicago Zephyrs and one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 6.7 win shares
#47. Wes Matthews
- Stacker score: 2.0
- 14th overall pick in 1980
- Played one season with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 7.9 PTS, 1.3 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.0 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 1.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#46. Nick Young
- Stacker score: 2.1
- 16th overall pick in 2007
- Played five seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 2.0 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.6 win shares, -2.2 box plus/minus, -0.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2018 NBA Champ
#45. Kwame Brown
- Stacker score: 2.2
- First overall pick in 2001
- Played four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 6.6 PTS, 5.5 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.8 win shares, -2.4 box plus/minus, -1.3 VORP
#44. Len Elmore
- Stacker score: 2.3
- 13th overall pick in 1974
- Career averages: 6.0 PTS, 5.1 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.3 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 1.6 VORP
#43. Brent Price
- Stacker score: 2.3
- 32nd overall pick in 1992
- Played three seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 5.9 PTS, 1.6 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.0 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 2.2 VORP
#42. Kelly Oubre
- Stacker score: 2.8
- 15th overall pick in 2015
- Played four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 12.8 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.2 win shares, -1.7 box plus/minus, 0.9 VORP
#41. Frank Johnson
- Stacker score: 3.0
- 11th overall pick in 1981
- Played seven seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 8.3 PTS, 1.7 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.2 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#40. Tomáš Satoranský
- Stacker score: 3.1
- 32nd overall pick in 2012
- Played four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.9 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 2.4 VORP
#39. Manute Bol
- Stacker score: 3.1
- 31st overall pick in 1985
- Played four seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 2.6 PTS, 4.2 REB, 0.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.3 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x BLK Champ
--- 1985-86 All-Defensive
#38. Gheorghe Mureșan
- Stacker score: 3.4
- 30th overall pick in 1993
- Played four seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 6.4 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.0 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
#37. Andray Blatche
- Stacker score: 3.8
- 49th overall pick in 2005
- Played seven seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.2 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 3.8 VORP
#36. Bobby Simmons
- Stacker score: 3.8
- 42nd overall pick in 2001
- Played two seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.1 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 3.6 VORP
#35. Stan McKenzie
- Stacker score: 4.4
- 94th overall pick in 1966
- Played one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 9.0 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.5 win shares
#34. Kevin Grevey
- Stacker score: 4.4
- 18th overall pick in 1975
- Played eight seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 2.4 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.5 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1978 NBA Champ
#33. Fred Carter
- Stacker score: 4.5
- 43rd overall pick in 1969
- Played three seasons with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 15.2 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.8 win shares
#32. Mitch Kupchak
- Stacker score: 4.6
- 13th overall pick in 1976
- Played five seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 10.2 PTS, 5.4 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.1 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 3.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#31. Trevor Booker
- Stacker score: 4.8
- 23rd overall pick in 2010
- Played four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.2 win shares, -0.5 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#30. Rod Thorn
- Stacker score: 5.2
- Second overall pick in 1963
- Played one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 3.1 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.2 win shares
- Accolade
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#29. Steve Blake
- Stacker score: 5.2
- 38th overall pick in 2003
- Played two seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 6.5 PTS, 2.1 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.1 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#28. John Williams
- Stacker score: 5.6
- 12th overall pick in 1986
- Played five seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 5.1 REB, 2.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.9 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 8.8 VORP
#27. Brendan Haywood
- Stacker score: 6.6
- 20th overall pick in 2001
- Played nine seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 6.8 PTS, 6.0 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 43.8 win shares, -1.4 box plus/minus, 2.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2011 NBA Champ
#26. Harvey Grant
- Stacker score: 6.6
- 12th overall pick in 1988
- Played six seasons with Washington Bullets and one season with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 9.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.4 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 5.7 VORP
#25. Dave Corzine
- Stacker score: 7.2
- 18th overall pick in 1978
- Played two seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 8.5 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.3 win shares, -0.7 box plus/minus, 7.0 VORP
#24. JaVale McGee
- Stacker score: 8.0
- 18th overall pick in 2008
- Played four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 7.8 PTS, 5.2 REB, 0.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 43.0 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 7.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
#23. Rick Mahorn
- Stacker score: 8.2
- 35th overall pick in 1980
- Played five seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 6.9 PTS, 6.2 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 51.7 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1989 NBA Champ
--- 1989-90 All-Defensive
#22. Jeff Malone
- Stacker score: 8.3
- 10th overall pick in 1983
- Played seven seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 19.0 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 54.2 win shares, -1.5 box plus/minus, 4.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#21. Truck Robinson
- Stacker score: 8.9
- 22nd overall pick in 1974
- Played three seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 15.5 PTS, 9.4 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.7 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 6.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1977-78 TRB Champ
--- 1977-78 All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#20. Juwan Howard
- Stacker score: 8.9
- Fifth overall pick in 1994
- Played three seasons with Washington Bullets and four seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 13.4 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.4 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 3.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1995-96 All-NBA
--- 1x All Star
#19. Otto Porter
- Stacker score: 9.0
- Third overall pick in 2013
- Played six seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 5.0 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.5 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 12.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2022 NBA Champ
#18. Tom Gugliotta
- Stacker score: 10.4
- Sixth overall pick in 1992
- Played three seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 13.0 PTS, 7.3 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 40.2 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 15.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#17. Don Kojis
- Stacker score: 10.8
- 13th overall pick in 1961
- Played one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 12.2 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#16. Kevin Porter
- Stacker score: 10.8
- 39th overall pick in 1972
- Played one season with Baltimore Bullets, one season with Capital Bullets, and four seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 11.6 PTS, 1.8 REB, 8.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 4x AST Champ
#15. Richard Hamilton
- Stacker score: 12.9
- Seventh overall pick in 1999
- Played three seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 17.1 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 62.8 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 13.2 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 1.8%
- Accolades
--- 2004 NBA Champ
--- 3x All Star
#14. Muggsy Bogues
- Stacker score: 13.1
- 12th overall pick in 1987
- Played one season with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 7.7 PTS, 2.6 REB, 7.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 54.0 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 17.9 VORP
#13. Greg Ballard
- Stacker score: 13.2
- Fourth overall pick in 1977
- Played eight seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 54.0 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 18.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1978 NBA Champ
#12. Bradley Beal
- Stacker score: 14.9
- Third overall pick in 2012
- Played 11 seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 22.1 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 52.2 win shares, 1.7 box plus/minus, 22.6 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.3%
- Accolades
--- 2020-21 All-NBA
--- 3x All Star
#11. Jerry Sloan
- Stacker score: 14.9
- Sixth overall pick in 1965
- Played one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 14.0 PTS, 7.4 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 49.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 6x All-Defensive
--- 2x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#10. Terry Dischinger
- Stacker score: 17.4
- 10th overall pick in 1962
- Played one season with Chicago Zephyrs and one season with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 13.8 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 56.3 win shares
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.7%
- Accolades
--- 1962-63 ROY
--- 3x All Star
#9. Jack Marin
- Stacker score: 17.8
- Fifth overall pick in 1966
- Played six seasons with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 14.8 PTS, 5.2 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#8. Bill Bridges
- Stacker score: 18.8
- 32nd overall pick in 1961
- Career averages: 11.9 PTS, 11.9 REB, 2.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 59.9 win shares
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.4%
- Accolades
--- 1975 NBA Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 3x All Star
#7. John Wall
- Stacker score: 19.4
- First overall pick in 2010
- Played nine seasons with Washington Wizards
- Career averages: 18.7 PTS, 4.2 REB, 8.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 44.5 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 24.1 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 32.4%
- Accolades
--- 2016-17 All-NBA
--- 2014-15 All-Defensive
--- 5x All Star
#6. Gus Johnson
- Stacker score: 20.8
- 11th overall pick in 1963
- Played nine seasons with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 16.2 PTS, 12.1 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1973 ABA Champ
--- 4x All-NBA
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#5. Rasheed Wallace
- Stacker score: 28.1
- Fourth overall pick in 1995
- Played one season with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 14.4 PTS, 6.7 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 105.1 win shares, 2.2 box plus/minus, 38.3 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 8.6%
- Accolades
--- 2004 NBA Champ
--- 4x All Star
#4. Don Nelson
- Stacker score: 32.4
- 19th overall pick in 1962
- Played one season with Chicago Zephyrs
- Career averages: 10.3 PTS, 4.9 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 74.6 win shares
- Accolades
--- 5x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#3. Earl Monroe
- Stacker score: 33.3
- Second overall pick in 1967
- Played five seasons with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 18.8 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 77.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1973 NBA Champ
--- 1967-68 ROY
--- 1968-69 All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Wes Unseld
- Stacker score: 43.1
- Second overall pick in 1968
- Played five seasons with Baltimore Bullets, one season with Capital Bullets, and seven seasons with Washington Bullets
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 14.0 REB, 3.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 110.1 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1978 NBA Champ
--- 1968-69 MVP
--- 1977-78 Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Walt Bellamy
- Stacker score: 49.8
- First overall pick in 1961
- Played one season with Chicago Packers, one season with Chicago Zephyrs, and three seasons with Baltimore Bullets
- Career averages: 20.1 PTS, 13.7 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 130.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1961-62 ROY
--- 4x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
