History of the 3rd Pick

Welcome to Corner Three’s Draft Pick History (more here)! How valuable is the 3rd pick?

Of the 26 picks since 1995:

  • 14 players have made All-Star Teams (54%)
  • 10 players have made All-NBA Teams (38%)
  • The median career Win Shares is 41.5

Expected player values for the 3rd pick would be:

BestJames Harden
MedianJerry Stackhouse
WorstAdam Morrison

The mean 3rd pick has averaged:

Points/game15.6
Rebounds/game5.5
Assists/game3.2
Steals/game0.9
Blocks/game0.7

Here’s what the latest contract for the 3rd pick looks like:

YearSalaryNotes
1$7,839,960
2$8,231,760
3$8,623,920Team Option
4$10,900,635Team Option
5$14,301,633Qualifying offer

And here’s every 3rd pick since 1995:

PlayerTeamYearAll-Star TeamsAll-NBA TeamsWin Shares
LaMelo BallCHA20202.8
RJ BarrettNYK20193.6
Luka DončićATL2018 21.4
Jayson TatumBOS2017 25.5
Jaylen BrownBOS2016 18.7
Jahlil OkaforPHI20157.2
Joel EmbiidPHI2014 31.6
Otto PorterWAS201331.1
Bradley BealWAS2012 47.4
Enes KanterUTA201151.4
Derrick FavorsNJN201058.8
James HardenOKC2009 142.0
O.J. MayoMIN200821.8
Al HorfordATL200792.8
Adam MorrisonCHA2006-1.4
Deron WilliamsUTA200577.3
Ben GordonCHI200433.3
Carmelo AnthonyDEN2003104.9
Mike DunleavyGSW200258.5
Pau GasolATL2001144.1
Darius MilesLAC20009.5
Baron DavisCHH199963.1
Raef LaFrentzDEN199839.4
Chauncey BillupsBOS1997120.8
Shareef Abdur-RahimVAN199671.2
Jerry StackhousePHI199552.4
Italicized players are still active

Thanks to our sources, Basketball Reference and Spotrac.

Draft History compiled by Derek Reifer & RJ Garcia.