1998 NBA draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft really helped turn around two struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors.
The Mavericks, despite having a talented nucleus of Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson in the mid 90s, had not had a winning season since 1989-90. By the end of the 1997 season, all three players were traded and it was time to rebuild. With the sixth selection in 1998, they drafted Robert Traylor and quickly traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity. They then traded Garrity in a package to the Phoenix Suns for Steve Nash. With Nash and Nowitzki, the Mavericks quickly went from a lottery team in the late-90s to a perennial playoff contender throughout the 2000s.
Meanwhile, the Raptors were a recent expansion team that had failed to win more than 30 games in its first three seasons. With the fourth pick they selected Antawn Jamison, whom they quickly dealt to the Golden State Warriors for Vince Carter.
First overall pick Michael Olowokandi is regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history[1]
Six players from the 1998 draft class have played in the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their career: Nowitzki, Carter, Jamison, Paul Pierce, Rashard Lewis and the undrafted Brad Miller.
Players in bold type have been named to at least one All-NBA Team.
Round one
| = All-Star |
Round two
Notable undrafted players
All players are American unless otherwise mentioned.
| Player | School/Club Team |
|---|---|
| Earl Boykins (PG) | Eastern Michigan |
| Anthony Carter (PG) | Hawaiʻi |
| Mike James (PG) | Duquesne |
| Brad Miller (C) | Purdue |