Every NBA lottery team seeks a top 3 pick. While owning the No. 1 overall selection is the dream scenario, the No. 3 pick is probably more desirable due to the less pressure of “hitting a home run with the selection. But as could be presumed, the No. 3 pick has turned out several top basketball players.
The Top 10 No. 3 Draft Picks Since 2000
This is the third article in a series looking at the top and worst picks of each NBA Draft. I already looked at who the top and biggest busts of No. 1 and No. 2 draft selections are. So, here is an examination of the top 3 picks, excluding the most recent selections: VJ Edgecombe, Reed Shephard, and Scoot Henderson.
Ranking The Top No. 3 Draft Picks
1. Pau Gasol, Atlanta Hawks 2001
Pau Gasol is a Basketball Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest Spaniard to ever suit up in the NBA. The 7-footer, aka The Meal Ticket, was one of the best two-way bigs in the league. He was an outstanding scorer, rebounder, passer, and an underrated defender who excelled at protecting the rim. Additionally, he improved as a shooter.
A six-time All-Star, Gasol is a two-time champion and four-time All-NBA performer. Gasol is one of 19 NBA players who have totaled 20,0,00 points and 10,000 rebounds. He ranks 48th in the NBA career scoring list with 20,894 points. 30th in rebounds (11,305) and 24th in blocks (1941).
While Atlanta owned the No. 3 pick in 2001, the Hawks traded his rights to Vancouver on draft day with Brevin Knight and Lorenzen Wright for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jamaal Tinsley. Gasol ended up playing for five teams in his 18 years, though 13 of those seasons were spent with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. He also suited up for San Antonio, Chicago, and Milwaukee (3 games).
2. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets 2003
Carmelo Anthony was a pure scorer and a new Basketball Hall of Famer, enshrined in August 2025. Anthony ranks 12th in the NBA with 28,269 career points, having averaged at least 20 points in 14 seasons, including a league-leading average in 2012-13. He is a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team.
A six-time All-NBA performer and 10-time All-Star, Anthony ranks 20th in career buckets with 10,119, as he ranks 29th in two-point field goals and 34th in 3-point makes. He spent most of his 19-year NBA career with Denver and New York, though he also suited up for Portland, Oklahoma City, the Lakers, and Houston late in his career.
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder 2009
James Harden definitely has his detractors, but that shouldn’t take away from his undeniable talent or accomplishments. Harden has gone from one of the best sixth men in the league to an NBA MVP. He is an outscoring scorer, facilitator, and was also an elite defender. One of his best attributes is getting to the free-throw line.
A member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team, Harden is one of two players to be named the league’s 6th man and also MVP, joining Bill Walton. He is an 11-time all-star and eight-time all-NBA performer, earning First Team honors on six occasions.
Harden has led the league in scoring four times and assists once. The 35-year-old guard already has the 13th most points in NBA history with 27,683 points, which is the third most among active players. He is also fourth among active players and 13th overall in assists.
4. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers 2014
The 76ers got a steal with Joel Embiid, who slipped to them at No. 3. While I wasn’t a fan of him, per se, at Kansas, he is one of the most dominant two-way centers this century, with injuries keeping him from staying on top. There are questions about whether the 31-year-old will ever play again.
Embiid has been in the NBA for 11 seasons, though he appeared in just 31 in his first three campaigns and 58 in his last two. Still, when healthy, the 2022-23 NBA MVP has been almost unstoppable offensively. He led the league twice with over 30 points a game, and his 27.7 points a game is second most among active players — behind only Luka Doncic. Additionally, he has averaged at least 23 points and 10 rebounds in seven seasons.
5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics 2017
Jayson Tatum is a top-3 player in the game today; unfortunately, he won’t be able to continue to grow this year due to his Achilles Tendon injury. The 27-year-old forward has finished in the top six in MVP voting in each of the last four seasons. He has finished in the top 20 in the league in points in each of the previous six years, which includes scoring a season-high 2,225 in 2022-23.
The 2022-23 Eastern Conference Finals MVP is a six-time All-Star who has been a first-team all-NBA selection each of the last four seasons and finished in the top-10 in clutch player voting the past three seasons. More importantly, Tatum has helped the Celtics succeed as they own a 67% winning percentage in the contests that the Duke product has played, winning an NBA title in 2024. The Cs have also reached the Eastern Conference five times and the NBA finals twice with Tatum.
By the time Tatum is done playing, he could end up being the top B.3 player in the class this quarter century.
6. Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks 2007
Al Horford is arguably the most underrated No. 3 draft pick this century. The 39-year-old is expected to suit up for year 19 in 2025-26.
Horford has been solid throughout his NBA career, though never flashy. His best attributes have always been as a rebounder, low-post defense, and floor spacing ability. 2007-08 NBA Rookie of the Year Runner Up, Horford is a five-time all-star and two-time all-NBA selection. He also won an NBA title with the Celtics in 2024.
Horford ranks in the top 60 in the NBA in rebounds and blocks. Among active players, Horford is seventh in rebounds and sixth in blocked shots.
7. Luka Doncic, Atlanta Hawks 2018
Luka Doncic is not only one of the most electric offensive players in the game today, but he was also involved in arguably the most important NBA Draft Day trades. Doncic was sent to Dallas for Trae Young and a 2019 first-round pick, which turned out to be Cam Reddish.
Doncic is a fantastic scorer, passer, and rebounder, though defense is a real issue for the 26-year-old Slovenian. He is also a quality rebounder. His career 28.6 points per game is the most among active players, nearly one point more than Embiid, and the third most ever. He ranks 20th on the league’s all-time assists lists with 3700 and is fourth with 82 triple-doubles.
The five-time All-Star has been in the top-8 in MVP voting five times, finishing third in 2023-24. The 2018-19 Rookie of the Year was named the 2023-24 Western Conference Finals MVP, helping Dallas reach the Finals for the first time since 2010-11. He also reached the Western Conference finals in 2021-22. However, his teams have missed the playoffs twice and failed to advance past the first round three times in his seven-year career.
Doncic has a chance to be one of the top-5 No. 3 draft picks this quarter century, but he does have some work to do.
8. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards 2012
Bradley Beal is one of the best scorers in the NBA today. While Beal has been plagued by injuries and the Phoenix Suns’ Big 3 disaster, the 32-year-old is a bucket getter who has developed into one of the best active 3-point shooters and an underrated facilitator.
Beal is a three-time all-star and two-time all-league performer. He is 100th on the NBA all-time scoring list and 14th among active players at 17. 252 points. He is also 18th among players active with 1,717 career three-pointers and 18th in career field goals made per game (7.9).
9. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz 2005
Deron Williams is one of the most underrated point guards in NBA history. While not flashy, Williams would surgically carve up a defense with his penetration and passing abilities. He was also a good scorer and a ball hound defensively.
Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA, earning three all-star berths and being named an All-NBA selection twice. He ranks 24th on the league’s all-time assist list, and his 8.1 dimes a game for his career is 14th best. Additionally, Williams was a three-time gold medal winner with Team USA (twice in the Olympics).
10. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics 2016
Jaylen Brown has blossomed into a perennial All-Star and prolific scorer. The 2024 NBA Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP has been selected to the All-Star Game four times and is a two-time All-NBA selection.
Brown does his best work offensively inside the three-point arc and is an outstanding finisher. The athletic 28-year-old is great at creating for himself and has improved significantly as a facilitator. He is also a solid perimeter defender.
Brown has averaged 20 points and five rebounds in each of the last six seasons. While Brown has never finished in the top 20 in scoring during the regular season, he is 42nd on the NBA career list with 2608 points.
Honorable Mention
11. Evan Mobley, 12. LaMelo Ball, 13. Otto Porter Jr, 14. Derrick Favors, 15. Enes Freedom
Imagn Images: David Butler II, Imagn Images
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