The Memphis Grizzlies ended their 2014-15 campaign with their third consecutive 50-win season, thus earning the right to make the 25th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 25.
With constant focus being put on the top-14 picks known as “the lottery,” there is often a conception that the lower half of the draft is devoid of impact talent.
The 25th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft would beg to differ.
The Boston Celtics selected current Grizzlies guard/forward Tony Allen with the 25th pick 11 years ago. Allen went on to play an important role for the Celtics, providing energy off the bench on a team that eventually hoisted the 2008 Larry O’Brien Trophy after a tough six-game battle with Phil Jackson’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Along with “2008 NBA Champion” on Allen’s résumé, he has since been named to four NBA All-Defensive Teams, including being one of this year’s First Team selections.
The following are other notable No. 25 overall picks from past drafts:
Current Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum, selected by Houston in 2008 from Le Mans (France), had his draft rights acquired by Portland in exchange for the rights to former Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur and current Rockets forward/center Joey Dorsey. Known as a jack-of-all-trades type player, Batum has averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists across the span of seven NBA seasons. In perhaps his best year as a professional, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 82 starts during the 2013-14 season. Batum is also part of the “five-by-five” club, which is exclusive to only eight players since the 1985-86 season. Batum accomplished the feat by recordings 11 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, five blocks and five steals in a 2012 matchup against the New Orleans Hornets.
Current Celtics forward Gerald Wallace has enjoyed a lengthy career, suiting up for five teams since being selected by Sacramento in the 2001 NBA Draft. In 2010, Wallace was selected as the first and only player to ever don a Charlotte Bobcats uniform in an All-Star game prior to the Charlotte franchise reverting back to the “Hornets” moniker for the 2014-15 season. He was named to the 2010 NBA All-Defensive First Team, led the league in steals in 2006 and was named Alabama’s Mr. Basketball in 2000 before attending the University of Alabama for one season from 2000-01. Wallace also received the 2000 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award.
Former forward Al Harrington was selected in the slot by Indiana in the 1998 NBA Draft. Over a 16-year career, Harrington played for seven teams averaging 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. He was selected by the Pacers from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey and is the cousin of former Grizzlies guard Dahntay Jones. Harrington was also a recipient of the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award in 1998.
Former Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies head coach Sidney Lowe was selected No. 25 by the Chicago Bulls in 1983. Before beginning his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991, Lowe played for five NBA teams scattered across four seasons from 1983-90. In between, he also had stints in the Continental Basketball Association from 1986-89. Prior to his professional basketball career, Lowe was the starting point guard for the 1983 NCAA Champion North Carolina State Wolfpack men’s basketball team under legendary head coach Jim Valvano. He followed in the footsteps of Valvano and held the position of head coach for his alma mater from 2006-2011. Lowe coached the Grizzlies for part of three seasons from 2000-02, and was the team’s first head coach after relocating to Memphis in 2001. He is currently in his third stint as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Dallas Mavericks selected former guard and four-time All-Star Mark Price with the 25th pick in 1986. A lethal shooter during his 12-year career, Price joined the 50-40-90 Club (at least .500 FG, .400 3FG and .900 FT percentage) after achieving the feat during the 1988-89 season – he is one just six players in history to accomplish the impressive achievement. Price had a myriad of accolades during his tenure in the league including an All-NBA First Team selection (1993), three All-NBA Third Team selections (1988, 1992, 1994) and has had his No. 25 jersey retired by both the Cleveland Cavaliers and his alma mater Georgia Tech. He finished with career averages of 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds for four teams (Cavaliers, Bullets, Warriors, Magic). Following his playing career, Price became an assistant coach for Georgia Tech from 1999-00 and later held assistant coaching positions with several NBA teams. Most recently, Price was named head coach of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte men’s basketball team for the 2015-16 season.
The Grizzlies last selected Tony Wroten (2012) in the No. 25 slot.
Nearly half of the players on the current Memphis roster were drafted at the No. 25 overall pick or below, lending proof that there is value to be had late in the draft. However, the Grizzlies will continue to strive to be slotted in the 25th slot or below – ensuring that the season that came directly before the June draft date was a successful one.
The owners of the first overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft – the Minnesota Timberwolves – will be on the clock starting at 6:30 p.m. (CT) this Thursday.