Five No. 4's

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The season of struggle has given way to an offseason of optimism, and it begins by Looking Toward the Lottery. During the next few weeks, NJNets.com will take you through the process with our ongoing series. Stay tuned for more!

Five No. 4's
Since the lottery began in 1985, when the Knicks won the right to select clear No. 1 pick Patrick Ewing, teams have had to be open to the possibility they might not be drafting in order of finish. But that doesn’t mean good value will cease to be available for anyone who drops down. With the Nets guaranteed to pick at least fourth, we’ll take a historical swing through each of the team’s potential draft positions to see what could be.

Here’s a look at five No. 4 picks who went on to stand out after standing next to David Stern on draft day:

1. Dikembe Mutombo (1994, Denver Nuggets)

Fans called this force to be reckoned with “Mt. Mutomobo.” The raspy-voiced 7-footer from the Congo intimidated opponents with his long wingspan, shot-swatting and the taunting finger-wag reminder of just “who’s house” they were in. Selected behind UNLV Runnin’ Rebel Larry Johnson, Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Kenny Anderson, and Syracuse Orange Billy Owens, Mutombo outlasted and outproduced them during his 18 seasons. Mutombo averaged a double-double in his first 11 seasons, a stretch that included three consecutive shot-blocking titles (1993-96) and two straight rebounding titles (1999-2001). Six times Mutombo played in all 82 games. On Jan. 10, 2007, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the second-most-prolific shot blocker in NBA history, trailing only Hakeem Olajuwon.

2. Chris Paul (2005, New Orleans Hornets)

Early in the young guard’s career, even as the four players ahead of him (Andrew Bogut, Marvin Williams and Deron Williams) have become solid-to-impressive pros, it seems the Hornets stole Chris Paul with the No. 4 pick – fitting, because he’s twice led the league in steals. He’s also twice paced the NBA in assists. In just five NBA seasons, the 24 year-old North Carolina native has proven to be what fantasy basketball owners call a “Stat Stuffer.” Paul won the 2006 Rookie of the Year Award by leading all first-year players in points, assists, steals, and minutes. The former Demon Deacon has quickly risen through the NBA’s point guard hierarchy, with a peak performance culminating in a third-place finish for the 2008 Most Valuable Player Award. On Dec. 17, 2008, against the San Antonio Spurs, Paul registered a steal for the 106th consecutive game, breaking Alvin Robertson’s 22-year-old NBA record.

3. Glen Rice (1989, Miami Heat)

The expansion Heat, in their second year of existence, needed offensive firepower after finishing last in points per game the previous season. With the fourth pick in the 1989 NBA draft, the Miami Heat selected explosive Michigan forward Glen Rice after highly touted prospects Pervis Ellison (No. 1), Danny Ferry (No. 2) and Sean Elliott (No. 3). Rice ranks as the lottery’s highest-scoring No. 4 pick after scoring 18,336 points during his 15-year career. Rice proved to be the Heat’s first star player and led the franchise to its first playoff series in 1991. Traded to Charlotte in 1995, Rice was at his best for the Hornets, averaging a career-best 26.8 points in the 1996-97 season, trailing only Michael Jordan and Karl Malone. Rice was an assassin from long range, and currently ranks eighth on the NBA’s career list with 1,559 three-point field goals made. The Flint, Mich. native remains the Hornets’ all-time leader in scoring, but Chris Paul (see above) looms.

4. Antawn Jamison (1998, Golden State Warriors via Toronto)

5. Rasheed Wallace (1996, Washington Bullets )

Honorary Mention

Tyreke Evans (2009, Sacramento Kings)

	Stats
	G	GP	MPG	FG%	SPG	RPG	APG	PPG
	72	72	37.2	0.458	1.4	5.3	5.8	20.1
	Notes
	Fourth Rookie to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Thanks to Marketing Intern Craig Manfra and Marketing Assistant Dave M. Brown for the assist!

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