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Sixth Picks in the NBA Draft

1 / 37The Pacers have the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the highest Indiana has drafted since 1988 and the first time ever the franchise has picked sixth. As we count down to Draft Night, we took a look back at every player drafted sixth overall over the past three decades as well as other notable sixth picks in league history. Click through to see the players selected with the sixth pick.

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thumbnail-image: The Pacers have the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the highest Indiana has drafted since 1988 and the first time ever the franchise has picked sixth. As we count down to Draft Night, we took a look back at every player drafted sixth overall over the past three decades as well as other notable sixth picks in league history. Click through to see the players selected with the sixth pick.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2021. 6th Pick: Josh Giddey. Drafted by: Oklahoma City Thunder. The Australian guard impressed as a 19-year-old rookie, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over 54 games. He became the youngest player ever to record a triple-double and was voted to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2020. 6th Pick: Onyeka Okongwu. Drafted by: Atlanta Hawks. The big man out of USC is still early in his NBA career. Okongwu has averaged 6.3 points on 67.2 percent shooting and 4.6 rebounds over 98 career games with Atlanta, including 10 starts.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2019. 6th Pick: Jarrett Culver. Drafted by: Phoenix Suns (traded to Minnesota). Culver started 35 games for Minnesota as a rookie, but saw his minutes and production decrease his second season with the Timberwolves. The former Texas Tech star was traded to Memphis last summer and averaged 3.5 points over 35 games with the Grizzlies in 2021-22.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2018. 6th Pick: Mo Bamba. Drafted by: Orlando Magic. A 7-footer out of the University of Texas, Bamba spent the bulk of his first three NBA seasons backing up All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic. He finally moved into a starting role last season and posted the best numbers of his career, averaging 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 48 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from 3-point range.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2017. 6th Pick: Jonathan Isaac. Drafted by: Orlando Magic. Isaac showed promise early in his career, moving into a starting role his second season in the league and averaging a career-best 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks over 34 games in 2019-20. The former Florida State forward tore his ACL in the NBA restart bubble in August 2020 and missed the next two seasons due to the injury.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2016. 6th Pick: Buddy Hield. Drafted by: New Orleans Pelicans. Hield, the former National Player of the Year at Oklahoma, was traded midway through his rookie season to Sacramento in the DeMarcus Cousins deal. He spent most of his career-to-date in Sacramento before being dealt to Indiana in February. The 6-4 sharpshooter is a proven NBA scorer, averaging 15.9 points in his career. He already ranks 50th all-time with 1,417 career 3-pointers made, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 39.8-percent clip. The durable Hield has also missed just three games due to injury or illness over his six-year career.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2015. 6th Pick: Willie Cauley-Stein. Drafted by: Sacramento Kings. The 7-footer out of Kentucky averaged 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds over four seasons in Sacramento. He signed with Golden State in 2019, but was traded midway through his first season with the Warriors to Dallas. He appeared in 84 games with the Mavs before being waived in January. He signed a 10-day with Philadelphia in February, appearing in two contests for the Sixers.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2014. 6th Pick: Marcus Smart. Drafted by: Boston Celtics. Smart has spent his entire eight-year career in Boston, establishing himself as a valuable part of the Celtics' core and one of the league's top perimeter defenders. The 6-3 guard has averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals over 520 career games (299 starts). He was voted to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team in 2019 and 2020 before being named the league's Defensive Player of the Year for 2021-22.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2013. 6th Pick: Nerlens Noel. Drafted by: New Orleans Pelicans (traded to Philadelphia). The 6-11 Noel sat out his rookie season while rehabbing a knee injury sustained while at Kentucky. He averaged 10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks over the next two-and-a-half seasons before being traded to Dallas. He has since played for Oklahoma City and New York and has career averages of 7.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2012. 6th Pick: Damian Lillard. Drafted by: Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard is easily the most accomplished sixth pick in the 21st century. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2013 and is a six-time All-Star and All-NBA selection. The 6-2 guard out of Weber State has averaged 24.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists over his career and is tied with Paul Pierce for ninth all-time with 2,143 career 3-pointers. Lillard received the prestigious honor of being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team last season.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2011. 6th Pick: Jan Vesely. Drafted by: Washington Wizards. Vesely, a 6-11 forward from the Czech Republic, averaged 3.5 points and 3.4 rebounds over 141 games (25 starts) with Washington. The Wizards traded him to Denver midway through his third season. He played in 21 games for the Nuggets to close out the 2013-14 season, his last games in the NBA.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2010. 6th Pick: Ekpe Udoh. Drafted by: Golden State Warriors. Udoh, a 6-10 big man out of Baylor, spent five seasons in the league split between Golden State, Milwaukee, and the Clippers. After playing overseas for two years, he returned to the NBA in 2017, signing a two-year deal with Utah. Over seven total NBA seasons, Udoh averaged 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2009. 6th Pick: Jonny Flynn. Drafted by: Minnesota Timberwolves. Flynn was the second of two point guards the Timberwolves drafted with consecutive picks in 2009. He averaged 13.5 points and 4.4 assists as a rookie, but those numbers dropped to 5.3 points and 3.4 assists the next season. He split his third season between Houston and Portland and never again appeared in an NBA game.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2008. 6th Pick: Danilo Gallinari. Drafted by: New York Knicks. Gallinari is the oldest sixth pick still playing in the NBA. The 6-10 Italian forward has played for five teams over 14 years in the league, averaging 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds for his career with a .382 3-point percentage.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2007. 6th Pick: Yi Jianlian. Drafted by: Milwaukee Bucks. A 7-footer out of China, Yi spent five seasons in the NBA with four different teams. His best season came in 2009-10, when he averaged 12 points and 7.2 rebounds over 52 games with the Nets. For his career, Yi averaged 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2006. 6th Pick: Brandon Roy. Drafted by: Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Portland). The Blazers acquired Roy through a pair of draft-night trades. The dealing paid off, as 6-6 guard out of the University of Washington was named Rookie of the Year, then made the All-Star team each of his next three seasons. Knee injuries cut short his 2010-11 season and forced him to announce his retirement that summer. He attempted a comeback with Minnesota for the 2012-13 season, but only played in five games before undergoing another knee surgery. Roy finished his career with averages of 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2005. 6th Pick: Martell Webster. Drafted by: Portland Trail Blazers. Drafted the last year players could enter the draft directly out of high school, Webster spent his first five seasons with Portland and an additional five years split between Minnesota and Washington. The 6-7 forward averaged 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds with a .382 3-point percentage over his 10-year career.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2004. 6th Pick: Josh Childress. Drafted by: Atlanta Hawks. Childress averaged 11.1 points on 52.2 percent shooting and 5.6 rebounds over four seasons with the Hawks. The former Stanford star then elected to sign a massive deal to play professionally in Greece for the next two years. He returned to the NBA with Phoenix in 2010 and played for three teams over the next four seasons. For his career, Childress averaged 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2003. 6th Pick: Chris Kaman. Drafted by: Los Angeles Clippers. A 7-foot center out of Central Michigan, Kaman spent the first eight of his 13 NBA seasons with the Clippers. He was named to his lone All-Star team in 2010, when he averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. For his career, Kaman averaged 11.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 48.9 percent shooting.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2002. 6th Pick: Dajuan Wagner. Drafted by: Cleveland Cavaliers. Wagner spent three seasons in Cleveland. The 6-2 guard out of the University of Memphis averaged 13.4 points over 47 games as a rookie, but injuries limited him to just 55 games over the next two seasons. He sat out the 2005-06 season due to ulcerative colitis and appeared in a single game for Golden State the next fall before being waived. Wagner finished his career averaging 9.4 points.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2001. 6th Pick: Shane Battier. Drafted by: Vancouver Grizzlies. Battier established himself as one of the league's great role players during his 13-year NBA career. The former Duke star provided defense and shooting for the Grizzlies, Rockets, and Heat, spending three or more seasons with each franchise. He was a two-time All-Defensive team selection and won a pair of championships in Miami. For his career, Battier averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range.

thumbnail-image: Year: 2000. 6th Pick: DerMarr Johnson. Drafted by: Atlanta Hawks. A 6-9 forward, Johnson played for four teams over seven seasons. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds over his career.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1999. 6th Pick: Wally Szczerbiak. Drafted by: Minnesota Timberwolves. Szcerbiak spent the first six and a half of his 10 NBA seasons in Minnesota and was named to the All-Star team in 2002, when he averaged 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range. The former Miami (OH) star finished his career with stops in Boston, Seattle, and Cleveland and averaged 14.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists with a .485 field-goal percentage and .406 3-point percentage.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1998. 6th Pick: Robert Traylor. Drafted by: Dallas Mavericks (traded to Milwaukee). "Tractor" Traylor played for four teams over a seven-year NBA career. The 6-8 big man averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds over his time in the league.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1997. 6th Pick: Ron Mercer. Drafted by: Boston Celtics. A prolific scorer out of Kentucky, Mercer played for seven different teams over eight NBA seasons. He was traded four times in a four-year period, including to the Pacers in 2002 alongside Ron Artest, Brad Miller, and Kevin Ollie in exchange for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, and Norm Richardson (Indiana moved Mercer in a three-team deal a little over a year later). Mercer averaged over 15 points per game in each of his first four seasons and finished with career averages of 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1996. 6th Pick: Antoine Walker. Drafted by: Boston Celtics. After leading Kentucky to a national title, Walker made an early impact in the NBA. He was voted to the All-Rookie First Team, then made the All-Star team in his second season, when he averaged 22.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. He averaged over 20 points per game in four of the next five seasons, earning All-Star selections again in 2002 and 2003. After spending his first seven years with the Celtics, Walker bounced around five teams over his last five NBA seasons (including a brief return to Boston). He retired with career averages of 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1995. 6th Pick: Bryant Reeves. Drafted by: Vancouver Grizzlies. "Big Country" spent his entire six-year career in Vancouver. The 7-footer out of Oklahoma State averaged 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds over his time in the NBA.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1994. 6th Pick: Sharone Wright. Drafted by: Philadelphia 76ers. A 6-11 center out of Clemson, Wright was traded from Philadelphia to Toronto midway through his second season. He spent three more seasons with the Raptors to wrap up a five-year career over which he averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1993. 6th Pick: Calbert Cheaney. Drafted by: Washington Bullets. The Big Ten's all-time leading scorer after a standout career at Indiana, Cheaney played for five teams over 13 NBA seasons. The 6-7 swingman averaged 9.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for his career.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1992. 6th Pick: Tom Gugliotta. Drafted by: Washington Bullets. Gugliotta played 13 seasons in the NBA for seven franchises. His best seasons came with Minnesota, where he was named an All-Star in 1997 when he averaged a career-best 20.6 points per game to go along with 8.7 rebounds, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.1 steals. The 6-10 forward out of NC State averaged 13 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals for his career.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1988. 6th Pick: Hersey Hawkins. Drafted by: Los Angeles Clippers (traded to Philadelphia). The 6-3 sharpshooting Hawkins knocked down 39.4 of his 3-point attempts over his 13-year NBA career. He averaged a career-best 22.1 points per game in 1990-91 for Philadelphia while earning his only All-Star selection. He started at shooting guard for the Sonics team that reached the 1996 NBA Finals. Hawkins retired with career averages of 14.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1987. 6th Pick: Kenny Smith. Drafted by: Sacramento Kings. Best known now for his role on TNT's Inside the NBA, Kenny "The Jet" Smith played for five teams over 11 seasons, highlighted by a six-year stint with Houston, where he helped the Rockets win back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995. For his career, Smith averaged 12.8 points and 5.5 assists with a .480 field-goal percentage and a .399 3-point percentage.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1981. 6th Pick: Orlando Woolridge. Drafted by: Chicago Bulls. An accomplished scorer out of Notre Dame, Woolridge spent 13 seasons in the NBA. He averaged 17.4 points and 4.7 rebounds over five seasons with the Bulls and retired with career averages of 16 points and 4.3 rebounds.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1978. 6th Pick: Larry Bird. Drafted by: Boston Celtics. Bird slipped to sixth in the draft primarily because he planned to return to Indiana State for another season, but once he got to the league, he was worth the wait for the Celtics. He led Boston to titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986, won three straight MVPs from 1984-86, and was named to 12 All-Star teams. For his career, Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from 3-point range, and 88.6 percent from the free throw line.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1976. 6th Pick: Adrian Dantley. Drafted by: Buffalo Braves. An All-American at Notre Dame, Dantley was also a standout in the NBA. He was briefly a Pacer after being traded to Indiana after his rookie season. He averaged 26.5 points and 9.4 rebounds over 23 games with the Pacers before being dealt to the Lakers. He found a home with his fourth team in Utah, where he was named an All-Star six times in seven seasons from 1979-86. He amassed over 23,000 career points and retired with averages of 24.3 points on 54 percent shooting and 5.7 rebounds. Dantley was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

thumbnail-image: Year: 1975. 6th Pick: Lionel Hollins. Drafted by: Portland Trail Blazers. Hollins helped lead Portland to the 1977 NBA title in his second pro season, then was named an All-Star the following year, when he averaged 15.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.9 steals. Hollins played for five teams over 10 NBA seasons, averaging 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. The Trail Blazers retired his number in 2007.