1998 NBA draft

Basketball player selection August 2023 1998 NBA draft Basketball June 24, 1998 General Motors Place (Vancouver, British Columbia) TNT, TSN NBA 58 2 Michael Olowokandi (Los Angeles Clippers) 3 SF Vince Carter PF Dirk Nowitzki SF Paul Pierce 1997 1999 The 1998 NBA draft took place on June 24, 1998, at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around four struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, the Boston Celtics, and the Toronto Raptors. The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were not able to win the NBA draft lottery; as they were expansion teams, they were not allowed to select first in this draft. The Mavericks, despite having a talented nucleus of Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson in the mid-1990s, had not had a winning season since 1989-90, which was also the last time they made the playoffs. 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 1990s to a perennial playoff contender throughout the 2000s. Nowitzki went on to win the 2011 NBA Finals with Dallas without Nash, but with Kidd. 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. Carter went on to win Rookie of the Year. First overall pick Michael Olowokandi from mid-major University of the Pacific is regarded by Sports Illustrated as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/06/24/gallery.nbabusts/content.18.html https://web.archive.org/web/20050627010627/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/2005/06/24/gallery.nbabusts/content.18.html dead June 27, 2005 Sports Illustrated photo gallery As of February 2019, he is the last top selection to come out of a university that is considered mid-major. Five players from the 1998 draft class played in the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their careers: Nowitzki, Carter, Jamison, Paul Pierce and Rashard Lewis. All of them except Lewis scored at least 20,000 career points. Carter retired in 2020, making him the last active player drafted in the 1990s to retire. He set the record for most seasons played in the NBA with 22 (although this was later broken by LeBron James), becoming the first player to ever appear in NBA games in four different decades. Nowitzki missed the same four-decade status by nine months, retiring from the Mavericks in April 2019 as the first player to ever spend more than 20 NBA seasons with one team. Draft selections right|thumb|150px|Mike Bibby was selected second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies. right|thumb|150px|Antawn Jamison was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors (traded to the Golden State Warriors). right|thumb|150px|Vince Carter was selected 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors (traded to the Toronto Raptors). right|thumb|150px|Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Dallas Mavericks). right|thumb|150px|Paul Pierce was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics. right|thumb|150px|Rashard Lewis was selected 32nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. PGPoint guard SGShooting guard SFSmall forward PFPower forward CCenter y y y y y Round Pick Player Position Nationalityn Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules. NBA team School/Club team11 Michael Olowokandi C Nigeria Nigeria Los Angeles Clippers Pacific (Sr.)12 Mike Bibby PG United States United States Vancouver Grizzlies Arizona (So.)13 Raef LaFrentz C/F United States Denver Nuggets Kansas (Sr.)14 Antawn Jamison+ F United States Toronto Raptors (traded to Golden State) North Carolina (Jr.)15 Vince Carter^~SF/SG United States Golden State Warriors (traded to Toronto) North Carolina (Jr.)16Robert Traylor F/C United States Dallas Mavericks (traded to Milwaukee) Michigan (Jr.)17 Jason Williams basketball, born 1975 PG United States Sacramento Kings Florida (Jr.) 1 8 Larry Hughes SG United States Philadelphia 76ers Saint Louis (Fr.) 1 9 Dirk Nowitzki^ PF Germany Germany Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Dallas) DJK Würzburg (Germany, 2nd division) 1 10 Paul Pierce^ SF/SG United States Boston Celtics Kansas (Jr.) 1 11 Bonzi Wells G/F United States Detroit Pistons Ball State (Sr.) 1 12 Michael Doleac C United States Orlando Magic Utah (Sr.) 1 13 Keon Clark F/C United States Orlando Magic (from Washington via Golden State; traded to Denver) UNLV (Sr.) 1 14 Michael Dickerson SG United States Houston Rockets Arizona (Sr.) 1 15 Matt Harpring F/G United States Orlando Magic (from New Jersey) Georgia Tech (Sr.) 1 16 Bryce Drew PG United States Houston Rockets (from New York via Portland and Toronto) Valparaiso (Sr.) 1 17 Radoslav Nesterovič Rasho Nesterovič C Minnesota Timberwolves Kinder Bologna (Italy) 1 18 Mirsad Türkcan PF Houston Rockets (from Portland via Toronto) Efes Pilsen (Turkey) 1 19 Pat Garrity PF United States Milwaukee Bucks (from Cleveland, traded to Phoenix) Notre Dame (Sr.) 1 20 Roshown McLeod SF United States Atlanta Hawks Duke (Sr.) 1 21 Ricky Davis G/F United States Charlotte Hornets Iowa (Fr.) 1 22 Brian Skinner F/C United States Los Angeles Clippers (from Miami) Baylor (Sr.) 1 23 Tyronn Lue PG United States Denver Nuggets (from Phoenix traded to L.A. Lakers) Nebraska (Jr.) 1 24 Felipe López basketball SG San Antonio Spurs (traded to Vancouver) St. John's (Sr.) 1 25 Al Harrington F United States Indiana Pacers St. Patrick's High School (Elizabeth, New Jersey) 1 26 Sam Jacobson SG United States Los Angeles Lakers Minnesota (Sr.) 1 27 Vladimir Stepania C GEO 1990 Georgia Seattle SuperSonics Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) 1 28 Corey Benjamin SG United States Chicago Bulls Oregon State (So.) 1 29 Nazr Mohammed C/F United States Utah Jazz (traded to Philadelphia) Kentucky (Jr.) 2 30 Ansu Sesay SF United States Dallas Mavericks (from Toronto) Mississippi (Sr.) 2 31 Ruben Patterson SF United States Los Angeles Lakers (from Vancouver) Cincinnati (Sr.) 2 32 Rashard Lewis+ PF United States Seattle SuperSonics (from Denver) Alief Elsik HS (Houston, Texas) 2 33 Jelani McCoy F/C United States Seattle SuperSonics (from L.A. Clippers) UCLA (Jr.) 2 34 Shammond Williams PG United States Chicago Bulls (from Golden State) North Carolina (Sr.) 2 35 Bruno Šundov C Dallas Mavericks Split (Croatia) 2 36 Jerome James C United States Sacramento Kings Florida A&M (Jr.) 2 37 Casey Shaw C United States Philadelphia 76ers Toledo (Sr.) 2 38 DeMarco Johnson PF United States New York Knicks (from Boston) Charlotte (Sr.) 2 39 Rafer Alston PG United States Milwaukee Bucks Fresno State (Jr.) 2 40 Korleone Young SF United States Detroit Pistons Hargrave Military Academy 2 41 Cuttino Mobley SG United States Houston Rockets Rhode Island (Sr.) 2 42 Miles Simon SG United States Orlando Magic Arizona (Sr.) 2 43 Jahidi White F/C United States Washington Wizards Georgetown (Sr.) 2 44 Sean Marks PF New Zealand New Zealand New York Knicks California (Sr.) 2 45 Toby Bailey SG United States Los Angeles Lakers (from New Jersey) UCLA (Sr.) 2 46 Andrae Patterson SF United States Minnesota Timberwolves Indiana (Sr.) 2 47 Tyson Wheeler PG United States Toronto Raptors Rhode Island (Sr.) 2 48 Ryan Stack C United States Cleveland Cavaliers South Carolina (Sr.) 2 49 Cory Carr SG United States Atlanta Hawks Texas Tech (Sr.) 2 50 Andrew Betts# C Charlotte Hornets Long Beach State (Sr.) 2 51 Corey Brewer basketball, born 1975# PG United States Miami Heat Oklahoma (Sr.) 2 52 Derrick Dial SG United States San Antonio Spurs Eastern Michigan (Sr.) 2 53 Greg Buckner SG United States Dallas Mavericks (from Phoenix) Clemson (Sr.) 2 54 Tremaine Fowlkes SF United States Denver Nuggets (from Indiana) Fresno State (Sr.) 2 55 Ryan Bowen SF United States Denver Nuggets (from Seattle) Iowa (Sr.) 2 56 J. R. Henderson J. R. Sakuragi SF United States Vancouver Grizzlies (from L.A. Lakers) UCLA (Sr.) 2 57 Torraye Braggs PF United States Utah Jazz Xavier (Sr.) 2 58 Maceo Baston PF United States Chicago Bulls Michigan (Sr.) n Notable undrafted players thumb|right|150px|Earl Boykins, a notable undrafted player, is known for being the second shortest player in NBA history. thumb|right|150px|Brad Miller was not drafted but had a successful 14-year career in the NBA that included two All-Star selections. thumb|right|150px|Šarūnas Jasikevičius was not drafted but later played in the NBA and is regarded as one of Europe's all-time greatest basketball players. List of undrafted NBA players These players eligible for the 1998 NBA Draft were not selected but played at least one game in the NBA. Player Position Nationality School/Club teamEarl BoykinsPGUnited StatesEastern Michigan (Sr.)Gerald Brown Gerald Brown (basketball)SGUnited StatesPepperdine (Sr.)Anthony Carter Anthony Carter (basketball)PGUnited StatesHawaii (Sr.)Sean ColsonPGUnited StatesCharlotte (Sr.)Steve GoodrichPF/CUnited StatesPrinceton (Sr.)Zendon HamiltonCUnited StatesSt. John's (Sr.)Randell JacksonPFUnited StatesFlorida State (Jr.)Mike James basketball, born 1975PGUnited StatesDuquesne (Sr.)Šarūnas JasikevičiusPGLTU 1988Maryland (Sr.)Charles Jones Charles Jones (basketball, born 1975)SGUnited StatesLIU Brooklyn (Sr.)Mark Jones basketball, born 1975SFUnited StatesUCF (Sr.)Kelly McCartySGUnited StatesSouthern Miss (Sr.)Slava MedvedenkoPFBudivelnyk Kyiv (Ukraine) Brad Miller Brad Miller (basketball)+CUnited StatesPurdue (Sr.)Makhtar N'Diaye basketballPFNorth Carolina (Sr.)Tyrone NesbySFUnited StatesUNLV (Sr.)Daniel SantiagoCSaint Vincent (Sr.)Jeff SheppardGUnited StatesKentucky (Sr.)Billy Thomas basketballSGUnited StatesKansas (Sr.)Óscar Torres basketballSF/SGMarinos (Venezuela) Early entrants College underclassmen Much like last year, this year initially saw 40 total players classified as underclassmen entering the NBA draft. However, seven players from this year's draft would later withdraw their names from entry, with Bud Eley from Southeast Missouri State University, Rico Harris from Los Angeles City College, the Yugoslavian-Greek born Marko Jarić from the Peristeri B.C. of Greece, the Bosnian-Greek born Saša Marković-Theodorakis from the Panionios B.C. in Athens, Greece, Lee Nailon from Texas Christian University, Lamar Odom from the University of Rhode Island, and the Greek born Dimitrios Papanikolaou from the Olympiacos Piraeus B.C. in Greece all withdrawing their entries into this year's draft. Including four different players that came directly from high school into the NBA draft (three of which actually became drafted) and three overseas players that successfully stayed into the NBA draft, the number of underclassmen would jump up from 26 total college players to 33 overall. Regardless, the following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.1998 Underclassmen https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3045:1998-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 The Draft Review August 4, 2007 December 17, 2022 USA Rafer Alston – G, Fresno State (junior) USA Corey Benjamin – G, Oregon State (sophomore) USA Mike Bibby – G, Arizona (sophomore) USA Chandar Bingham – F, Virginia Union (sophomore) USA Marcus Bullard – G, Auburn Montgomery (junior) USA Vince Carter – F/G, North Carolina (junior) USA Wayne Clark – G, Park (freshman) USA Tim Cole – G, Northeast Mississippi CC (sophomore) USA Peter Cornell – C, Loyola Marymount (junior) USA Arthur Davis – G, St. Joseph's (sophomore) USA Ricky Davis – F/G, Iowa (freshman) USA Tremaine Fowlkes – F, Fresno State (junior) USA Larry Hughes – G, Saint Louis (freshman) USA Randell Jackson – F, Florida State (junior) USA Jerome James – C, Florida A&M (junior) USA Antawn Jamison – F, North Carolina (junior) USA Tyronn Lue – G, Nebraska (junior) USA Jelani McCoy – F/C, UCLA (junior) USA Mark Miller – G, UIC (junior) USA Nazr Mohammed – F/C, Kentucky (junior) USA Paul Pierce – G/F, Kansas (junior) USA Adam Roberts – G, San Francisco State (junior) USA James Spears – F, Shaw (junior) USA Robert Traylor – F, Michigan (junior) USA Winfred Walton – F, Fresno State (sophomore) USA Jason Williams – G, Florida (sophomore) High school players Had Lamar Odom declared entry into this year's draft like he planned on doing, he would not have represented St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain, Connecticut due to him already declaring entry into college this year, but having academic troubles to qualify for collegiate play. That being said, this would be the fourth year in a row where at least one high school player would declare entry into the NBA draft after previously only doing it back in 1975. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance. USA Al Harrington – F, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, New Jersey) USA Rashard Lewis – F, Alief Elsik HS (Houston, Texas) USA Ellis Richardson – G, Polytechnic (Los Angeles, California) USA Korleone Young – F, Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Virginia) International players In addition to the players below, three more players from Greece initially declared entry for this year's draft, but ultimately withdrew their names for one reason or another. The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance. UKR Slava Medvedenko – F, Budivelnyk Kiev (Ukraine) GER Dirk Nowitzki – F, DJK Würzburg (Germany) CRO Bruno Šundov – C, Split (Croatia) Invited attendees The 1998 NBA draft is considered to be the 21st NBA draft to have utilized what's properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned somewhere within the General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada1998 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review April 25, 2026 https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/1998-green-room-invites ), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.Maurer Matthew 2024-02-18 Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts 2026-04-25 The Draft Review en-us The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 14 prospects at the time.Green Room - The Draft Review https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room 2026-04-14 The Draft Review en-us Despite the smaller amount of invites when compared to the past few years, there would be a notable amount of discrepancies between the missed invite of Dirk Nowitzki (and arguably Brad Miller, despite the latter invite being undrafted) alongside the late first round draft selection of Nazr Mohammed and the second round selection of Rashard Lewis, not to mention one of the worst #1 draft pick selections ever made in Michael Olowokandi. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person. USA Mike Bibby – PG, Arizona USA Vince Carter – SG/SF, North Carolina USA Michael Doleac – C, Utah USA Pat Garrity – PF, Notre Dame USA Larry Hughes – SG, Saint Louis USA Antawn Jamison – SF/PF, North Carolina USA Raef LaFrentz – PF/C, Kansas USA Rashard Lewis – PF, Alief Elsik High School (Houston, Texas) USA Nazr Mohammed – PF/C, Kentucky SVN Radoslav Nesterovič – C, Kinder Bologna (Italy) NGA Michael Olowokandi – C, Pacific USA Paul Pierce – SG/SF, Kansas USA Robert Traylor – PF/C, Michigan USA Bonzi Wells – SG/SF, Ball State See also List of first overall NBA draft picks References External links http://www.nba.com/draft98/ Official website NBA.com 2011-06-15 bot: unknown https://web.archive.org/web/20010214234002/http://www.nba.com/draft98/ 2001-02-14 1998 NBA Draft at Basketball-Reference.com Draft Category:NBA draft NBA draft Category:1990s in Vancouver Category:Basketball in Vancouver Category:Organized events in Vancouver