The 1997 draft, redrafted
Hoops Redraft rates 43 players from the 1997 draft. Four of them reached 70 or better in at least one season. By the game's numbers the best career in the class belongs to Tim Duncan, the first pick. The latest pick in the redraft's top five is Stephen Jackson, who went 42nd.
The board below is the real order: where each man was taken and by whom, his rating in 1997-98, his best season and the number of seasons he is rated. Ratings are scaled inside each season, so 50 is that year's average player and 70 is a star. Nine of them have no 1997-98 rating, shown as a dash.
Play from 1997-98 Take over any club in 1997-98. The 1997 class is the first draft of your run.
The redraft
The class again, in the order the game's numbers would take it: by career value, which adds up how far each of his seasons sits above an average player. A long good career beats one great season.
- Tim Duncan, forward/centre, same spot as the real draft. Peak 83 in 2012-13, 19 rated seasons.
- Tracy McGrady, guard/forward, taken 9th by Toronto. Peak 87 in 2002-03, 16 rated seasons.
- Chauncey Billups, guard, same spot as the real draft. Peak 72 in 2005-06, 17 rated seasons.
- Stephen Jackson, guard, taken 42nd by Phoenix. Peak 69 in 2008-09, 14 rated seasons.
- Tim Thomas, forward, taken 7th by New Jersey. Peak 64 in 2000-01, 13 rated seasons.
- Keith Van Horn, forward, taken 2nd by Philadelphia. Peak 75 in 1998-99, 6 rated seasons.
- Bobby Jackson, guard, taken 23rd by Seattle. Peak 66 in 2002-03, 12 rated seasons.
- Brevin Knight, guard, taken 16th by Cleveland. Peak 66 in 2004-05, 12 rated seasons.
- Derek Anderson, guard, taken 13th by Cleveland. Peak 64 in 2000-01, 11 rated seasons.
- Danny Fortson, forward, same spot as the real draft. Peak 64 in 1998-99, 10 rated seasons.
Steals and misses
Taken well after his career said he should have gone:
- Stephen Jackson: 42nd in the real draft, 4th in the redraft. Peak 69.
- Bobby Jackson: 23rd in the real draft, 7th in the redraft. Peak 66.
- Brevin Knight: 16th in the real draft, 8th in the redraft. Peak 66.
Top-ten picks the redraft moves furthest down:
- Ron Mercer: 6th in the real draft, 18th in the redraft. Peak 61.
- Tony Battie: 5th in the real draft, 14th in the redraft. Peak 58.
- Adonal Foyle: 8th in the real draft, 16th in the redraft. Peak 61.
The real board
| Pick | Player | Pos | Club | Rookie | Peak | Seasons | Redraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim DuncanWake Forest | F/C | San Antonio | 74 | 83 2012 | 19 | 1 |
| 2 | Keith Van HornUtah | F | Philadelphia | 64 | 75 1998 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Chauncey BillupsColorado | G | Boston | 57 | 72 2005 | 17 | 3 |
| 4 | Antonio DanielsBowling Green | G | Vancouver | 52 | 60 2004 | 13 | 11 |
| 5 | Tony BattieTexas Tech | C/F | Denver | 56 | 58 1998 | 14 | 14 |
| 6 | Ron MercerKentucky | F | Boston | 59 | 61 1998 | 4 | 18 |
| 7 | Tim ThomasVillanova | F | New Jersey | 60 | 64 2000 | 13 | 5 |
| 8 | Adonal FoyleColgate | C | Golden State | 42 | 61 2002 | 12 | 16 |
| 9 | Tracy McGradyMt. Zion Christian Academy | G/F | Toronto | 57 | 87 2002 | 16 | 2 |
| 10 | Danny FortsonCincinnati | F | Milwaukee | 63 | 64 1998 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | Tariq Abdul-WahadSan Jose State | F | Sacramento | 46 | 55 1998 | 6 | 25 |
| 12 | Austin CroshereProvidence | F | Indiana | 36 | 64 1999 | 12 | 13 |
| 13 | Derek AndersonKentucky | G | Cleveland | 59 | 64 2000 | 11 | 9 |
| 14 | Maurice TaylorMichigan | F | LAC | β | 60 2000 | 6 | 20 |
| 15 | Kelvin CatoIowa State | C | Dallas | 49 | 57 1999 | 10 | 17 |
| 16 | Brevin KnightStanford | G | Cleveland | 62 | 66 2004 | 12 | 8 |
| 17 | Johnny TaylorChattanooga | F | Orlando | β | 45 1998 | 1 | 31 |
| 18 | Chris Anstey | F | Portland | 46 | 51 1999 | 3 | 28 |
| 19 | Scot PollardKansas | C | Detroit | 38 | 59 2001 | 11 | 21 |
| 20 | Paul GrantWisconsin | C | Minnesota | β | 31 2003 | 1 | 42 |
| 21 | Anthony Parker | G | New Jersey | 36 | 58 2007 | 9 | 19 |
| 22 | Ed GrayCalifornia | G | Atlanta | 44 | 44 1997 | 2 | 33 |
| 23 | Bobby JacksonMinnesota | G | Seattle | 62 | 66 2002 | 12 | 7 |
| 24 | Rodrick RhodesUSC | G | Houston | 43 | 43 1997 | 2 | 34 |
| 25 | John ThomasMinnesota | C | New York | 40 | 40 1997 | 2 | 36 |
| 26 | Charles SmithNew Mexico | G | Miami | β | 28 2002 | 2 | 43 |
| 27 | Jacque VaughnKansas | G | Utah | 40 | 57 2001 | 12 | 23 |
| 28 | Keith BoothMaryland | F | Chicago | β | 42 1998 | 1 | 35 |
| 31 | Charles O'BannonUCLA | G | Detroit | 34 | 39 1998 | 2 | 37 |
| 32 | James CottonLong Beach State | F | Denver | 31 | 33 1998 | 2 | 41 |
| 33 | Marko MiliΔSmelt Olimpija | G | Philadelphia | 38 | 38 1997 | 2 | 38 |
| 35 | Kebu StewartCal State Bakersfield | F | Philadelphia | 34 | 34 1997 | 1 | 40 |
| 37 | Marc JacksonTemple | F | Golden State | β | 59 2000 | 5 | 26 |
| 38 | Jerald HoneycuttTulane | F | Milwaukee | 45 | 45 1997 | 2 | 32 |
| 39 | Anthony JohnsonCollege of Charleston | G | Sacramento | 50 | 59 2005 | 13 | 22 |
| 42 | Stephen JacksonButler CC | G | Phoenix | β | 69 2008 | 14 | 4 |
| 44 | Cedric HendersonMemphis | F | Cleveland | 53 | 55 1998 | 5 | 27 |
| 45 | God ShammgodProvidence | G | Washington | 35 | 35 1997 | 1 | 39 |
| 46 | Eric WashingtonAlabama | G | Orlando | 47 | 47 1997 | 2 | 30 |
| 47 | Alvin WilliamsVillanova | G | Portland | 45 | 61 2002 | 9 | 15 |
| 48 | Predrag DrobnjakKK Partizan | C | Washington | β | 57 2002 | 4 | 24 |
| 50 | Chris CrawfordMarquette | F | Atlanta | 43 | 48 1998 | 4 | 29 |
| 54 | Mark BlountPittsburgh | C | Seattle | β | 63 2003 | 9 | 12 |
More drafts
The 1996 draft Β· The 1998 draft Β· Every draft, 1976 to 2025
How the numbers are made is on the ratings page. How a run plays is in How to play.