Paul Pierce turns out to be one of the best players in the 1998 NBA Draft class. He was initially upset that he was selected 10th overall, especially after the relatively unknown Dirk Nowicki from Germany.
After a successful third year at Kansas University, Paul Pierce declared the NBA Draft in 1998. He was a popular prospect considering he was the perfect size for a 6’8” gobble wing player.
With its popularity, people were hoping he would become the top pick. But that all changed when he fell during the 1998 NBA Draft. He was selected for the 10th overall pick in the second half of the lottery. The Boston Celtics were a team he hated as a child from California and added to his frustration from dropping into the draft. But now he loves the team.
It was an incredible event, especially when the Milwaukee Bucks chose Dark Novitski on their ninth pick before a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Pierce was surprised that the Germans had been chosen before him.
There were already many international players ahead of the 1998 draft, but Nowitzki was relatively unknown. The high-level scouts knew about him and predicted he would be drafted high, but were not ahead of the predicted top-five players like Pierce.
As a fresh young player from Kansas University, Pierce thought he would be chosen over something like Nowicki. That wasn’t what led to his confusion and frustration about what happened with his decline in the NBA Draft.
Eventually, both players became legends of their respective teams. Piercing didn’t know they were icons, but after the draft he got frustrated as he thought Nowicki wasn’t that big of a name.
“I couldn’t believe it, I was the top five pick I could expect. I thought I was going to Vancouver with No. 2. I’m two or three people I’ve never heard of. Honestly, I never heard of Dark Nowicki because he wasn’t like he was on the college circuit.
“I remember going back and looking at the draft and saying, “What do you know, there would be nine other teams that would regret not picking. I knew I was working, so I knew I wasn’t scared of what I said.
The 1998 draft included some big names like Antone Jamison and Vince Carter, but Pierce and Nowicki are the best players in their class. Not only did they solidify themselves as franchise icons, they also led them to the NBA championship as final MVPs.
Pierce may have had some responsiveness to Nowitzki, but that would have disappeared as they proceeded. The Dallas front office was right to trade with the ninth pick, when Nowicki became the Mavericks’ biggest and most iconic player, primarily due to his MVP-worthy performance in the 2011 NBA Finals and his signature turnaround fadeaway.
Pierce may not reach the same level as top 10 players like Larry Bird, but he is iconic as he finished the Celtics’ 22-year title drought as Finals MVP in 2008. He may have left the team to join Brooklyn Net, but he is still fondly remembered as the iconic Celtic.