The Top 5 NBA Draft Classes in Recent History

3. Class of 2008

WS/48: .1094

Of the 20 classes, this one is probably the most balanced. Containing 19 players with 1,000 minutes and .100 win shares per 48, the 2008 draft class leads all others. It also contains three players within the top 32 in terms of win shares per 48. It's quite an impressive group.

At first, Derrick Rose was the treasure of the '08 draft class. But, that was prior to multiple knee and ankle injuries in his time with the Chicago Bulls. Since then, Rose hasn't been the same, yet he's still been an above-average player for his career with an average of .102 win shares per 48. He's played in three All-Star games and earned the 2010 NBA MVP Award.

Nicolas Batum and Goran Dragic haven't had the same type of career trajectory as Rose. On the contrary, they've been solid players wherever they've gone over the past nine years. The two have contributed .116 and .114 win shares per 48, respectively, and a total of 84.9 win shares in 1,206 games.

Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson join Batum and Dragic as more than average NBA players. Both big men have served primarily as offensive weapons in their careers thus far. They've tallied a combined 88.2 win shares with an average of 31.7 points per game between them.

Serge Ibaka and George Hill build further upon the depth of this group. They've both been very reliable players, helping to lead teams to playoff berths in years past. Each of them has averaged at least .148 win shares per 48 and exactly 51.2 win shares apiece. Not bad for the 24th and 26th overall picks.

While Russell Westbrook was selected 4th overall, DeAndre Jordan didn't come off the board until the 35th pick, in the second round of the '08 Draft. What the two share, though, are successful NBA careers. In nine years, the two have totaled a combined 135.8 win shares and have been key players on their individual Western Conference playoff contenders.

Kevin Love, Westbrook's roommate while at UCLA, was above and beyond the other fine players in his draft class. At a rate of .183, Love is the only player with at least .170 win shares per 48 minutes. He has 69 win shares in 555 career games, to go with a Most Improved Player Award and a 2016 championship ring.