NBA Draft: Redrafting the 1984 Draft Class

With the 7th pick, the San Antonio Spurs select Otis Thorpe

Houston Rockets Otis Thorpe (L)

A slasher par excellence, Otis Thorpe was one of the most reliable guards in the league for most of his professional career. In his first 12 professional seasons, he tallied appearances in all 82 games 8 times. Drafted by the Sacramento Kings (then the Kansas City Kings), Thorpe was one of the most impressive prospects in the league right from his rookie season.

He played with the Kings for 4 seasons before signing with the Houston Rockets as a free agent in 1988. Despite his scoring role being considerably reduced in H-Town, Thorpe continued in the same vein, averaging over 9 rebounds and 14 points in 5 of his six-and-a-half seasons. He made an All-Star game appearance in the 1991-92 season, despite it not being one of his better statistical years.

In his penultimate year with the Rockets, he was a crucial component of their Clutch City championship run in 1993-94. He was traded midseason to the Portland Trail Blazers in 1994-95 as a 32-year-old, signalling that he'd finished out his peak as a player.

Thorpe continued to play in the league till the 2000-01 season, and has a commendable NBA career.