NBA in the 2000s: If draft classes were team rosters

#4 The Class of 2001

Tony Parker has been one of the most dominant point guards in the league over the past decade

Point Guard: Tony Parker (Picked 28^th)

Shooting Guard: Joe Johnson (Picked 10^th)

Centre: Tyson Chandler (Picked 2^nd)

Small Forward: Gerald Wallace (Picked 25^th)

Power Forward: Pau Gasol (Picked 3^rd)

This unit has a combination most NBA teams would die for, most importantly; multiple championship-winning pedigree. In Tony Parker, we have a wily point guard who could rip open defences, day in and day out, call plays without his coach having to tell him, and lead his team despite having one of the most decorated coaches in the league’s history.

Joe Johnson is a shooting guard you could bet your life on, on his day, to hit the most clutch daggers from inside and deep.

Tyson Chandler is a walking menace, a centre who can dominate the paint and score and dunk at will. Pau Gasol will always be a ruthlessly elite player who you could depend on in the direst of circumstances. Gerald Wallace, a small forward who most of today’s generation would’ve never heard of, but how often do we see small forwards leading the league in steals.

Wallace may be a surprise inclusion but this is a draft class team that today’s generation haven’t just heard of, but have seen them play at levels close to their peaks, and we’re talking about a class that was picked 15 years back.

Here’s a short tip on each of the starters:

Tony Parker: 4-time NBA champion, 6-time All-Star

Joe Johnson: 7-time All-Star

Tyson Chandler: 1-time NBA champion, Defensive Player Of The Year

Gerald Wallace: 1-time All Star, Steals Leader

Pau Gasol: 2-time NBA champion, 6-time All-Star