Who is the GOAT Mr. Irrelevant?

Mr. Irrelevant.  The last pick of the draft.  Number 60. Who is the greatest last pick of all time?

You never hear what happens to the careers of the last pick of the NBA.  You will be surprised to know one played 11 years and another is an NBA champion.    

We followed up on the NBA careers of all the 60th picks in the NBA draft from 2000 to 2021.   Almost everyone’s career went exactly as you would expect.  But there were some notable surprises.

Not much of a career

Of the 21 selections, 10 draftees, almost 50%, did not play one minute of NBA basketball.  Those that did play at least a year (but less then 5 years) average careers only lasted about 2.0 years with about 50 career games. Not long careers.

International draftees

9 of 21 the players were international players.  Three of those were from Greece and three from Serbia.   

Mr. Irrelevant – the Champion

Sam Merrill from Utah State was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2020 Draft.  He was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans and was immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.  Merrill went to play 7.8 minutes for the Bucks in his rookie season and 44% from 3 point range. In June 2021, Sam Merrill won an NBA Championship over the Phoenix Suns.  

GOAT Mr. Irrelevant

Isaiah Thomas was drafted 60th from the University of Washington in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Despite being just 5’9”, Thomas was a walking bucket.  His high point was averaging 24.7 with the Boston Celtic.  His free agency year he was injured and dealt with the sudden death of his sister.  He never go the free agency contract his production should have delivered.  Thomas still made $34.4 million dollars over his 13 year career.  And for that he is the greatest Mr. Irrelevant of all time.

Until next time

Damon A. Burris