7 Stars the Washington Wizards missed drafting by a single pick
By Arrick Joel
1987 NBA Draft, Round 1: Reggie Miller
After finishing the 1986-87 campaign by way of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Detroit Pistons, the Bullets looked to the 1987 NBA Draft to retool and push toward better results.
One pick ahead of Washington, the Indiana Pacers took UCLA's Reggie Miller from the draft board, leaving the Bullets to select the 5'3" Baltimore native Muggsy Bogues with the draft's 12th overall pick.
Bogues' size and style of play attracted the attention of fans, leading the team in steals and blocks despite making just 14 starts during his rookie season. An 8-19 start to the Bullets' 1987-88 campaign forced the team to fire head coach Kevin Loughery, who was replaced by Wes Unseld.
Under Unseld, Bogues saw a significant decrease in playing time, ultimately being left unprotected from being snatched by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1988 NBA Expansion Draft. For Indiana, Miller remained a member of the Pacers throughout his entire 18-year career.
Miller's sharpshooting ability from three-point range led the Pacers to several memorable playoff moments, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2000 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6'7" shooting guard was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team in 2021.