7 Stars the Washington Wizards missed drafting by a single pick
By Arrick Joel
1995 NBA Draft, Round 1: Kevin Garnett
Before the hype of LeBron James going from high school to the NBA in 2003, there was Kevin Garnett.
Known as the Big Ticket, the 6'11" forward from Chicago's Farragut Career Academy was passed on by the Bullets during the 1995 NBA Draft. Washington saw more in Rasheed Wallace, who left the University of North Carolina after his sophomore year to join the Bullets.
While Wallace had a strong career, earning four All-Star nods and winning an NBA title in 2004, the All-Rookie second-teamer spent just one season in Washington before the team traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Bullets received Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant in exchange for Wallace and Mitchell Butler.
Meanwhile, Garnett flourished into a perennial MVP candidate, earning 15 All-Star nods throughout his 21-year NBA career. During his four-year run leading the league in rebounds per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garnett was honored with the NBA's MVP award for his efforts during the 2003-04 season.
Later in the his career, Garnett took his talents to Boston in search of a championship, constituting a 7-for-1 trade from the Timberwolves to the Celtics. In 2008, K.G. got his wish, earning an NBA title with a victory over the Lakers.