Atlanta Hawks
Best Pick — Bob Pettit (No. 2, 1954)
Kicking it off with a two-time MVP and 11-time All-Star, Bob Pettit was one of the best players the game has ever seen. Pettit was selected second overall out of LSU, and made an instant impact for the Hawks. After spending one season in Milwaukee, the Hawks moved to St. Louis where Pettit became an even bigger star. Pettit played his entire career with the Hawks (11 seasons) and is tied with Kobe Bryant for the most All-Star Game MVP’s ever (4).
Image Source: NBA Photos/Getty Images
Worst Pick — Marvin Williams (No. 2, 2005)
The Hawks have had the No. 2 pick three times in its franchise history. The team selected Bob Pettit the first time around, and then two years later used the No. 2 selection on a guy named Bill Russell (who was immediately shipped off to Boston for two Hall of Famers in Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley). Atlanta had to wait another 50 years until they had another No. 2 pick, and the team opted to utilize it on North Carolina super-sub Marvin Williams.
The versatile forward has enjoyed a fairly solid career as a role player — 10.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG in 1072 career games — but hasn’t lived up to the billing of a second overall pick. Atlanta would have been better off taking one of the top point guards in the pool. Deron Williams and Chris Paul were selected third and fourth, respectively.
Image Source: Christian Petersen-Getty Images