2004’s NBA draft was memorable because it introduced some of the best basketball players in NBA history. We found some young new faces who have just finished their college education, and some players were re-drafted as well. However, the majority of them are now retired, but Dwight Howard and Andre Iguodala are still playing. So in this article, we are going to rank the top 20 basketball players from the 2004 NBA draft.
2004’s top 20 NBA players
Name | Age | 1st Team | Round | Pick | Position | Achievement |
Dwight Howard | 36 | Orlando Magic | 1st | 1st | Center | - NBA champion
- 8× NBA All-Star
- 5× All-NBA First Team
|
Ben Gordon | 39 | Chicago Bulls | 1st | 3rd | Shooting guard | - NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- NBA All-Rookie First Team
- NCAA champion
|
Shaun Livingston | 36 | Los Angeles Clippers | 1st | 4th | Shooting guard | - 3× NBA champion
- First-team Parade All-American
- McDonald’s All-American
|
Andre Iguodala | 38 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1st | 9th | Small forward | - 4× NBA champion
- NBA Finals MVP
- NBA All-Star
|
Sebastian Telfair | 37 | Portland Trail Blazers | 1st | 13th | Point guard | - Mr. Basketball USA
- McDonald’s All-American Game MVP
- First-team Parade All-American
|
Kris Humphries | 37 | Utah Jazz | 1st | 14th | Power forward | - McDonald’s All-American
- First-team Parade All-American
- Minnesota Mr. Basketball
|
Jameer Nelson | 40 | Denver Nuggets | 1st | 40th | Point guard | - NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- National college player of the year
|
Delonte West | 39 | Boston Celtics | 1st | 24th | Point guard / Shooting guard | - Third-team All-American – NABC, SN
- 2× First-team All-Atlantic 10
|
Emeka Okafor | 39 | Charlotte Bobcats | 1st | 2nd | Center / Power forward | - NBA Rookie of the Year
- NBA All-Rookie First Team
- NCAA champion
|
Josh Childress | 39 | Atlanta Hawks | 1st | 6th | Small forward / Shooting guard | - NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- All-NBL First Team
- NBL scoring champion
|
Luol Deng | 37 | Phoenix Suns | 1st | 7th | Small forward / Power forward | - 2× NBA All-Star
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- NBA All-Rookie First Team
|
Al Jefferson | 37 | Boston Celtics | 1st | 15th | Center / Power forward | - All-NBA Third Team
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- McDonald’s All-American
|
Josh Smith | 36 | Atlanta Hawks | 1st | 17th | Power forward / Small forward | - NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
|
Kevin martin | 39 | Sacramento Kings | 1st | 26th | Shooting guard | - 2× First-team All-SoCon
- Second-team All-SoCon
- SoCon All-Freshman Team
|
Anderson Varejão | 39 | Orlando Magic | 2nd | 30th | Center / Power forward | - NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Brazilian League champion
- EuroLeague champion
|
Chris Duhon | 39 | Chicago Bulls | 2nd | 38th | Point guard | - NCAA champion
- Second-team All-American – NABC
- Third-team All-American – AP
|
Andre Emmett | 37 | Seattle SuperSonics | 2nd | 35th | Shooting guard / Small forward | - 2× NBA D-League All-Star
- NBA D-League All-Star Game MVP
- CBA Scoring champion
|
Dorell Wright | 36 | Miami Heat | 1st | 19th | Small forward | - NBA champion
- VTB United League Sixth Man of the Year
|
Robert Swift | 36 | Seattle SuperSonics | 1st | 12th | Center | - Second-team Parade All-American
- McDonald’s All-American
|
Lionel Chalmers | 41 | Los Angeles Clippers | 2nd | 33th | Point guard | |
Over the past five years, Rick C. Nees has written hundreds of NBA players' biographies, some of which have already been published in famous newspapers. He previously worked as- Commentator, Basketball Analyst, Basketball Player, Newspaper Sports Editor, Radio sports presenter. Rick grew up watching basketball leagues. He was a state-level high school basketball player who followed all NBA events since he was a child.