Ken Norman, Small Forward
Ken Norman was the Clippers third player in the stacked 1987 draft at #19, after Reggie Williams and Joe Wolf were selected in the lottery.
Had Norman entered the NBA in a draft that didn’t include the likes of Scottie Pippin, Mark Jackson, David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith, Reggie Lewis and Muggsy Bogues, the chances of him being taken much higher in the lottery would have been very different.
In his rookie year Norman showed real potential, particularly as a “do it all” wing player. His rebounding ability for his size was a real stand out quality and his comfort and consistency in scoring the ball continued to grow with experience.
Unusually, Norman peaked in his second year as a pro. He averaged 18.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists and had it not been for Kevin Johnson averaging 20-12 the same year, the Chicago native would have been the favorite to be named NBA Most Improved Player.
The biggest knock on Ken Norman’s career was his shooting ability, or lack thereof. A career 31% from beyond the arc, and an almost DeAndre Jordan like free throw shooting percentage, 56% for his career.