Who was the best #43 pick in NBA Draft history?

Michael Redd

Before perpetual knee injuries robbed Michael Redd of a prominent career, the former second-round pick was everything that the Milwaukee Bucks were hoping for. That said, it did take a bit of time for Redd to develop.

In most cases, first-round draft selections are afforded certain luxuries that their second-round counterparts are not. For starters, in addition to being given more money, first-rounders are normally allotted more time on the court and more care off it. Still, despite being pushed into the shadows after he was initially taken with the 43rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft and averaging just 2.2 points per game, Redd began developing rapidly.

For the next decade, Redd morphed into a double-digit scorer. During a spectacular six-year run, Redd became one of the most deadly shooters and scorers in the entire league.

Although Redd slowly backed defenders down in the paint and ran off screens to get open looks at the basket, his scoring exploits never amounted to many wins. Milwaukee, with Redd as their undeniable leader, made just three playoff appearances, bowing out in the first round each time.

While postseason success and championship contention never came to fruition, Redd did turn himself into an All-Star caliber player and one of the more pernicious scorers the NBA had to offer for roughly a decade.