# Who is the best player from the 2002 NBA Draft?

> Hall of Fame talent sits beside second-round steals and long-serving role players in this class. Rank it by peak, longevity or rings, whichever matters most to you.

*By YPB Team · Published November 5, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-from-the-2002-nba-draft*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Yao Ming** — score 1000/1000
   No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Rockets who made eight All-Star teams in his nine NBA seasons and entered the Hall of Fame in 2016.
2. **Amar'e Stoudemire** — score 663/1000
   Taken ninth by the Phoenix Suns straight out of high school, he won 2002–03 Rookie of the Year and earned six All-Star selections.
3. **Matt Barnes** — score 537/1000
   UCLA product picked 46th by Memphis who carved out a 14-season career and closed it with the 2017 title on the Golden State Warriors.
4. **Nenad Krstić** — score 537/1000
   Serbian center chosen 24th by the New Jersey Nets, joining them in 2004 and averaging 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over seven NBA seasons.
5. **Drew Gooden** — score 473/1000
   Kansas power forward selected fourth by Memphis, an All-Rookie First Team pick in 2003 who averaged 11.0 points and 7.1 rebounds across 14 seasons.
6. **John Salmons** — score 401/1000
   Miami (FL) swingman taken 26th by the Spurs and dealt to Philadelphia, who played 895 games over 13 seasons, including stints in Sacramento, Chicago and Milwaukee.
7. **Caron Butler** — score 401/1000
   Miami's 10th pick out of UConn, a two-time All-Star with the Washington Wizards in 2007 and 2008 who later won a ring with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks.
8. **Mike Dunleavy Jr.** — score 316/1000
   Duke wing taken third by Golden State who logged 986 games in a 15-season career and later became the Warriors' general manager.
9. **Luis Scola** — score 316/1000
   Argentine forward drafted 56th by San Antonio who reached the NBA with Houston in 2007, made the All-Rookie First Team and averaged 12.0 points over ten seasons.
10. **Nenê** — score 215/1000
   Brazilian big man picked seventh by the Knicks and traded to Denver on draft night, who went on to play 965 NBA games across 17 seasons.
11. **Carlos Boozer** — score 215/1000
   Second-round pick (35th) by Cleveland who averaged 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds over 13 seasons and was an All-Star with Utah in 2007 and 2008.
12. **Tayshaun Prince** — score 215/1000
   Kentucky forward chosen 23rd by Detroit, where he started on the 2004 championship team and made four straight All-Defensive Second Teams (2005–2008).

Tags: 2000s, basketball, players, nba, nba draft, 2002