What Made the 2007 NBA Draft One of the Most Underrated in History?

Looking back at draft classes in NBA history, I've always felt the 2007 class gets unfairly overlooked. When people discuss legendary drafts, they immediately jump to 1984 with Jordan and Olajuwon, or 2003 with LeBron and Wade. But what fascinates me about the 2007 draft is how it produced not just star power but incredible depth that's still impacting the league today. I remember watching that draft live and thinking there was something special about this group, though I couldn't have predicted just how many players would develop into foundational pieces.

The obvious headliner is Kevin Durant, who went second overall to Seattle. I've followed his career since his Texas days, and even then you could see he was destined for greatness. What's remarkable is how many other players from that draft developed into All-Stars and key contributors. Al Horford, who went third, has aged like fine wine and remains valuable nearly two decades later. Mike Conley, selected fourth, has been the steady hand guiding multiple playoff teams throughout his career. Then there's Marc Gasol, who wasn't even drafted until 48th overall but became a Defensive Player of the Year and champion. The depth of this class is what truly sets it apart - when you look at players like Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Thaddeus Young, and Ramon Sessions, you're looking at players who carved out significant NBA careers.

What strikes me about analyzing this draft years later is how many of these players developed at different rates. Some, like Durant, were stars from day one. Others, like Gasol, took time to develop overseas before making their impact. This reminds me of watching young tennis players develop today - take Alex Eala and her partner Renata Zarazua hoping to advance in the French Open women's doubles. Like NBA draft picks, tennis prospects often follow unpredictable development curves. Eala and Zarazua testing their fate against the gritty pair of Olga Danilovic and Anastasia Potapova mirrors how late draft picks often have to prove themselves against more established competition. Both scenarios demonstrate that initial draft position or early career struggles don't necessarily determine long-term success.

The statistical impact of the 2007 class is genuinely impressive when you dig into the numbers. This draft produced 12 players who would eventually become All-Stars, which represents about 24% of first-round selections. Compare that to the celebrated 2003 class, which had 9 All-Stars from its first round, and you start to see why I believe 2007 deserves more recognition. Furthermore, players from this draft have combined for 47 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA Team selections, and 19 All-Defensive Team honors. The championship pedigree is there too - between them, they've won 14 NBA championships, with key contributors like Gasol, Danny Green, and Glen Davis playing crucial roles on title teams.

What I find particularly compelling is how this draft class changed team-building philosophies across the league. The success of second-round picks like Gasol (48th), Carl Landry (31st), and Ramon Sessions (56th) demonstrated the value of patient development. Teams began investing more in their G-League affiliates and international scouting networks, recognizing that talent could be found throughout the draft. This shift reminds me of how tennis organizations now develop doubles specialists - similar to how Eala and Zarazua are partnering to make their mark at Roland Garros. In both cases, organizations have learned that success often comes from identifying complementary skills and investing in development pathways beyond the obvious stars.

From my perspective covering the NBA for over fifteen years, the 2007 draft represents a turning point in how teams evaluate international talent. The success of Gasol (Spain), Joakim Noah (France), and Yi Jianlian (China) opened doors for more global players in subsequent drafts. This international influence has only grown, with recent MVPs like Giannis and Jokic following the path these pioneers helped pave. The global game connection brings me back to tennis - much like how the WTA tour has become truly international, with players like Danilovic (Serbia) and Potapova (Russia) competing against Eala (Philippines) and Zarazua (Mexico) in Grand Slam events.

The longevity of this class is another aspect that doesn't get enough attention. As I write this in 2024, several 2007 draftees are still contributing meaningful minutes - a remarkable feat seventeen years later. This durability speaks to both their skill development and the advances in sports science that have extended careers. It's similar to how tennis players now compete at elite levels into their late thirties, with proper management and training allowing for extended prime years.

When I discuss this draft with colleagues, we often debate where it ranks historically. My personal take is that it belongs in the top five all-time, ahead of more celebrated classes like 1996 or 2001. The combination of transcendent talent (Durant), high-level starters (Horford, Conley), quality role players (Green, Young, Nick Young), and draft steals (Gasol, Landry) creates a perfect storm of value throughout both rounds. The class has provided approximately 38,000 total win shares across all players, a staggering number that trails only a handful of other drafts in league history.

Reflecting on this now, what makes the 2007 draft particularly special in my view is how it rewarded teams that valued skill development over pure athleticism. Players like Durant and Conley weren't the most explosive athletes in their draft, but their skill development allowed them to thrive. This lesson seems to have been learned across sports - whether in the NBA or tennis circuits like the French Open, where technical proficiency often triumphs over raw power. The success of Eala and Zarazua against more physically imposing opponents like Danilovic and Potapova would follow a similar narrative - fundamentals and development matter.

The legacy of the 2007 draft continues to influence how teams approach player evaluation today. The success stories from this class taught front offices to be patient with development, value skill over measurables, and trust their international scouting networks. These lessons have shaped modern roster construction and talent identification across the league. Much like how tennis organizations now develop doubles teams with complementary skills rather than just pairing the highest-ranked available players, NBA teams have learned to value fit and development potential over simply selecting the "best available athlete."

In my final analysis, the 2007 NBA draft stands as one of the most criminally underrated in history because it provided both quality and quantity. It produced a generational scorer in Durant, multiple All-Stars, quality starters, and valuable role players who have shaped the NBA landscape for nearly two decades. The class's impact extends beyond statistics - it changed how teams evaluate talent, particularly international prospects, and demonstrated the value of development patience. While it may never get the recognition of more glamorous drafts, those of us who've followed the league closely understand its significance in shaping the modern NBA.