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10 Best Players To Go 10th Overall In The NBA Draft

By Ti Windisch

Jan 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Los Angeles Clippers defeat Indiana Pacers 91-89. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Los Angeles Clippers defeat Indiana Pacers 91-89. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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10: Rudy LaRusso

They wouldn’t be there for long, but back in the 1959 NBA Draft it was the Lakers of Minnesota, not Los Angeles, drafting tenth overall. They picked a before-his-time stretch four from Dartmouth named Rudy LaRusso.

LaRusso played one season in Minnesota before the franchise moved to Los Angeles, where he played for seven more years. LaRusso never scored more than 20 points per game with the Lakers, but he did get selected to two All-Star teams in 1963 and 1966.

After his time with the Lakers ended, LaRusso wound up on the San Francisco Warriors, where he went from never scoring 20 points per game to doing it in both of his last two NBA seasons.

LaRusso was a talented offensive player and rebounder who sported career averages of 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He may not have been an MVP, but he was an effective player in his decade in the NBA.

If the three-point line had been around in LaRusso’s time, there’s no telling how much better he could’ve been.

Next: 9. Bobby Wanzer

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