June 25, 1997: The San Antonio Spurs have the first pick in the 1997 NBA draft and grab future Hall of Fame power forward Tim Duncan.
Aside from Duncan, there were doubts about the 1997 NBA draft class. Chauncy Billups, and Tracy McGrady were the only other All-Stars produced from this draft. Billups was selected sixth overall by the Celtics, and McGrady was taken ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors.
Unlike many other prep-to-pro players that were deciding to forgo college to go straight to the NBA, Duncan chose to stay at Wake Forest for all four years. As a result, he came into the league making an immediate impact. Duncan averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first eight consecutive seasons.
Although the '97 draft class was not that strong, it produced perhaps the greatest power forward of all-time with Duncan.
