1998 NBA draft

The Mavericks, despite having a talented nucleus of Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson in the mid-1990s, had not had a winning season since 1989-90, which was also the last time they made the playoffs.

With the sixth selection in 1998, they drafted Robert Traylor and quickly traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity.

First overall pick Michael Olowokandi from mid-major University of the Pacific is regarded by Sports Illustrated as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history.

Five players from the 1998 draft class played in the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their careers: Nowitzki, Carter, Jamison, Paul Pierce and Rashard Lewis.

Nowitzki missed the same four-decade status by nine months, retiring from the Mavericks in April 2019 as the first player to ever spend more than 20 NBA seasons with one team.

However, seven players from this year's draft would later withdraw their names from entry, with Bud Eley from Southeast Missouri State University, Rico Harris from Los Angeles City College, the Yugoslavian-Greek born Marko Jarić from the Peristeri B.C.

Michael Olowokandi was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers .
Antawn Jamison was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors (traded to the Golden State Warriors ).
Vince Carter was selected 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors (traded to the Toronto Raptors ).
Dirk Nowitzki was selected 9th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to the Dallas Mavericks ).
Paul Pierce was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics .
Rashard Lewis was selected 32nd overall by the Seattle SuperSonics .
Earl Boykins , a notable undrafted player, is known for being the second shortest player in NBA history.
Brad Miller was not drafted but had a successful 14-year career in the NBA that included two All-Star selections.
Šarūnas Jasikevičius was not drafted but later played in the NBA and is regarded as one of Europe's all-time greatest basketball players .