The Top 5 NBA Draft Classes in Recent History

1. Class of 1999

WS/48: .1154

With 16 qualified players and Manu Ginobili as its top player (at least, in win shares per 48), this group may come as a surprise. But, in taking a look at the class' key players, it's obvious that longevity is the reason for their slim margin over the '96 class.

Of the four players in the top 52 among qualified players, Shawn Marion, with .150 win shares per 48 minutes, comes in at 52. Before retiring two years ago, the long-time versatile forward tallied 124.9 win shares in 16 seasons and over 40,000 career minutes. In doing so, Marion was a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA performer and a league champion in 2011.

With .151 win shares per 48, Elton Brand comes in at 47. In 17 seasons, the former number-one overall pick averaged 15.9 points per game. He was voted Rookie of the Year in 1999 and was voted to one All-NBA team in 2005, meanwhile running up 1,058 games and 34,910 minutes in his tenure.

Andrei Kirilenko's career was a little more short-lived, but, in his 13 seasons, the Russian native also averaged .151 win shares per 48. He was a consistent player, with 11.8 points in 30 minutes a game. After all was said and done, Kirilenko was just a one-time All-Star, but he made the NBA All-Defense team on three occasions.

Like Kirilenko, Ginobili also hails from overseas and has made a long career of doing just about everything on an NBA court. Where Ginobili has differentiated himself from the others is winning, plain and simple. Spending 15 years with the San Antonio Spurs will do that for you.

In that time, the Argentinian produced 102.9 win shares and .198 win shares per 48 -- good enough for 12th among all qualified players. He's been named to the All-NBA Third Team twice, has been to two All-Star games, but most importantly, he's a four-time NBA champion.