When discussing the greatest No. 3 overall pick in NBA history, we are certain there is a clear and concise answer. Michael Jordan, who many believe to be the greatest basketball player ever, is the obvious choice for that honor. However, just because Jordan seems to be the clear-cut answer doesn’t mean the conversation cannot be had, especially when it comes to other great No. 3 overall picks throughout the history of the NBA.
Today, just like we did with the No. 1 overall picks and the No. 2 overall picks, we put the four greatest No. 3 overall picks through the ringer to determine who the greatest ever is. While we can already conclude that Michael Jordan will likely be the winner, positions 2-4 in the standings are wide open. James Harden, Bob Cousy, and Kevin McHale are three of the greatest players in NBA history and all worthy adversaries on the list of the greatest No. 3 overall picks.
Now, it is time to answer the question of who is the greatest No. 3 overall pick in NBA history.
Best Stats
1. Michael Jordan – 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG (4 Points)
2. James Harden – 24.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG (3 Points)
3. Kevin McHale – 17.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG (2 Points)
4. Bob Cousy – 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG (1 Point)
As is always the case, we kick things off in this comparison by ranking the greatest No. 3 overall draft picks with the best stats. In a landslide, Michael Jordan takes this category with ease. Jordan is not only the NBA’s all-time leader in points per game but of these four players, he presents the most well-balanced stat line and two-way play. His 2.3 steals per game rank fourth in NBA history as well, giving him the easy win and four points for this category.
James Harden takes home second-place points for this category due to his production as a scorer and playmaker. Harden is the only other player on this list besides Jordan who averaged at least 24.0 points per game for his career while also dishing out 7.0 assists per game. Harden’s stats as a scoring machine and the elevation of his teammates as a playmaker give him the second-place spot and the three points that come with it.
Two Celtics greats bring up the rear of this category. Kevin McHale’s rebounding and interior defense are all superior to Bob Cousy which gives him the slight edge and two points for this category. As for Cousy, he falls victim to being in an era where defensive stats didn’t exist. Despite holding a scoring and playmaking advantage over McHale, efficiency and lack of defensive output put him in last place.
Most NBA Championships
T1. Michael Jordan – 6 NBA Championships (4 Points)
T1. Bob Cousy – 6 NBA Championships (4 Points)
3. Kevin McHale – 3 NBA Championships (2 Points)
4. James Harden – 0 NBA Championships (1 Point)
Both Michael Jordan and Bob Cousy take home first-place points in the category for most NBA championships thanks to the six they each captured in their careers. Jordan won six NBA titles during the 1990s by way of two three-peats from 1991 through 1993 and again from 1996 through 1998. Cousy captured his six championships with the Boston Celtics in the 50s and 60s with all six titles coming in seven seasons from 1957 through 1963.
Kevin McHale is the only other player in this comparison to win championships in his career. McHale helped the Celtics win three NBA championships in 1981, 1984, and 1986 during the dominant 1980s run by the Celtics that saw them reach the NBA Finals five times during the decade. Unfortunately for James Harden, he has yet to feel what winning an NBA championship feels like, making one Finals appearance in 2012 without ever returning thus far in his career.
Most MVP Awards
1. Michael Jordan – 5 MVP Awards (4 Points)
T2. Bob Cousy – 1 MVP Award (3 Points)
T2. James Harden – 1 MVP Award (3 Points)
4. Kevin McHale – 0 MVP Awards (0 Points)
When it comes to MVP awards by No. 3 overall picks, Michael Jordan reigns supreme with five. Jordan’s five MVP awards rank second in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who won six in his career. Jordan would earn his first MVP award in 1988 and capture his final one in 1998, giving him five in 11 years. Jordan also won MVP four times before going on to capture an NBA championship and won the NBA’s scoring title every single time he was named MVP.
Both Bob Cousy and James Harden were fortunate enough to capture one MVP award in their careers. Cousy won his only MVP award in 1957 averaging 20.6 points and 7.5 assists per game as the Celtics won 44 games. Harden won his lone MVP award in 2018 as a member of the Houston Rockets. That season, Harden averaged 30.4 points, and 8.8 assists per game as Houston finished the season with the best record in the West at 65-17.
For Kevin McHale, playing with the likes of Larry Bird had its disadvantages like finishing low on the totem pole of individual awards such as MVP. McHale’s highest finish in MVP voting would come in 1987 when he averaged 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game as the Celtics won 59 games.
Most Finals MVP Awards
1. Michael Jordan – 6 Finals MVP Awards (4 Points)
T2. Bob Cousy – 0 Finals MVP Awards (0 Points)
T2. James Harden – 0 Finals MVP Awards (0 Points)
T2. Kevin McHale – 0 Finals MVP Awards (0 Points)
The only player in today’s comparison to capture even one Finals MVP award is Michael Jordan. Not only does Jordan have the most among No. 3 overall picks, but he has the most Finals MVP awards in NBA history with six in six tries with the Bulls during the 1990s. In the NBA Finals for his career, Jordan averaged 33.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.8 steals per game so it is easy to see how he was crowned Finals MVP every time he reached the big stage.
As for the others on this list, it is easy to see why they were unable to capture Finals MVP awards. For Bob Cousy, the simple fact that the award wasn’t created yet prevented him from winning one in his career. James Harden has never been NBA champion so his lack of a Finals MVP is justified as well. For Kevin McHale, sharing the court with Larry Bird, Cedric Maxwell, and Robert Parish always overshadowed his contributions to winning so he was never honored with the award simply because the legends around him performed slightly better when it mattered most.
Most Defensive Player Of The Year Awards
1. Michael Jordan – 1 Defensive Player Of The Year Award (4 Points)
T2. James Harden – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (0 Points)
T2. Kevin McHale – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (0 Points)
T2. Bob Cousy – 0 Defensive Player Of The Year Awards (0 Points)
Finals MVP is not the only award that Michael Jordan has sole possession of when it comes to today’s comparison. In 1988, Jordan completed one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history when he took home the MVP as well as the Defensive Player of the Year award. That season, Jordan led the NBA with 3.2 steals per game, one of three steals titles he would win in his career. Jordan’s defensive impact far outweighs any and all defensive accomplishments combined from the other three players on today’s list.
With Defensive Player of the Year not being introduced until 1983, that automatically takes Bob Cousy out of the conversation. Not that he would be in it anyway seeing as he shared the floor with arguably the greatest defender ever, Bill Russell. James Harden was never considered to be an elite defender by any means, mostly praised for his play as an offensive juggernaut for most of his career.
Kevin McHale probably had the best chance to be named Defensive Player of the Year by any player on this list not named Michael Jordan. McHale recorded five seasons with at least 2.0 blocks per game with three All-Defensive First Team selections but fell short of being named Defensive Player of the Year every time.
Most All-NBA Teams
1. Bob Cousy – 12 All-NBA Teams (4 Points)
2. Michael Jordan – 11 All-NBA Teams (3 Points)
3. James Harden – 7 All-NBA Teams (2 Points)
4. Kevin McHale – 1 All-NBA Team (1 Point)
If you thought this formula and comparison was going to be a clean sweep for Michael Jordan, you were wrong. Bob Cousy edges out Jordan by one All-NBA Team selection, earning 12 of them in his 14-year career. As the best point guard of his era, Cousy earned 10 First Team selections and two Second Team selections in his career.
Of his 11 All-NBA Team selections in his career, Michael Jordan was named to the First Team 10 times as well. The only time he was ever named to the Second Team in his career would be his rookie season in which he was Rookie of the Year averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.
James Harden was named to the All-NBA Teams seven times in his career without ever finishing on the Second Team. That is because aside from his six First Team selections, Harden was named to the Third Team once in 2013, his first season with the Rockets after being traded from Oklahoma City. The fact that Kevin McHale only had one All-NBA Team selection in his career is criminal. His near-MVP season in 1987 resulted in his only selection to the First Team as the best power forward in the NBA.
Most All-Defensive Team Selections
1. Michael Jordan – 9 All-Defensive Teams (4 Points)
2. Kevin McHale – 6 All-Defensive Teams (3 Points)
T3. Bob Cousy – 0 All-Defensive Teams (0 Points)
T3. James Harden – 0 All-Defensive Teams (0 Points)
With nine All-Defensive Team selections in his career, Michael Jordan reclaims the top spot for this category. On top of being the only Defensive Player of the Year in this group, Jordan leads them all with nine All-Defensive First Team selections as well. Jordan solidified his stance as the greatest two-way player ever only after being told he wasn’t a very good defender within his first two seasons in the NBA. As if he needed any more motivation to become the GOAT.
Kevin McHale finished just behind Jordan with six All-Defensive Team selections in his career as one of the best defensive power forwards ever. McHale was applauded for his footwork on both sides of the ball which allowed him to stay in front of quicker opponents defensively while also having the length and strength to stick with the bigger ones. Of his six All-Defensive Team selections, McHale was a member of the First Team three times and the Second Team three times.
As for Cousy and Harden, their defense was never spectacular enough to be considered for an All-Defensive Team selection in their careers. At times, they were even seen as poor defenders which neither Jordan nor McHale ever really were once they got their roots planted in the NBA.
Most All-Star Selections
1. Michael Jordan – 14 All-Star Selections (4 Points)
2. Bob Cousy – 13 All-Star Selections (3 Points)
3. James Harden – 10 All-Star Selections (2 Points)
4. Kevin McHale – 7 All-Star Selections (1 Point)
The four players in today’s comparison combined for 44 All-Star selections in their respective careers. Of those 44 selections, Michael Jordan accounts for most of them with 14 to his name in 15 seasons in the NBA with the Bulls and Wizards. Jordan is one of the last true players who gave their all during the All-Star Game which resulted in three All-Star MVP awards which also happen to lead today’s group.
Bob Cousy finished just behind Jordan in terms of All-Star selections with 13 in his 14-year career. Cousy was also a two-time All-Star Game MVP which finished one behind Jordan as well. James Harden is the only other player on this list with double-digit All-Star selections with 10 in his career with a chance to add more down the line. Well, maybe anyway. Both Harden and Kevin McHale were never named All-Star MVP either which puts Jordan and Cousy in a class of their own, wouldn’t you say?
Total Win Shares
1. Michael Jordan – 214.0 Win Shares (4 Points)
2. James Harden – 158.3 Win Shares (3 Points)
3. Kevin McHale – 113.0 Win Shares (2 Points)
4. Bob Cousy – 91.1 Win Shares (1 Point)
With just 15 seasons of play under his belt, Michael Jordan ranks fifth in NBA history in total win shares and first among No. 3 overall picks. During his career, Jordan led the NBA in win shares every season from 1987 through 1993 and again in 1996 and 1997. He has six seasons with at least 19.0 win shares under his belt as well and three seasons with at least 20.0.
James Harden is the only other player on this list with at least 150.0 total win shares in his career which he has accumulated in just 14 seasons. From 2015 through 2020, Harden led the NBA five times in win shares with four seasons of just over 15.0 win shares in that stretch. Kevin McHale broke the 100.0 win shares mark for his career, finishing with 113.0 over the course of 13 seasons. Although he never led the NBA, he did record seven straight seasons with at least 10.0 from 1984 through 1990.
PER
1. Michael Jordan – 27.9 PER (4 Points)
2. James Harden – 24.3 PER (3 Points)
3. Kevin McHale – 20.0 PER (2 Points)
4. Bob Cousy – 19.9 PER (1 Point)
Another category and another win for Michael Jordan in the PER department. Jordan is the NBA’s all-time leader in PER with a rating of 27.9, slightly ahead of current players such as Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis. Jordan led the NBA in PER every season from 1987 through 1993 and only fell below the 25.0 rating mark three times in 15 seasons. For reference, 25.0 is considered superstar level.
James Harden’s career PER sits at 24.3 which ranks 14th in NBA history. Harden led the NBA once in PER in his 2018 MVP campaign and recorded six seasons with a minimum 25.0 player efficiency rating. As for Kevin McHale, he finished with a 20.0 PER for his career. From 1984 through 1991, McHale went eight straight years with a PER of at least 20.0. From 1952 through 1957, Bob Cousy also had an elite PER, finishing with a rating of over 20.0 every season. He would finish his career just 0.1 behind McHale after a steady decline toward the end of his playing days.
Who Is The Greatest No. 3 Overall Pick In NBA History?
1. Michael Jordan – 39 Points (9 Categories Won)
T2. Bob Cousy – 17 Points (2 Categories Won)
T2. James Harden – 17 Points (0 Categories Won)
4. Kevin McHale – 13 Points (0 Categories Won)
With our formula coming to its conclusion, it has revealed a lot that we already knew as basketball fans and some things we probably weren’t too sure about. First, the obvious answer to our original question of who the greatest No. 3 overall pick is in NBA history is Michael Jordan. Other than All-NBA Team selections, Jordan is either tied or takes every other category outright. What else were we to expect from the greatest basketball player to ever hit the court?
The not-so-obvious conclusion to this formula is that in terms of greatness, Bob Cousy and James Harden should be viewed on the same plane. Sure, Cousy has been a part of more NBA championship teams than Harden and has accomplished more in terms of individual accolades. When it comes to advanced metrics, Harden is superior by a wide margin as well which evened them out for their careers in the long run.
While Kevin McHale may be one of the greatest No. 3 overall picks ever, his presence in this conversation was blown out of the water. One thing that should be stated is other than Michael Jordan, he is clearly the best defender on this list which translated to more success than even the players ahead of him achieved.Â
