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Atlanta Hawks: 5 best non-lottery first-round picks in team history

By Joshua Buckhalter

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 24: Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks protests after being called for a foul against the Indiana Pacers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 24, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 24: Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks protests after being called for a foul against the Indiana Pacers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 24, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo credit should read JOHN MOTTERN/AFP via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks best non-lottery first-round pick No. 1: Dion Glover was picked after the strike-shortened season

Back in 1999, the NBA saw owner lock players out for a third (but not final) time. The 50-game slate saw the Hawks finish with a 31-19 record. It was their seventh consecutive season with a winning record and playoff appearance. But, for all of the trips, they never made it out of the second round.

They selected Dion Glover out of Georgia Tech with the 20th overall pick in the draft.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Glover averaged 18.4 points and 5.0 rebounds as a frosh; his lone season with the Yellow Jackets as he tore his ACL and MCL in the preseason as a sophomore.

He displayed a multi-faceted, two-way skill set averaging 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals as well.

Glover never quite reached those levels in the pros. After averaging 6.5 points and 1.3 boards as a rookie, he would average 5.9 points in his second season. He did so, however, while averaging 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Both of his first two seasons were spent mostly as a reserve on a team that had playoff aspirations.

They would never reach them as the Hawks prior success turned into an eight-year postseason drought.

Glover would last a little over three and a half seasons in Atlanta before being waived and later picked up by the Toronto Raptors for the remainder of the 2003-04 season. He would try to latch on with the San Antonio Spurs the following season but only made it seven games.

After stints overseas, he found his way into Ice Cube’s Big 3, and to coaching the Detroit Pistons G-League affiliate.

It isn’t the most inspiring start to the list but the Hawks haven’t always drafted as well as they have of late.

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