With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise’s history.
This next edition focuses on the 1998 draft. After a 31-51 record, the Sixers landed the No. 8 pick in the draft. There were plenty of options for the franchise to choose from and they decided to go with Larry Hughes out of Saint Louis. There was a lot of hope and promise around the athletic guard, but it ended up not being as great as they had hoped.
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Hughes lasted only 100 games across two seasons in Philadelphia before he was shipped to the Golden State Warriors in 2000. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.5 rebounds during his time with the Sixers.
Hughes carved out a solid career, but the Sixers missed out on future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki, who were selected after Hughes in this draft. Hughes ended up playing for the Warriors, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, and Orlando Magic in his career.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers draft history: Larry Hughes selected with No. 8 pick in 1998