When the Seattle SuperSonics—yes, they were still the Sonics for a few more weeks—called out Russell Westbrook’s name with the fourth pick in 2008, people were genuinely confused. Honestly, it was a "reach" by almost every draft expert's standards. Westbrook had spent most of his time at UCLA playing second fiddle to Darren Collison. He wasn't even the best player on his own college team; that was Kevin Love.
He was raw. He was a defensive specialist who couldn't really shoot.
But looking back now, the russell westbrook draft class of 2008 didn't just produce an MVP in Russ; it fundamentally rewired how the NBA looks today. We’re talking about a group that gave us the youngest MVP in history, the greatest triple-double threat ever, and a collection of "role players" who ended up starting for 15+ years.
The Night Everything Changed in Seattle (and OKC)
Sam Presti, the GM of the Thunder (then Sonics), basically staked his entire reputation on Westbrook. There’s this great story that Troy Weaver, then an executive for the team, tells about going to a pre-draft workout. He showed up early, and there was Russ, asleep in his car in the parking lot because he’d arrived two hours before anyone else.
That was the moment they knew.
They didn't care about his 12.7 points per game at UCLA. They cared about the motor. The 2008 draft was top-heavy, but it was also incredibly deceptive. You had Derrick Rose at number one, who was a lock. Then you had Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo, two guys everyone swore were future scoring champions.
Beasley was a monster at Kansas State. Mayo was the "next LeBron" since he was 14.
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Russ going at four felt like a gamble because the Sonics passed on "safer" bets. But that's the thing about the russell westbrook draft class—the guys who were supposed to be the safest ended up having the most turbulent careers, while the "projects" became the icons.
The Derrick Rose Factor
You can't talk about this class without Rose. He was the sun that everyone else orbited around for the first three years. When he won MVP in 2011, it felt like he was going to dominate the league for a decade. He was the first number-one pick since LeBron to win Rookie of the Year and actually look like he deserved the hype immediately.
Then the injuries happened. It’s one of the biggest "what ifs" in sports history. If Rose stays healthy, does Russ ever become the primary alpha point guard of that era? Probably, but the rivalry would have been legendary.
More Than Just the Top Five
If you dig deeper into the 2008 list, it’s actually kind of insane how many "winning" players came out of it. We focus on the stars, but the depth is what makes it elite.
- Kevin Love (5th): Russ’s college teammate. He went from a "stat-padder" in Minnesota to a vital championship piece in Cleveland. People forget he was a 26-and-13 guy before he joined LeBron.
- Brook Lopez (10th): Talk about an evolution. He started as a back-to-the-basket bruiser for the Nets and turned into "Splash Mountain," one of the best 3-and-D centers in history. He’s still a high-level starter in 2026.
- DeAndre Jordan (35th): A second-round steal. He was the anchor of "Lob City" and eventually an All-NBA First Team center. Not bad for a guy 34 other teams passed on.
- Goran Dragic (45th): Another second-rounder. "The Dragon" became an All-Star and led Slovenia to a EuroBasket title.
Then you have guys like Serge Ibaka (24th), Nicolas Batum (25th), and George Hill (26th). These aren't just names; these are the guys who filled out the rosters of almost every deep playoff run in the 2010s.
Why This Class Still Matters in 2026
We’re sitting here years later, and these guys are the "old guard." Russ is still chasing that elusive ring, currently providing a spark for the Sacramento Kings. Kevin Love is still a locker room legend. Brook Lopez is still blocking shots.
The longevity of the russell westbrook draft class is what stands out. Usually, by year 15, a draft class is down to one or two survivors. This group had a weirdly high "survival rate."
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Maybe it’s because they came in right before the league went "three-point crazy." They were the last generation of players trained in the old-school, physical style who were young enough to adapt to the new-school space-and-pace.
The Misconceptions About 2008
Most people think the 2008 draft was a "two-man race" between Rose and Westbrook. That's not really true. At the time, Danilo Gallinari (6th) was seen as a potential Dirk Nowitzki. Eric Gordon (7th) was a scoring machine before his knees started acting up.
There was also a huge emphasis on "big men" that didn't age well.
Michael Beasley (2nd) had all the talent in the world but couldn't find the right fit. Roy Hibbert (17th) literally changed how the NBA was officiated with the "verticality" rule, then disappeared once the league started playing small-ball.
It was a draft of extremes. You either became a Hall of Famer or you were out of the league in six years. There wasn't much middle ground.
Actionable Takeaways for Hoop Historians
If you’re looking to really understand the impact of this era, don't just watch the highlights. Look at the trades. The 2008 draft class was the primary currency for the "Superteam Era."
- Re-watch the 2008 UCLA vs. Memphis Final Four game. You’ll see Westbrook, Love, and Rose all on the floor at the same time. It’s basically a preview of the next 15 years of the NBA.
- Study the "Reach" Picks. Westbrook at 4 and Ibaka at 24. It proves that scouting "internal motor" and "athletic ceiling" often beats out "college production."
- Appreciate the Evolution. Watch Brook Lopez highlights from 2009 vs. 2023. It’s a masterclass in how to stay relevant in a changing industry.
The russell westbrook draft class wasn't just about finding a superstar. It was about finding the players who would bridge the gap between the isolation-heavy mid-2000s and the modern, positionless NBA we see today. Whether you love Russ or hate his playstyle, you have to respect the fact that his class changed the game's DNA.
To get a true sense of the 2008 impact, check out the career Win Shares of the top 10 picks. You'll find that while the order was "wrong" on draft night, the talent was undeniably there. It remains one of the few years where the second round (Jordan, Dragic) was almost as impactful as the lottery.