2003 Draft vs. Other Years

As we know, there are likely 4 hall of famers from the 2003 NBA draft. Outside of those four, there are a few solid players with solid careers. But for the most part it stops there. We often talk about the 2003 draft being one of the greatest, if not THE greatest of all time. People always compare it to the 96 draft and the 84 draft (both of which make far better cases as the greatest). Not too many people are giving enough credit to the potential of the draft classes following that 2003 draft. Lets take a look at some key players from each draft from 2003-2012 and see how they size up:

2003
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Lebron, D-Wade, Melo, Bosh, Korver, Josh Howard, David West, Mo Williams

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
TJ Ford, Boris Diaw, Kirk Hinrich, Barbosa, Steve Blake, Zaza Pachulia

2004  
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Dwight, Iguodala, Al Jefferson, Jameer Nelson, Luol Deng, Devin Harris

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
J.R. Smith, Josh Smith, Shaun Livingston, Trevor Ariza, Kevin Martin, Ben Gordon, Tony Allen, Emeka Okafor, Delonte West,

2005
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Ander Bynum, Danny Granger, David Lee

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Monta Ellis, Louis Williams, Marcin Gortat, Amir Johnson, Raymond Felton, Marvin Williams, Ersan Illysova, CJ Miles, Jarrett Jack, Nate Robinson, Gerald Green, Channing Frye

2006
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, Paul Milsap

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Rudy Gay, JJ Redick, Randy Foye, PJ Tucker

2007
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
KD, Marc Gasol, Al Horford, Joakim Noah

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Mike Conley, Thad Young, Marco Bellinelli, Wilson Chandler, Jared Dudley, Aarib Affkalo, Nick Young, Corey Brewer, Glen Davis, Rodney Stucky, Jeff Green, Ramon Sessions

2008
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Rose, Goran Dragic, Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, George Hill, Robin Lopez, Danilo Gallinari, Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Ryan Anderson, Courtney Lee, Nikola Pekovic, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, DJ Augustin, Jerryd Bayless, Omer Asik, Marreese Speights, JaVale McGee

2009
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Steph Curry, James Harden, Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozen, Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Danny Green, Tyreke Evans, Ricky Rubio, DeMarre Carroll, Patrick Beverley, Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, Taj Gibson, Patty Mills, Omri Caspi, James Johnson, Jodie Meeks, Marcus Thornton

2010
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Paul George, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Gordon Hayward

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Hassan Whiteside, Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley, Lance Stephenson, Derrick Favors, Greg Monroe, Al-Farouq, Patrick Patterson, Ed Davis, Trevor Booker, Quincy Pondexter,

2011
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Tristan Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, Chandler Parsons, Reggie Jackson, Brandon Knight, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Iman Shumpert,  Enes Kanter, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris, Tobias Harris, Bismack Biyombo, Nikola Mirotic

2012
All-Stars/All NBA/HOFs
Anthony Davis, Damian Lilliard, Andre Drummond,

Non-Allstars/Non-All NBA
Harrison Barnes, Brad Beal, Jae Crowder, MKG, Dion Waiters, Khris Middleton, Terrance Ross, Austin Rivers, Jared Sullinger, Evan Fournier, Festus Ezeli, Mo Harkless, Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Jeremy Lamb, Miles Plumlee

*Didn’t include 2013 and beyond because jury is still out on those guys.

I’m specifically looking at the 2011 draft and I’m thinking that draft has the potential to be as good of a draft if those first 5 names end up living up to their potential throughout the course of their careers. Same goes for 2009 draft. Those first four names can compete with a lot of folks. I understand LeBron in many eyes is the GOAT (I’m a fan of his but am not making that proclimation), but thats another discussion. 

Taking into consideration depth as well as talent, and based on how their careers have gone thus far and their potential throughout the remainer of their careers, which of these drafts do you think can compete or become better than the 2003 draft?