Best Big 12 Player Drafted #23: Tyronn Lue, Nebraska Cornhuskers, by the Denver Nuggets in 1998.
Lue wasn't the best player ever, but he was the 53rd best three-point shooter ever. He was also a serviceable backup point guard during the championship of the Los Angeles Lakers' first three-peat of the 2000s.
Other Notable Big 12 Players Drafted 23rd: None.
Best Non-Big 12 Player Drafted 23rd: Omri Casspi, Maccabi Tel Aviv, by the Sacramento Kings in 2009.
With apologies to Tyshawn Prince, Francisco Garcia and Wilson Chandler, Casspi gets the nod simply for being the first Israeli-born player to play in an NBA game. Last season, as he toured the US with the Kings, stadiums sold out with yarmulke-wearing Jews waving the Israeli flag. While his game isn't deserving of the spot, it can be argued that he's had more of an impact off the court than anyone has had on it.
In preparation for the 2011 NBA Draft, each day until June 23 we'll count down the best Big 12 player drafted with each pick. This list only takes into account players who played in the Big 12, so it starts with the 1997 draft. In total 70 Big 12 alumni have been selected, filling 43 of the 60 possible slots.
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