As we are about to open a new chapter in NBA history with the start of the 2024-25 season, only two players drafted in 2005 or before remain active and hooping in the Association: LeBron James (Class of ‘03) and Chris Paul (Class of ‘05).
That has nearly nothing to do with David Lee, the second player to hear his name called by David Stern in the summer of 2005 when the Knicks decided to spend their No. 30 pick in the Florida Gators standout.
Lee retired at the end of the 2017 season with a chip in his bag, an All-NBA cameo, and a couple of All-Star appearances.