Examples of Draft picks contributing to playoff teams

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

I was interested to know about any instances where a rookie was drafted and made a hefty contribution to a playoff team regardless of their draft position. I am curious to know how much does our current talent offset the showcase/expectations of Faultz if we do pick and keep him.

[hpantazo]

Rookie year Magic Johnson and rookie year Tim Duncan as major contributors to title teams come to mind.

[Ogaju]

Hmmmmm what about I go out on a limb and say Magic Johnson?

[Roy H.]

James Worthy came onto a championship team and made an immediate contribution before breaking his leg late in the season.

Oliver Miller was a large contributor to the 93 Suns, and Richard Dumas was a starter.

Kevin McHale won a title his first year with the Celts.

[Fan from VT]

Great players tend to be at least very good quite early on. Any lack of draft picks contributing on playoff teams probably has a lot to do with how the draft works: High picks go to already bad teams. This was obviously not the case with Magic, Worthy, McHale, Duncan, etc. The C's aren't as good as any of those teams, but they aren't exactly a typical #1 lotto pick either

[Moranis]

Would have been interesting to see what Carmelo might have done for Detroit had they not drafted Darko.

[liam]

Fultz can at least be a shooter, scorer off the bench his 1st year. He is younger than Jaylen when Jaylen was drafted but his skills are much further along, especially his handle and shooting. Jaylen's passing has been better than I thought it would be and he's come a long way in one short year...

[Who]

Tony Parker did pretty good.

Won the starting PG spot. Second leading scorer on his team in playoffs.

[Who]

Amare Stoudemire was RoY on an 8th seed Suns team. Around 14 and 8 as starting PF.

D-Wade was terrific in the playoffs his rookie. He was the starting PG on the Heat and went for around 15/5/5 and then emerged as the most talented player on the team as the playoffs carried on. Helped lead team to the second round. His play convinced Shaq to go to Miami next summer.

[GC003332]

Joe Dumars with the Pistons in 86 & Mark Jackson with the Knicks in 88 both started and played heavy minutes as rookies that weren't lottery picks.
Derek Rose in 2009 gave the Celtics all they could handle in round one as a rookie.

[Stig]

How about D Wade, took his team to 2nd round single handedly as a rookie.

[footey]

Most of these rookies played college 3 plus seasons.

[footey]

Alvan Adams rookie year with Suns major contributor to making finals.

76 season.

[greg683x]

Gerald Wallace on the Kings.  Wasn't the centerpiece but a solid contributor

[liam]

Most of these rookies played college 3 plus seasons.

You're right it's a different NBA now. Most of these guys are on a 3 year window to grow into who they'll be...