Ronnie Lester may be interviewed to be the next general manager of the Phoenix Suns

Many Iowa fans feel Ronnie Lester is the best Hawkeyes basketball player ever.

I would concur.

Time passes, and it's hard to believe Lester has been in the Los Angeles Lakers' front office since 1987. He has been the team's assistant general manager since 2006, and is about to collect yet another NBA championship ring.

Lester is one of three announced candidates to replace Steve Kerr as the Phoenix Suns' general manager according to this Arizona Republic story.

Funny, today is NBA Draft day. Thirty years ago, Lester was the No. 10 pick in the draft. No Hawkeye has been drafted that high since, and only four Hawkeyes have gone in the first-round since Lester. They were Roy Marble (23rd pick, 1989), B.J. Armstrong (18th pick, 1989), Acie Earl (19th pick, 1993), Ricky Davis (21st pick, 1998).

The only Hawkeye drafted in the last 10 years was Adam Haluska (2nd round, 43rd pick, 2007).

The highest draftees ever in Hawkeye history are two players who could give Lester a run for greatest Hawkeye (as could Murray Wier and Don Nelson). Fred Brown went sixth in 1971 and John Johnson was seventh in 1970.

Kevin Kunnert was picked 13h in 1973.

The dearth of first-rounders in the Iowa program explains why Iowa hasn't gone to an NCAA Sweet 16 since 1999 or a Final Four since 1980.

Final Four teams have NBA first-rounders. Even Butler.

By the way, that 1980 Iowa Final Four team? It had Lester.