The Top 3 NBA Draft Picks From The Last 10 Years

The NBA Draft is an integral part of a team’s offseason because drafting the right player is absolutely essential to short-term and long-term success. The goal for every NBA franchise is to win championships, and that means making sacrifices and business decisions in the short and long term to get there. That is why the Draft is so important because it gives teams the chance to take the players they truly need out of college. It is also a risky business because NBA teams will never know if a player will succeed in the NBA or not. That is why we have seen an incredible mix of rookies coming into the NBA.

We have seen some iconic rookies such as Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan dominate the game in their first seasons, and both are obviously responsible for two of the game’s greatest franchises. But we have also seen draft flops, including No. 1 overall pick Darko Milicic and No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett. There is a fine line between drafting flops and drafting all-time great players who could take a franchise to the top. It has been clear throughout NBA history that the correct draft choice alters a franchise’s season and future.

To revisit history over the last decade, it is time to uncover the player players that have had the most impact on their teams and the original top-3 draft picks that actually occurred. It is not easy for rookies to get acclimated to the NBA, but we have seen some excellent talents accomplish this in surprisingly great fashion. Without further ado, it is time to revisit the last 10 draft classes to remind ourselves which players were taken No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 overall from each draft class over the past 10 years.

2013 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Anthony Bennett

No. 2 Overall Pick – Victor Oladipo

No. 3 Overall Pick – Otto Porter Jr

Obviously, the 2013 Draft was completely strange in the way teams picked their players. For one, Anthony Bennett should have never gone No. 1 overall. The big man struggled to stay in shape and has to be the biggest bust in NBA history. The power and force he showed before he made it to the NBA were non-existent, and he was not given full confidence by any NBA team because he did not show it himself. In 151 games, Bennett averaged a career-high 4.4 PPG and 3.1 RPG, making him a poor option to get selected in the top 30 let alone No. 1 overall.

Victor Oladipo was taken No. 2, and he had some great years as a professional including the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Indiana Pacers where he made both All-Star Teams. A strong scorer and lockdown defender, Oladipo has had a nice career as he hopes to get back on track following some injuries. A three-and-D swingman Otto Porter Jr was taken No. 3 overall, and while he lacks star talent for sure, he is currently an effective role player for the Golden State Warriors.

No doubt, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo should have been taken No. 1 overall, followed by Rudy Gobert and CJ McCollum at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Nobody could have predicted that Giannis would become an all-time great player, Gobert would become a 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, or McCollum would average at least 20 PPG for 7 straight seasons. If only the Draft could be re-done…

2014 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Andrew Wiggins

No. 2 Overall Pick – Jabari Parker

No. 3 Overall Pick – Joel Embiid

Nobody had a problem with Andrew Wiggins going No. 1 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft at the time, because his potential was off the charts. An extremely athletic player, Wiggins was expected to become a lockdown defender and 25 PPG scorer for the majority of his career. That did not happen, although Wiggins had the best season of his career in 2022 by making the All-Star Team and helping the Warriors win the championship. He just needed to learn the ropes from some all-time greats, and hopefully, the player can kick on to become a bonafide All-Star going forward. Taken second was Jabari Parker, a player who has struggled with injuries throughout his career so far.

Parker has played in 310 games so far, averaging a career 14.1 PPG and having his best season with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 when he posted 20.1 PPG in 51 games played. The forward is not a star player and should have fallen down the rankings because even when healthy, he wasn’t exactly an efficient scorer or lockdown defender. But he isn’t considered a bust because he did have some talent in terms of being an inside-outside scorer from the power forward spot. Superstar Joel Embiid was taken No. 3 overall, and he should have gone No. 1 overall ahead of Andrew Wiggins or at least No. 2 overall.

It can be argued that Nikola Jokic deserved to be the No. 1 overall pick as he is a two-time MVP, but instead he fell to No. 41 overall. Boy, did the Denver Nuggets luck out with that selection because the Serbian has become one of the most impactful centers we have ever seen. With Jokic and Embiid going No. 1 and No. 2, it is fair to assume that All-Star Zach LaVine should have gone No. 3 because he is an elite scorer and one of the best shooting guards in the game. Even if Clint Capela and Julius Randle have better statistics in their best season, Wiggins probably deserves to be in the top-5 anyways.

2015 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Karl-Anthony Towns

No. 2 Overall Pick – D’Angelo Russell

No. 3 Overall Pick – Jahlil Okafor

Even in a re-draft, Karl-Anthony Towns would go No. 1 overall in the 2015 Draft. The big man has exceptional offensive ability and is starting to be an impact player on other areas of the floor as well. A 3-time All-Star, Towns has been an excellent player for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the franchise continues to build around the big man and budding star Anthony Edwards. In 482 games played, Towns is putting up 23.2 PPG and 11.3 RPG in his career.

D’Angelo Russell was taken No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, but that honor should have gone to Devin Booker, one of the best shooting guards in the game right now. Booker is fresh off averaging 26.8 PPG this season and is also a 3-time All-Star with some of the best offensive skills in the league. Meanwhile, Russell has only made 1 All-Star Team and is possible on the trade market for the Timberwolves.

Jahlil Okafor was a gamble by the Philadelphia 76ers, even if they had already taken Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel in previous drafts. The 76ers were making sure at least one of their bigs would turn out to be stars, and obviously, that would be Joel Embiid. Okafor would fade into obscurity, as his lack of defensive ability and also inconsistent playing time has hurt his career. Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell, or Myles Turner should have been taken No. 3 overall.

2016 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Ben Simmons

No. 2 Overall Pick – Brandon Ingram

No. 3 Overall Pick – Jaylen Brown

The 2016 NBA Draft was an exciting one because it was obvious Ben Simmons was going No. 1 overall, and there were a ton of raw but exciting athletes to follow. Brandon Ingram was being compared to Kevin Durant, and Jaylen Brown was a bundle of athleticism without much of a consistent offensive game. These three players were always going to be taken in the top-3 because they are the best players in the draft by far. Ben Simmons missed his first season, but still won Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia 76ers as the former No. 1 overall pick.

Simmons receives a ton of hate for not being available to play, but there is no doubt he is an elite talent on both ends of the floor when healthy and motivated. If the 76ers would have done the draft again, they probably would have taken Jaylen Brown, a consistent offensive player who is not afraid to shoot jumpers and is also an excellent defensive wing. Still, nobody could have expected Simmons to end his relationship with the 76ers the way that he did. The Lakers would have been very happy with Simmons had he fallen to No. 2, however. The Lakers did end up trading Ingram to New Orleans to win a championship with Anthony Davis, so nobody knows if that would have happened had Simmons been on the roster. A duo with LeBron James and Ben Simmons would have been very interesting to watch nonetheless.

No doubt about it, Ingram is a top-3 player in the draft. With his unique skill set that includes shooting, passing, and rebounding, he has a chance to become a superstar if he can continue to tweak his game and get physically stronger. Remember, Kevin Durant became an entirely different player once he began to post up a little more, and Ingram could follow that same training. So far in his career, Ingram has made 1 All-Star Team and won Most Improved Player in 2020.

2017 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Markelle Fultz

No. 2 Overall Pick – Lonzo Ball

No. 3 Overall Pick – Jayson Tatum

Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers had a very high draft choice that did not pan out well. Instead of taking an established offensive talent in Jayson Tatum, they went for a point guard with exciting potential in Markelle Fultz. Had Fultz been healthy, he would have been an All-Star point guard by now, but a strange shoulder injury has derailed his career and his body has been falling apart since. In only 131 games played, Fultz is averaging 10.9 PPG and 4.8 APG. Clearly, the 76ers would have been better off with a duo of Embiid and Tatum.

Lonzo Ball was taken No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, as they continued their rebuild following the retirement of Kobe Bryant. Thanks to the unbelievable marketing strategy by LaVar Ball, the Lakers had no choice but to take Lonzo although the point guard slightly underwhelmed. He did average 10.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG in his All-Rookie Team campaign, but he was nowhere near being a star contributor. Obviously, the Lakers are kicking themselves for being blinded by LaVar Ball and not realizing Jayson Tatum was there for the taking.

Tatum ended up going to the Lakers’ bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics, and what a draft selection that was. In 365 games played so far, Tatum has career averages of 20.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG while being the cornerstone for a team that made the NBA Finals in 2022. The forward has an elite scoring ability, and as he continues to learn the ropes of being a superstar, he will be one of the best players in the game. Just this past season, Tatum averaged 26.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 4.4 APG while making his 3rd All-Star Team.

2018 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Deandre Ayton

No. 2 Overall Pick – Marvin Bagley III

No. 3 Overall Pick – Luka Doncic

Oh boy, what a mistake the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings made in the 2018 NBA Draft. It might be time to stop passing up on players with exceptional talent who lack “the look”, because that is harming teams who have the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in recent times. Luka Doncic is the best player in the 2018 Draft, and barring his rather “skinny-fat” physique, he was an impressive player to follow leading up to the draft. Doncic fell into the Mavericks’ hands after the team decided to swap picks with the Atlanta Hawks, and he rewarded them with superb play. A franchise cornerstone, Luka has made 3 All-Star Teams and made the Western Conference Finals last year at 23 years old.

Deandre Ayton was taken No. 1 overall, and while he is arguably a top-3 player in the 2018 draft, he should never go over Luka or Trae Young. Still, Ayton was the starting center for the Suns team that made the NBA Finals in 2021 and has solid career averages of 16.3 PPG and 10.5 RPG through 236 games played. Ayton might find himself on a new team next year, and if he does, he has a chance to solidify himself as a franchise cornerstone and start building his reputation as an All-Star big man. Even if he stays, Ayton has above-average talent and needs to show more aggressiveness in proving it.

Marvin Bagley III was taken No. 2 overall, and his career has not been impressive at all due to constant injury issues. The athletic forward has been unable to see court action consistently, playing 62 games in his rookie season which is the most games he has played in a season so far. In fact, the forward has only appeared in 104 games since his rookie season, an astonishing statistic. The Sacramento Kings are often ridiculed for being a franchise that can’t seem to make the right decisions or compete well on the court and selecting Bagley III over Trae Young and Luka Doncic is a decision that still bothers their fans.

2019 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Zion Williamson

No. 2 Overall Pick – Ja Morant

No. 3 Overall Pick – RJ Barrett

Anybody in their right mind would have taken Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft because the big man brings elite explosiveness and superstar ability on both ends of the court. Of course, we are waiting for Zion to return fully healthy because he did not play a single game last year after making the All-Star Team in 2021. The big man averaged 27.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG for the Pelicans during that All-Star term, and amazingly, it was only his second season. Of course, if we knew Zion would miss so much time, probably the Pelicans would have taken superstar point guard Ja Morant instead.

Morant is a stud, as simple as that. The point guard won Most Improved Player this year and guided the Memphis Grizzlies to the second round of the playoffs, almost defeating the Warriors to reach the Western Conference Finals. Ja and the entire Grizzlies team believe that if injuries weren’t a factor, they would have played in the NBA Finals. Nonetheless, Ja is one of the top-ten players in the world right now by averaging 27.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 6.7 APG for the Grizzlies this past year and will be on an uptrend to be the best point guard in the game. He could get there, as probably only Stephen Curry is in his way.

RJ Barrett was taken No. 3 overall ahead of some very talented players including Tyler Herro, Darius Garland, and Jordan Poole. All are worthy of being a top-5 pick, although the best option probably would have been All-Star Darius Garland. Garland is a tremendous scorer and passer, and his future is very bright with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Barrett was not a bad selection by any means, as he put up 20.0 PPG this year with the New York Knicks and looks to be their franchise cornerstone. Overall, the 2019 NBA Draft had a ton of exciting talent headlined by Zion Williamson and Ja Morant.

2020 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Anthony Edwards

No. 2 Overall Pick – James Wiseman

No. 3 Overall Pick – LaMelo Ball

The 2020 NBA Draft was an interesting one because most expected LaMelo Ball to go No. 1 overall. Instead, it was Anthony Edwards, a talented offensive scorer with All-Star potential. It can be considered a toss-up between Edwards and Ball, although Ball probably gets the nod as the better player at the moment because he has an All-Star Team selection to his name. Edwards was still an excellent selection by Minnesota, as the scorer averaged 21.3 PPG this season on 44.1% FG and 35.7% 3-PT FG.

James Wiseman is a solid big man who can play important minutes when healthy, but he has been unable to see court action over the past two seasons. He only appeared in 39 games in his rookie campaign and missed the entire 2022 season with a knee injury. It was reported that Wiseman’s injury was worse than expected, and even without the big man, the Warriors won the NBA championship. The center was taken No. 2 overall, and he should have fallen outside of the top 10 considering he hasn’t been available. The likes of Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, and Desmond Bane are all worthy top-3 picks.

LaMelo was taken No. 3 overall and rewarded the Charlotte Hornets with excellent point guard play. Ball averaged 20.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 7.6 APG while making his first All-Star Team this year. The point guard might not be a transcendent talent, but he is a very good player with a chance at becoming a superstar in the league. With Ball at the helm, the Charlotte Hornets are looking for a chance to make the playoffs next year and every season going forward. Ball should have been drafted No. 1 or No. 2 overall, but the Hornets won’t mind that the talented young man fell right into their hands. If Charlotte can continue to build around Ball (and budding star Miles Bridges), the future could be very bright.

2021 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Cade Cunningham

No. 2 Overall Pick – Jalen Green

No. 3 Overall Pick – Evan Mobley

Interestingly, none of the players taken in the top 3 won Rookie of the Year, as that honor went to Scottie Barnes who was taken No. 4 overall by the Toronto Raptors. It is hard to argue that Barnes should have gone ahead of Cunningham, Green, or Mobley, as each player looks to be future All-Stars. But Barnes was the most outstanding rookie this year, posting 15.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 3.5 APG. Cade Cunningham went No. 1 overall and needs time to become the star player expected of him. The guard averaged 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.6 APG for the Detroit Pistons, and will form a nice partnership with Jaden Ivey going forward.

Jalen Green went No. 2 overall, and he is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Houston Rockets. Replacing James Harden on offense is almost impossible, but Green was the best possible player to do so coming out of the 2021 NBA Draft. The talented guard has elite athleticism and seems to be getting more comfortable creating opportunities for himself and others. Head coach Stephen Silas has a lot to work with, especially with Jabari Smith Jr coming aboard the rebuilding Rockets ship. Time is not of the essence in Houston, because tanking is the strategy going forward.

Finally, Evan Mobley was taken No. 3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. The big man was arguably the most “NBA-ready” because he showed focus, defensive intangibles, and basketball IQ from his very first game. Mobley will be an All-Star in the NBA someday and will form an amazing partnership with Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen going forward. Many felt that Evan would be the Rookie of the Year favorite coming into this season, and even if he did not win the individual award, he certainly impressed with his two-way play.

2022 NBA Draft

No. 1 Overall Pick – Paolo Banchero

No. 2 Overall Pick – Chet Holmgren

No. 3 Overall Pick – Jabari Smith

The 2022 NBA Draft was certainly exciting, especially when the Orlando Magic opted for Paolo Banchero over Jabari Smith. It was expected that Smith would be the player to go No. 1 overall, but any one of the elite three players could have gone No. 1 overall from Banchero and Smith to Chet Holmgren. In the end, the Magic felt that the 6’9” forward with toughness and scoring ability would be the one leading the charge going forward. Due to the lack of scoring talent around him, Banchero might be the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award.

Chet Holmgren was taken No. 2 overall, and his ceiling is very high because of his basketball IQ and tremendous length. Even if he is abnormally thin for a player that stands 7 feet tall, he has a quick first step and can block shots with ease. Many will confuse Chet for being a center, but he is actually a perimeter player with one of the most unique skill sets we have ever seen. If Oklahoma City can develop Chet into a 50-40-90 shooter with elite defense and shot-blocking, he can prove to everyone that he deserved to go No. 1 overall.

The Houston Rockets might be shocked to have Jabari Smith fall to them because he is the perfect fit alongside Jalen Green. Together, the duo can make multiple All-Star Teams in the future and help create winning days back in H-Town again. Many felt that Smith was the best player in the draft because of his poise and excellent two-way play. Not only is Smith an excellent shooter, but he is a versatile defender who takes pride in competing against other top players. The Rockets were one of the winners of the 2022 Draft Night and they should be feeling pretty good about themselves. 

Credit for the idea: Bleacher Report

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