The 2013 NBA Draft Class: The Players Ranked By Category

The 2013 NBA Draft Class was one of the most interesting drafts in recent memory. Anthony Bennett was drafted #1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and some players managed to slip through the cracks to very lucky teams around the league. But most importantly, the 2013 Draft Class gave us some current NBA superstars and All-Star players who are truly changing the way the game is played nowadays.

The Greek Freak Giannis Antentokounmpo is already one of the game’s five best players, while the Frenchman Rudy Gobert is possibly the game’s most impactful defensive presence on the court. But which other players that came out the 2013 draft are making a significant impact on the game?

In order to review one of the league’s most interesting draft classes, all players from the 2013 Draft Class will be ranked per category, starting with The Biggest Disappointment.

The Biggest Disappointment – Anthony Bennett

Without a shadow of the doubt, Anthony Bennett is one of the NBA’s greatest draft busts. He simply could not perform at an average NBA level when he got drafted by the Cavs and looked nothing remotely close to a professional athlete.

He could not find his footing in the game at all, and even today, Bennet remains an unsigned player who only gains relevance when he plays for the Canadian National Team. So far in his NBA career, Bennet is averaging 4.4 PPG in 12.6 MPG.

The Most Surprising – Rudy Gobert

Nobody expected Gobert to make this much of an impact when he joined the NBA. Gobert is a 7-foot defensive wall that has completely changed the way teams approach the Utah Jazz. Along with young star Donovan Mitchell, Gobert has managed to make the Jazz a legitimate title contender thanks to his ability to play defense and block shots.

When it comes to the most feared defensive presence in the league, Gobert is probably up there at number one since he makes it almost impossible for players to score on him inside. Even when playing for the French National Team, Gobert is by far the most impactful player on the team and the best defender in this past Fiba Tournament. The Jazz is very fortunate to capture the most surprising player in the 2013 draft, Rudy Gobert.

The Most Athletic – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Without a doubt, Giannis is the most dominant athlete in the 2013 Draft.

Standing at 6’11”, with a 7’3″ wingspan, we haven’t seen a player quite like Giannis in NBA history. Perhaps the most defining moment of his introduction to the league was his ability to get from one basket to the next in just a few dribbles. The first time he pulled that off, the entire world knew that this man was a physical freak.

So far, “The Greek Freak” is the best physical athlete out of the 2013 Draft.

The Best Leader – Giannis Antetokounmpo

When it comes to leadership, clearly Giannis Antetokounmpo tops the rest. His ability to be the focal point on offense, and always make the right play is something truly amazing for someone as young as Giannis is. Since his third season in the league, he has been one of the best players in the world and the reason why the Bucks are the best team in the league since last season.

Giannis also has the attitude to work the hardest and strives to be the best player he can be every single night. Giannis has all the tools to be an impactful leader in the near future.

The Most Efficient – Giannis Antetokounmpo

In terms of pure efficiency, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the draft. He has a career field goal percentage of 52.5% and still manages to average 20.0 PPG for his career.

Giannis can do the most on the court in comparison to other players in the draft, including rebounding and assisting the ball when he isn’t scoring. Most of his shots come close to the basket and only attempts outside jumpers when he is completely wide open. Giannis is one of the most efficient superstars in the league, and this will continue into the foreseeable future.

The Most Clutch – Victor Oladipo

This is a tough one, but the most clutch player in the 2013 Draft Class is Victor Oladipo. Oladipo came into the league as a defensive specialist without any real offensive game, but everything changed when he was traded to the Indiana Pacers. Oladipo has proven he can create his own shots and has a killer mentality with the game on the line.

While C.J. McCollum can be a very reliable scorer from the perimeter, he often defers to Damian Lillard and doesn’t get many opportunities to take over a game. Oladipo has shown no fear in clutch moments, and he will be hungry to return to NBA action following his recent injury.

The Best Defender – Rudy Gobert

The most surprising player in the draft, Rudy Gobert is also the best defender. He is literally a massive wall at the rim, and many coaches have to prepare for Gobert’s presence every single game.

His career averages of 2.2 BPG so far is impressive, and the amount of shots he alters or deflects doesn’t show up on the stat sheet either. Perhaps the most impactful part of his game is his presence, as he can make players shy away from the basket just by standing close to the rim. Gobert is a true defensive master and a gem for the Utah Jazz.

The Best Shooter – C.J. McCollum

Without a doubt, C.J. McCollum is the best shooter in the draft. Alongside his teammate and fellow sharpshooter Damian Lillard, McCollum forms one of the best backcourts in the NBA.

McCollum averages a career 39.7 % from deep and has the capability to score from mid-range and from the three-point line. McCollum might not be the overall scorer than Giannis is, but he is clearly the best shooter and an absolute marksman from the perimeter. Perhaps the best part of McCollum’s shooting is that he can be lethal off the dribble as well.

The Best Playmaker – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Unsurprisingly, Giannis is the best playmaker in the draft. He can handle the ball like a true point guard and sets his teammates up with ease since he attracts so much attention from opposing defenses.

Giannis needs two or three defenders when he attacks the rim, and he is very adept at finding his open shooters like Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez for easy shots. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the entire focal point of the Milwaukee Bucks defense, and he does a terrific job of putting everyone in the position to be successful on offense.

The Best Rebounder – Rudy Gobert

Gobert takes another category here, as the best rebounder in the 2012 Draft Class. Standing over 7 feet tall, Gobert has been the most consistent rebounder out of everyone in the draft.

His career average of 11.0 RPG usurps the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who only recently started dominating the boards. Overall, Gobert is one of the leagues’ best defenders and also one of the best rebounders. This season, Gobert is averaging 13.7 RPG and is clearly a dominating presence on both ends of the court.

The Best Scorer – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis once again takes this category of being the best scorer in the draft. Averaging a monster 29.6 PPG this season, Giannis is clearly the best scorer out of everyone coming out of the 2013 draft.

C.J. McCollum is a great scorer, and a terrific shooter, but he simply cannot score the ball as easily as Giannis can. Antetokounmpo is an inch from 7 feet tall, and can simply score the ball at a very efficient rate.

The Best Overall Player – Giannis Antetokounmpo

No doubt about it, this is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has already won one MVP Award, has led the Bucks to the best record in the NBA for two straight seasons, and is probably the front runner for the MVP this season.

Antentokounmpo’s ability to defend set his teammates up for open shots, and score the ball at will makes him a legitimate superstar player and one of the top five players in the game today.