The Top Picks in the NBA Draft: From Failures to Legends

Everyone dreams one day of being the number in the Draft and landing in the NBA. Work and fight for years to achieve it, but the pressure is mutual for the team that has it and for the player who is chosen pick one. Now, the franchise hopes to build a legacy around the chosen one that will make him travel to a ring.

It is pick Number one is not synonymous with success either, some of them have even been a true failure, but other times they have become stars and legends in the NBA. So far, eighteen players who were selected at the top have become Hall of Fame.

2013 – anthony bennett (Cleveland cavaliers)

From one Anthony to another, but with totally opposite careers. Bennett, chosen by the Cavs, is one of the biggest disappointments, there are even some who think that he is the biggest failure, in a weak 2013 Draft, standing out the pick two from Oladipo, but above all the choice in position fifteen of a two-time MVP of the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo who came from Greece, more specifically from Filathlitikos.

Born in Canada, he played for Nevada Las Vegas and became the first Canadian-born player to be selected number one. On August 20, 2013 he signed as rookie a two-year contract at a rate of 11 million dollars. In his only season in Cavs, he scored four points per game in twelve minutes, to be sent to Wolves and later play in Raptors and Nets, ending his NBA stage in January 2017. Four points on average and incursions in Europe (Turkey and Israel ), currently playing for the Kaohsiung Steelers in Taiwan.

2014 – andrew wiggins (Minnesota timberwolves)

Another Canadian Picked pick one taking over from Bennett, Wiggins did it coming from the University of Kansas. He was drafted by the Cavs but traded to Wolves. He got to be the best rookie of his generation and after five seasons in Minneapolis and with a certain aftertaste of disappointment, he was transferred to the Warriors. In San Francisco he has exploded and has been key to the Golden State ring, important to Kerr and in the same way to Stephen Curry. During this 21-22 course he was chosen for the first time All-Star and Larry O’Brien won his first title. At 22-23, Wiggins continued his good line, but a strange and long absence for personal reasons, in which all his teammates supported him, wiped the forward off the map. Luckily, he was in time to play the Playoffs, with the full confidence of Kerr.

There have only been two starters from the 2014 NBA Draft Class that have made the Finals:

Andrew Wiggins
Marcus Smart

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— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 14, 2022

2015 – karl-anthony towns (minnesota timberwolves)

The Wolves, along with the Cavs and 76ers, have been very active teams with high picks and in 2015, KAT arrived from the Kentucky factory. Over time, he has become one of the NBA’s interior benchmarks and an excellent shooter. In the first season he was rookie of the year.

Of Dominican origin, on April 9, 2015, Towns and his Wildcats teammates Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Dajari Johnson, Devin Booker, Trey Lyles and Cauley-Sten declared themselves eligible for the Draft. His debut was on October 28 against the Lakers with 14 points and twelve rebounds. Three times all-star, twice in the third best five in the league (18 and 22) and last year’s champion in the All-Star triple contest.

2016 – ben simmons (philadelphia 76ers)

Born in Fitzroy, Victoria (Australia), he came to the NBA from the LSU Tigers, not making his debut in his first year in the league to become rookie of the year in the following. Lights and shadows in the years that the lanky point guard has been in the league, being a three-time all-star (2019, 2020, 2021), chosen in the best third team in the NBA in 2020, but the process in 76ers did not quite work and he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden, losing again the entire season due to back problems. On May 5, 2022 he underwent back surgery. His performance with the Nets has been a headache for Vaughn and he’s already ranked as one of the most unpredictable players in the league. What will become of him next season?

2017 – markelle fultz (philadelphia 76ers)

Years of rebuilding in Philadelphia and recruiting players in high positions in the Draft. After Embiid’s arrival, the pick one of Simmons, touched the landing of another number one, Fultz, thinking that it would be the third element enough to guide the 76ers to a ring.

Coming from the Washington Huskies, he had a start with many physical and shooting problems, with a shoulder injury that meant that he never found his place in Pennsylvania and was transferred on February 7, 2019 to the Orlando Magic in exchange for rounds of Draft. Once in Orlando, he continued with physical problems but with a bit more continuity. In total, he played 191 games in six courses, standing out the 72 of the 19-20 with Magic. This season, his performances have left a better taste in the mouth and it is expected that next season, together with Banchero and company, they will put Orlando in a better place.

2018 – deandre ayton (phoenix suns)

The player from the Bahamas came to the NBA from the Arizona Wildcats, being an important part of the current Suns, the growth of the team, a key element along with Chris Paul and Booker. But with the start of the NBA offseason, Ayton has many numbers to leave the Arizona desert and move to another NBA city looking for accommodation, since the Suns are hesitant to offer him the maximum.

Also with injury problems, he has established himself as one of the greats centers of the NBA, averaging so far 16/10 in the 303 games.

2019 – zion williamson (new orleans pelicans)

Four seasons in the NBA for Zion and he has only been able to play 114 games, yes, it has earned him two All-Star appearances this year and last year. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, in his NCAA venture, more specifically Duke, he was named player of the year in the ACC. In his first NBA season, he tore his meniscus, making his debut on January 22, 2020. In the subsequent season, great numbers, being key in the Pelicans, but again, in 21-22, a blank course due to a foot fracture. The 22-23 was key in the short and sudden revelation of the Pelicans, who were fighting in the noble zone of the West, but his injury and that of Brandon Ingram made the team plummet.

2020 – anthony edwards (minnesota timberwolves)

They hoped that with Wiggins, Anthony-Towns and Edward they could fight for everything. Wiggins has disappeared from the Wolves, but Ant-Man and KAT are the cornerstones to see Minnesota be able to fight in the not too distant future for a ring. This season, appearance in the playoffs, seeing how the guard continues to improve and becoming one of the great young players in the NBA. This season, he has established himself as a top-tier offensive threat: 24.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists. In addition, he is called to be the reference in the young Team USA that will fight to redeem itself from the performance of 2019 with a new gold medal.

2021 – cade cunningham (detroit pistons)

Playing 64 games in his season rookie and placing third behind Barnes and Mobley in the competition for best rookie. His second season, which was expected to improve significantly, did not go well as he underwent surgery in December 2022. He missed games early in his rookie season with an ankle injury and is still he has only played in 76 games in his career, less than a full regular season. He, too, has struggled to score efficiently, shooting just 41.6% from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range so far.

2022 – Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

So far, last number one in the Draft. The ‘easy’ and logical option for Orlando. And it did not disappoint. In his first season with the Magic, Banchero has taken the helm of the ship and pocketed the Rookie of the Year award. His playing style, performance and stats already rank him among the top young players in the league and it will only be a matter of a very short time before he makes it to All-Star, and with a little more help. he takes Orlando to fight for the Playoffs.