But more than that, young players are always a crapshoot. Even ones that seem like “transcendent talents” in college, as Pelinka might say, might not have games that translate to the N.B.A., where the 3-point line is farther, the players are bigger and the on-court schemes are more complex.
The vast majority of high draft picks don’t end up meeting their hype. This seems especially the case with second picks. (This statistical oddity has avoided the top draft pick: In the last 10 years, the first pick has yielded Ben Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and John Wall: all exceptional players.)
In this decade, the only No. 2 picks still with their original franchises are Marvin Bagley, who was a rookie last year with the Sacramento Kings, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was taken in 2012 by the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets).
Evan Turner, drafted in 2010 by the Philadelphia 76ers, has been on three teams since then. He last started full time in 2013 and has never made an All-Star team. Starting in 2011, Derrick Williams, drafted at No. 2 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, played six unremarkable seasons with six different teams, and he hasn’t played in the N.B.A. since 2018.
The only All-Star drafted this decade with the No. 2 pick was Victor Oladipo, selected in 2013 by the Orlando Magic. But it took five seasons and three teams to get there. The remaining No. 2 pick of the 2010s is Jabari Parker (2014, Milwaukee Bucks), essentially a role player who is now with the Washington Wizards.
The 2000s weren’t much better. There is one surefire Hall of Famer: Kevin Durant, drafted second behind Greg Oden in the 2007 draft by the Seattle SuperSonics (R.I.P.). LaMarcus Aldridge — a University of Texas alum like Durant — was picked second the year before Durant by the Bulls before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s a seven-time All Star who will most likely make the Hall of Fame, too.
The other names of the decade, however, are a who’s who of underachievers and busts, like Swift and Milicic. One had a promising career derailed by a serious injury: Williams. Some became solid contributors, but not stars: Marvin Williams (2005, Atlanta Hawks), Emeka Okafor (2004, Bobcats) and Michael Beasley (2008, Miami Heat). Tyson Chandler (2001, Bulls) won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2012 and made the All-Star team the year after.
Source link Sports
The post Why Picking Second in the N.B.A. Draft Might Be a Bad Thing appeared first on Viral Trending Content.
from WordPress https://viraltrendingcontent.com/why-picking-second-in-the-n-b-a-draft-might-be-a-bad-thing/
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment