NBA Daily: The Best And Worst Of The Last NBA Draft Decade

The Best And Worst

With the NBA Draft just around the corner and ever-increasing debate on where a certain player should be ranked, it seemed relevant to take a look back at the last decade of lottery picks and highlight some of the better decisions as well as some of the not so great decisions made on draft day.

If you want to see the complete history of every draft picks, check out the History of the NBA Draft – By Pick.

In looking at the draft history, two factors were used. We looked at whether the player was more or less than an average NBA player and whether he blossomed on a traditional track. Some drafted players found their groove well after their normal draft window and have had reasonable NBA careers, but many of those didn’t live up to their draft hype or draft status.

Let’s take a look:

The #1s

The Studs

2016: Ben Simmons, Louisiana State – Philadelphia 76ers

2015: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky – Minnesota Timberwolves

2014: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas – Cleveland Cavaliers

2012: Anthony Davis, Kentucky – New Orleans Hornets

2011: Kyrie Irving, Duke – Cleveland Cavaliers

2010: John Wall, Kentucky – Washington Wizards

2009: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma – L.A. Clippers

2008: Derrick Rose, Memphis – Chicago Bulls

The Duds

2013: Anthony Bennett, UNLV – Cleveland Cavaliers

The #2s

The Studs

2016: Brandon Ingram, Duke – Los Angeles Lakers

2015: D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State – Los Angeles Lakers

2013: Victor Oladipo, Indiana – Orlando Magic

The Duds

2012: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky – Charlotte Bobcats

2011: Derrick Williams, Arizona – Minnesota Timberwolves

2009: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut – Memphis Grizzlies

2008: Michael Beasley, Kansas State – Miami HEAT

The #3s

The Studs

2017: Jayson Tatum, Duke – Boston Celtics

2016: Jaylen Brown, California – Boston Celtics

2014: Joel Embiid, Kansas – Philadelphia 76ers

2013: Otto Porter, Georgetown – Washington Wizards

2012: Bradley Beal, Florida – Washington Wizards

2009: James Harden, Arizona State – Oklahoma City Thunder

The Duds

2015: Jahlil Okafor, Duke – Philadelphia 76ers

2008: O.J. Mayo, USC – Minnesota Timberwolves

The #4s

The Studs

2015: Kristaps Porzingis, Baloncesta Sevilla – New York Knicks

2014: Aaron Gordon, Arizona – Orlando Magic

2008: Russell Westbrook, UCLA – Seattle Supersonics

The Duds

2012: Dion Waiters, Syracuse – Cleveland Cavaliers

2010: Wesley Johnson, Syracuse – Minnesota Timberwolves

2009: Tyreke Evans, Memphis – Sacramento Kings

The #5s

The Studs

2010: Demarcus Cousins, Kentucky – Sacramento Kings

2009: Ricky Rubio, Spain – Minnesota Timberwolves

The Duds

2015: Mario Hezonja, FC Barcelona Basquet – Orlando Magic

2014: Dante Exum, Australia – Utah Jazz

2013: Alex Len, Maryland – Phoenix Suns

2012: Thomas Robinson, Kansas – Sacramento Kings

The #6s

The Studs

2014: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma St. – Boston Celtics

2012: Damian Lillard, Weber State – Portland Trail Blazers

2008: Danilo Gallinari, Italy – New York Knicks

The Duds

2013: Nerlens Noel, Kentucky – New Orleans Pelicans

2011: Jan Vesely, Czech Republic – Washington Wizards

2010: Ekpe Udoh, Baylor – Golden State Warriors

2009: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse – Minnesota Timberwolves

The #7s

The Studs

2017: Lauri Markkanen, Arizona – Minnesota Timberwolves

2016: Jamal Murray, Kentucky – Denver Nuggets

2014: Julius Randle, Kentucky – Los Angeles Lakers

2012: Harrison Barnes, UNC – Golden State Warriors

2010: Greg Monroe, Georgetown – Detroit Pistons

2009: Stephen Curry, Davidson – Golden State Warriors

2008: Eric Gordon, Indiana – L.A. Clippers

The Duds

2015: Emmanuel Mudiay, Guangdong Tigers – Denver Nuggets

2013: Ben McLemore, Kansas – Sacramento Kings

2011: Bismack Biyombo, Congo – Sacramento Kings

The #8s

The Studs

No Studs in the last decade.

The Duds

2014: Nik Stauskas, Michigan – Sacramento Kings

2013: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia – Detroit Pistons

2011: Brandon Knight, Kentucky – Detroit Pistons

2009: Jordan Hill, Arizona – New York Knicks

2008: Joe Alexander, West Virginia – Milwaukee Bucks

The #9s

The Studs

2012: Andre Drummond, Connecticut – Detroit Pistons

2011: Kemba Walker, Connecticut – Charlotte Bobcats

2010: Gordon Hayward, Butler – Utah Jazz

2009: DeMar Derozen, USC – Toronto Raptors

The Duds

2014: Noah Vonleh, Indiana – Charlotte Hornets

2013: Trey Burke, Michigan – Minnesota Timberwolves

The #10s

The Studs

2013: C.J. McCollum, Lehigh – Portland Trail Blazers

2010: Paul George, Fresno State – Indiana Pacers

2008: Brook Lopez, Stanford – New Jersey Nets

The Duds

2015: Justise Winslow, Duke – Miami HEAT

2011: Jimmer Fredette, BYU – Milwaukee Bucks

The #11s

The Studs

2015: Myles Turner, Texas – Indiana Pacers

2011: Klay Thompson, Washington State – Golden State Warriors

The Duds

2013: Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse – Philadelphia 76ers

2010: Cole Aldrich, Kansas – New Orleans Hornets (Draft rights traded to OKC Thunder)

2009: Terrence Williams, Louisville – New Jersey Nets

The #12s

The Studs

2015: Trey Lyles, Kentucky – Utah Jazz

2014: Dario Saric, Croatia – Orlando Magic

2013: Steven Adams, Pittsburgh – Oklahoma City Thunder

The Duds

2012: Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut – Houston Rockets

2011: Alec Burks, Colorado – Utah Jazz

2010: Xavier Henry, Kansas – Memphis Grizzlies

2008: Jason Thompson, Rider – Sacramento Kings

The #13s

The Studs

2017: Donovan Mitchell, Louisville – Denver Nuggets

2015: Devin Booker, Kentucky – Phoenix Suns

2014: Zach LaVine, UCLA – Minnesota Timberwolves

2013: Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga – Dallas Mavericks

2011: Markieff Morris, Kansas – Phoenix Suns

The Duds

2016: Georgios Papagiannis, Greece – Phoenix Suns

2012: Kendall Marshall, UNC – Phoenix Suns

2009: Tyler Hansbrough, UNC – Indiana Pacers

2008: Brandon Rush, Kansas – Portland Trail Blazers

The #14s

The Studs

2017: Bam Adebayo, Kentucky – Miami HEAT

2014: TJ Warren, NC State – Phoenix Suns

2011: Marcus Morris, Kansas – Houston Rockets

2010: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky – Houston Rockets

The Duds

2013: Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA – Utah Jazz

2009: Earl Clark, Louisville – Phoenix Suns

2008: Anthony Randolph, LSU – Golden State Warriors

If a drafted player is not listed he was neither a Stud or a Dud, that player was deemed simply an average NBA player or hasn’t logged enough time to practically be considered either way.

If you are curious how your favorite team has fared in the draft process, Basketball Insiders also has the History of the NBA Draft – By Team.

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