Was This NBA Player A Top-10 Draft Pick?
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
The National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft is like no other. The National Hockey League Draft is a relatively low-key event in which mostly-unknown players from throughout North America and Europe realize their dreams; the Major League Baseball (MLB) Amateur Draft is a 40-round marathon that nobody really cares about as most of the players will never play in the MLB and the ones that do often take three or four years to get there; the National Football League Draft is a much-hyped event that draws a ridiculous amount of coverage, but it's hard to really care much about the offensive tackles and linebackers that may or may not have an impact in the league. Not only is there a strong chance most first-round picks in the NBA Draft have a chance to become impact players, most of those players are also well-known through the March Madness tournament before being drafted. Oh, and they also rock some of the finest and most original suits on draft night.
Because it's only a two-round draft, it isn't all that uncommon for future star players to be taken in the latter half of the first round or even in the second round. While it's easy to project the careers of first-overall picks such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Yao Ming, there are just as many first-overall picks that don't pan out - Anthony Bennett, Greg Oden, and Andrea Bargnani. Given that, it's not exactly an easy task to remember if certain players were high draft picks. Can you tell just how many of these players were selected in the top 10 of the first round?
Steph Curry
The son of former NBA player Dell Curry, Steph has surpassed his father's accomplishments and then some. A native of Akron, Ohio (the same city in which LeBron James grew up), Curry is a four-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA MVP. The Baby-Faced Assassin is one of the league's premier shooters from long range as he routinely makes difficult-looking three-point shots. He has a 44 percent career field goal percentage and, in 2015-16, led the league in scoring with 30.1 points per game.
Andre Iguodala
A teammate of Curry for the past four seasons, Andre Iguodala was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2004 NBA Draft. The 33 year old shooting guard and small forward was named to the All-Rookie team in his first year in the league and has since been named to the All-Defensive team twice. The pinnacle of his career came during the 2014-15 NBA Finals when he was named Finals MVP after a series in which he shut down LeBron James and scored double digit points in five of six games.
Isaiah Thomas
It's not often you see two great players in any sport that share the same name, but that's the case with Boston's Isaiah Thomas, who shares a name - although different spelling - with a former New York Knicks executive and Detroit Pistons point guard. The Celtics point guard is one of the league's rising talents after a few mediocre seasons in Sacramento and Phoenix. Since arriving in Boston, he has earned two All-Star Game nods and averaged a career-best 28.9 points per game in 2016-17.
DeMar DeRozan
A three-time NBA All-Star, DeMar DeRozan is a native of Compton who was a star with the University of Southern California before being selected by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA Draft. Despite moving from the warm climate of California to a much cooler climate in Toronto, DeRozan has embraced the 6ix as his new home. When Chris Bosh left for free agency, he famously tweeted "I got us," and he was right. DeRozan sits among the Raptors all-time leaders in points and averaged a career-high 27.3 points per game last season.
Gordon Hayward
Although he will begin the 2017-18 season wearing the Boston Celtics colors, Gordan Hayward was the pride of the Utah Jazz for the better part of a decade. The former Butler Bulldog was drafted in 2010 and spent the past seven years in Utah, where he averaged 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He had the best season of his career in 2016-17 as he averaged a career-high 21.9 points per game and was named to his first ever All-Star Game.
Kyrie Irving
There are rumors that Kyrie Irving wants out of Cleveland and could be heading to San Antonio, New York, or Portland, among other teams. But as of writing this, the former Duke University star remains with the Cavaliers, the team he has played with for his entire six-year career. Irving broke into the league in 2011-12 and was named the league's Rookie of the Year after averaging 18.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. He has continued to improve throughout the years; in 2016-17, he averaged a career-best 25.6 points per game.
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been an impressive player since breaking into the league in 2015 - he was named to the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie Team - but he broke through as a legitimate star last year after posting a 70-point game in a losing effort against the Boston Celtics. That performance elevated Booker's point per game average to 22.1, up over eight points from his average in his rookie season. He also averaged career highs in rebounds, assists, steals, and three-point percentage.
Brook Lopez
A former star for Stanford University, Brook Lopez is the more talent of the Lopez twins (Robin is the other). Despite the team being awful in recent years, he has remained with the Brooklyn Nets for his entire nine-year career. He has been quite consistent too; he averaged 20.7 points per game in 2014-14, and after a dip to 17.2 points the following year, averaged 20.6 and 20.5 points per game the next two seasons. The center has career averages of 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game. He'll begin a new chapter in his career this coming season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Evan Turner
A 6-foot-7 shooting guard from Chicago, Illinois, Turner played his college basketball with Ohio State University before being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2010. Despite being highly touted out of college, it took him some time to settle in and become an effective NBA player. He hasn't quite lived up to expectations, but he has become a valuable bench player who can start when needed. Last year, he started 12 of 67 games for the Portland Trail Blazers and averaged 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
JaVale McGee
Frequently showcased on Shaqtin' A Fool for his embarrassing outtakes on the court, JaVale McGee is actually a solid player despite the negative press. He did, after all, recently win a championship with the Golden State Warriors and provided the team with valuable minutes off the bench in 77 regular season games, while averaging 6.1 points per game, which was his highest mark since 2013-14 when he played for the Denver Nuggets. Throughout his career, the Michigan native has averaged 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.
Serge Ibaka
Speaking of blocks, this player has become known as Serge Iblocka because of his ability to protect the rim. A 27 year old native of the Republic of Congo, Ibaka led the league in blocks in consecutive years in 2011-12 and 2012-13 with 3.7 and 3.0 per game respectively. Those numbers have dipped considerably in recent years, but he still has a career average of 2.4 blocks per game to go along with 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds. He recently signed with the Toronto Raptors.
Wesley Johnson
A 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie Team member, Wesley Johnson was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2010 NBA Draft after an impressive college career with Syracuse University. However, despite averaging 9.0 points per game in his rookie season, he has failed to develop into anything more than a decent bench player. He averaged a career-high 9.9 points per game in 2014-15 with the Los Angeles Clippers but saw his playing time dip drastically this past season, in which he averaged a career-worst 2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game.
Kyle Lowry
A 31 year old point guard from Philadelphia, Kyle Lowry played his college basketball at Villanova University and was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. He later played for the Houston Rockets before developing into the All-Star point guard he now is for the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 11.5 points per game in four seasons with Houston; 8.6 points per game in three seasons with Memphis; and, through five seasons with the Raptors, averaged 18.2 points and 6.8 assists per game.
Ryan Anderson
The recipient of the 2011-12 Most Improved Player award, Ryan Anderson is a former first-round pick of the New Jersey Nets who played his college hoops for the University of California. The 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds during that most improved season and continued to improve in subsequent years. He averaged a career-high 19.8 points per game in 2013-14 with the New Orleans Pelicans and spent last season with the Houston Rockets after signing a four-year, $80 million contract.
Kemba Walker
A one-time NBA All-Star, University of Connecticut alumnus Kemba Walker has spent his entire six-year career with the Charlotte franchise and has been the face of the organization for most of those years. After averaging 17 points per game in three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014, Walker recorded a career-high 20.9 points per game in 2015-16 and improved upon that number by averaging 23.2 in 2016-17. He's also a skilled playmaker who can find the open man just as effectively as he can create his own shot.
Harrison Barnes
A vital component to the Golden State Warriors during the 2015-16 regular season, Harrison Barnes was underwhelming during the team's playoff run to the NBA Championship, but nonetheless parlayed it into an absurd four-year, $94 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks the following offseason. The former University of North Carolina star, however, proved himself capable of accepting a larger role in his first year with the Mavericks as he averaged 19.2 points per game as opposed to the 11.7 he averaged the year prior with the Warriors.
Lance Stephenson
Although he might be best known for blowing into the ear of LeBron James during a stoppage in play, which was subsequently referenced in a Nicki Minaj song, Lance Stephenson is a valuable player who can get to the basket, create space for his teammates, and play shutdown defense when needed. Originally drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2010, he re-joined the team last season after spending time with the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans.
Danilo Gallinari
A 29 year old native of Italy, Danilo Gallinari was originally selected in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He spent just over two seasons with the team before he was dealt as part of a complicated three-team trade that saw the Knicks receive Carmelo Anthony. The small forward has spent the past six seasons in Denver and has become the team's premier scorer, averaging over 18 points per game in each of the past two seasons. To date, he has a career average of 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He's also an impressive three-point shooter who averaged a career-best 39 percent from deep last season.
James Johnson
A 30 year old native of Wyoming, James Johnson was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA Draft and has since bounced around the league before enjoying a career-year with the Miami Heat this past season. Johnson played for the Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, and Memphis Grizzlies, before breaking through as a valuable bench player this past season. Despite starting only five of 76 games, Johnson averaged a career-best 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He also had over one steal and block per game. He parlayed that into a four-year, $60 million contract with the Heat this off-season.
Greg Monroe
Former Georgetown Hoya Greg Monroe is a 6-foot-11, 265-pound power forward who was originally selected in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. In his rookie season, the Louisiana native earned All-Rookie recognition after averaging 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He played five seasons with the Pistons before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2015 offseason. Despite being moved to the bench this past season, Monroe proved himself a valuable asset to the Bucks as he helped the team reach the playoffs and averaged 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard
Considered by some as the most complete player in the league, former San Diego State University small forward Kawhi Leonard is a two-time NBA All-Star, four-time All-Defensive player and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. His efforts at the defensive end of the floor were always evident, but in the past two seasons he has become a leader on offense; last year, he averaged 25.5 points per game as well as a career-best 3.5 assists per game. His breakout performance came during the 2014 playoffs, for which he earned Finals MVP.
Patrick Patterson
A native of Washington, D.C., Patrick Patterson went to high school in West Virginia and played college hoops for the University of Kentucky before he was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played for Houson and Sacramento before finding his footing as a role player with the Toronto Raptors for a stretch of four seasons. Throughout his eight-year career, Patterson has averaged 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. He recently signed a three-year, $16.4 million contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jrue Holiday
A native of California, Jrue Holiday attended the University of California before being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2009 NBA Draft. The scoring point guard averaged a mere 8.0 points per game as a rookie but has averaged double digit figures in all seven years since. He especially improved after a 2013 trade sent him to the New Orleans Pelicans. In four seasons with the Pelicans, Holiday has averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Players, broadcasters, and various media members around the league have a hard time pronouncing Giannis Antetokounmpo's name so he's often referred to as The Greek Freak in reference to his heritage and his freakishly-athletic build and wingspan. The 6-foot-11, 222-pound athlete can play multiple positions on the floor and is one of the NBA's rising superstars. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2016-17 and as also named the league's Most Improved Player after averaging 22.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, all of which were career highs.
Ricky Rubio
A 26 year old native of Spain, Rubio was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft, but didn't make his debut in the league until two seasons later. He was worth the wait, however, as he scored 10.6 points and averaged 8.2 assists per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie team. He isn't necessarily one of the league's best-scoring point guards, but he can dish the ball with the best of them; he averaged a career-best 9.1 assists per game in 2016-17. He was traded to the Utah Jazz this past June.
Bismack Biyombo
Although he looks like a 40 year old man, Bismack Biyombo is only 24 years old and was only drafted in 2001 by the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot-9 athletic center struggled early in his career but had a breakout performance with the Toronto Raptors in the 2016 playoffs, during which time he averaged 6.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game. More than that, his nonstop energy was noticed by scouts around the league, which is why he was given a four-year, $70 million contract with the Orlando Magic the following offseason.
Iman Shumpert
A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Iman Shumpert is a shooting guard who was originally drafted by the New York Knicks in 2011. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team that year after averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals through 59 games, but unfortunately for Shump, that was the best year of his career. He has since battled through injuries and inconsistency and has failed to top his rookie points average. He's still an effective bench player who, last year, averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Paul George
The newest member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paul George carved out a decorated career as a member of the Indiana Pacers. The 27 year old shooting guard/small forward was drafted by the Pacers in 2010 and represented the team four times as an All-Star. He was also the recipient of the 2012-13 Most Improved Player award and was named to three All-Defensive teams. Through seven seasons with the team, George averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
Norris Cole
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Norris Cole didn't receive offers from the country's most prominent colleges out of high school and instead attended Cleveland State University. That didn't hinder his development as he was eventually selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, but was traded twice on draft night before joining the Miami Heat, where he won back-to-back championships to begin his career. In February of 2015, he was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a three-team trade.
Jonas Valanciunas
A 25 year old native of Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas has been the starting center for the Toronto Raptors for the past five seasons. There were rumors that suggested he might get dealt this past offseason, but as of now it appears the big man will be staying put in Toronto. He has consistently given the team 12 points and nine rebounds a night for each of the past three seasons, but isn't exactly suited to the new NBA as he doesn't have the speed to run up and down the floor, nor can he shoot three-pointers.
Chandler Parsons
A native of Casselberry, Florida, Chandler Parsons is a 28 year old small forward who attended the University of Florida before being drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2011. He averaged 9.5 points per game in his rookie season and was named to the All-Rookie team that season and improved considerably the following year by boosting his point-per-game average to 15.5. He signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2014-15 and had two relatively decent years, which he parlayed into a four-year, $94 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies which looks awful as he was injured for much of his first season with the team and averaged a career-worst 6.2 points per game.
Dion Waiters
A former first round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dion Waiters had a breakthrough season last year after being mired in mediocrity for a number of years with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his first season with the Miami Heat, Waiters got off to a slow start, but was one of the league's most prolific scorers in the second half of the season. He finished the year with 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game and became known for his ability to make clutch shots. He also averaged a career-best 40 percent from three-point range.
Miles Plumlee
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Miles Pulmlee is the brother of fellow NBA player Mason Plumlee. He was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft after a stellar collegiate career at the University of North Carolina but played only one season with the team before he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns. He has since played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets and will begin the 2017-18 season with the Atlanta Hawks after being traded for Dwight Howard.
Anthony Davis
The Brow, as he is affectionately known due to his unibrow, Anthony Davis is one of the league's premier centers due to his all-around ability and willingness to adapt to the way the game is being played. After attempting only 27 three-pointers in his first three seasons, Davis took 108 shots from three-point range in 2015-16 and 134 last year. Consequently, he averaged a career-high 28 points per game this season season, as well as 11.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.2 blocks.
Khris Middleton
An alumnus of Texas A&M University, Khris Middleton was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft, but played only 27 games with the team before being dealt for Brandon Jennings. The deal seemed like a coup for Detroit at the team, but Middleton has since developed into a solid secondary scorer, while Jennings' play has tailed off considerably. Middleton was limited to only 29 games last season, but the year prior averaged a career-high 18.2 points and 4.2 assists per game.
C.J. McCollum
In just a few short years, C.J. McCollum has become one of the NBA's best scoring shooting guards. The 6-foot-3 Ohio native forms a deadly tandem on the Portland Trail Blazers alongside Damian Lillard as the duo make up one of the best backcourts in the league. McCollum has improved his points per game average in each of his four seasons in the league, culminating in a career-best 23.0 points per game in 2016-17. The year prior, he earned the Most Improved Player award after bringing his point total from 6.8 the year prior to 20.8 points per game.
Allen Crabbe
Although Allen Crabbe hasn't quite achieved the level of success as his teammate C.J. McCollum, the 6-foot-6 guard has developed into an above-average bench player for the Trail Blazers. Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2013 NBA Draft and promptly traded to Portland, Crabbe averaged a career-best 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists last season. The Los Angeles native will have an opportunity to further blossom his career next season as he was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets, where it's likely he'll earn more consistent playing time.
Kristaps Porzingis
The selection of Kristaps Porzingis by the New York Knicks wasn't a popular one. Fans in the arena during the draft famously booed the selection, while one young kid rose to prominence as he was shown filming his crying reaction to the pick. However, flash forward a few years and Porzingis is the lone bright spot on the Knicks. The 7-foot-3 power forward shot an impressive 36 percent from three-point range last year in just his second season in the league and averaged a career-best 18.1 points per game. He's poised for another breakthrough campaign in 2017-18.
Myles Turner
Selected by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, Myles Turner is a Texas native who attended college at the University of Texas at Austin, where he became a top-ranked NBA prospect. He debuted in the NBA during the 2015-16 season and was named to the league's All-Rookie team after averaging 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Those numbers rose this past season and he should have another career year in 2017-18 with the absence of Paul George in Indiana.
Jahlil Okafor
A promising rookie season has since been overshadowed by injuries, inconsistency, and off-court issues for Jahlil Okafar. The big man was named to the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2015-16 after averaging 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, last year, Okafor lost playing time due to the rise of Joel Embiid and other players on the 76ers and, as a result, saw his point production drop significantly. He averaged only 11.8 points per game and appears to be fading out the 76ers long-term plans.
Frank Kaminsky
A seven-foot native of Illinois, Frank Kaminsky rose to prominence with an impressive March Madness performance in 2015 with the University of Wisconsin. The following year, after being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Draft, Kaminsky averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 assists as a rookie. Despite only seeing the floor an average of five more minutes per game in 2016-17, the big man improved his point-per-game average to 11.7. He did, however, have a lower shooting percentage as it dropped from 41 to 40 percent.
Delon Wright
Although he has played two seasons in the NBA, Wright has spent much of that time in the G-League (formerly the D-League), where he has developed his skills. The lanky point guard didn't have much opportunity for playing time with the Toronto Raptors in his first two seasons due to being blocked by veteran backup Cory Joseph, who filled in admirably when Kyle Lowry needed a break. However, Joseph was traded to the Indiana Pacers this past offseason and Wright will be given every chance to excel behind Lowry.
Michael Beasley
A native of Frederick, Maryland, Michael Beasley is a 28 year old small forward who starred for Kansas State University before being selected by the Miami Heat in the 2008 NBA Draft. He was named to the 2009 NBA All-Rookie Team, but was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves after only two seasons, meaning he wasn't able to cash in on the opportunity to win multiple championships with the big three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade. Beasley averaged a career-high 19.2 points per game in his first year with the T-Wolves, but has been in a steady decline ever since. He signed with the New York Knicks this past offseason.
C.J. Miles
C.J Miles recently told a story on a Toronto radio station about how parents at a basketball camp he taught were upset with him after their kids Googled his name. And for the record, do not let your children Google image search C.J. Miles without adding "NBA" to the search, as he shares a name with a model who doesn't mind taking off her clothes. The basketball-playing C.J. Miles is a 30 year old Texas native who recently signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors. A 12-year veteran, he played seven seasons for the Utah Jazz, two for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and recently played for the Indiana Pacers.
Jabari Parker
A highly-touted prospect who played for Duke University, Jabari Parker was selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound power forward's career has been hampered by injuries, but he's still only 22 years old with plenty of time to prove himself one of the league's most dynamic scorers. Last year, in 51 games, Parker averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists and shot a career-high 37 percent from three-point range.
Dario Saric
Originally selected by the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft, Dario Saric played two seasons in his home country of Croatia before coming to North America for the 2016-17 season. In those two years, Saric was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Elfrid Payton and the move worked out brilliantly for the Sixers. The big man averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists this past season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. His rookie season was overshadowed by Joel Embiid, but he's certainly an integral part of the 76ers moving forward.
Nik Stauskas
Nicknamed Sauce Castillo (which is arguably the best in the league) thanks to a closed captioning misprint of his last name, Nik Stauskas is a 23 year old Canadian shooting guard who was a star with the University of Michigan in college. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 NBA Draft, but struggled as a rookie and was dealt the the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2015 offseason. Now, however, Stauskas is a core piece of the ever-improving 76ers, which is loaded with talented, young players. He played 80 games for the team last season and averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting a career-high 40 percent from three-point range.
Jamal Murray
Speaking of talented young Canadians, Jamal Murray appears to be the next great player to come from The Great White North. The 20 year old shooting guard from Kitchener, Ontario, played for the University of Kentucky and was a first round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He had a slow start to his season, but was named MVP of the Futures Game and had a strong second half of the year en route to earning All-Rookie Team honors. Murray played all 82 games last year and averaged 9.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
Marcus Smart
A 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie Team honoree, Marcus Smart is a 23 year old point guard who has spent the past three seasons with the Boston Celtics, where he has averaged 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 steals. He's primarily a backup to Isaiah Thomas, but it's clear he has the offensive and defensive capabilities to thrive elsewhere. Last year, Smart averaged a career-best 10.6 points per game and notched career highs in assists (4.6), steals (1.6), and free-throw percentage (81).
Malcolm Brogdan
The Milwaukee Bucks are loaded with talented young stars and Malcolm Brogdon is no exception. The 24 year old University of Virginia alumnus was selected by the Bucks in the 2016 NBA Draft and seemingly came out of nowhere to win the league's Rookie of the Year after an impressive season in which he averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. Brogdon is overshadowed by the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker in Milwaukee, but he's going to be central to their success in the coming years.