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The highest picks in an NBA Draft are naturally the most flashy at the moment they're chosen. Unfortunately, there are some cases where those players do not meet the expectations of the franchise that selected them, which becomes a stigma some NBA players carry.
Recent top picks in the NBA Draft have done a nice job in the league, even if they did not become NBA superstars. When a player is selected with the first overall picks of the NBA Draft or in the Top 5, the franchise selecting them has probably been waiting for an entire year to rebuild around said player. Whether it is fair or not, that fact puts lots of pressure on players taken at the top of the NBA Draft.
Most recent instances when a top-five NBA Draft pick won the NBA MVP
The last three NBA MVPs have been won by players who were 15th and 41st in their respective draft classes, which are the lowest picks ever to win the award. In this article, we will take a look at the most recent Top five NBA Draft picks that have delivered an NBA MVP-winning campaign for their teams.
Without further ado, let us start.
#5 Derrick Rose - 2010-11 NBA MVP
Derrick Rose was the first pick of the 2008 NBA Draft when his hometown Chicago Bulls picked him.
In his second NBA season, Rose turned into an All-Star and became one of the most dynamic point guards in the league. By his third campaign in the league, Rose was the league MVP, making him the youngest winner in the award's history.
While the early stages of his career screamed that he would become one of the best players in the league, injuries hindered Rose and slowed down his progression as an NBA superstar.
Still, his exploits from the 2010-11 NBA season will always be remembered. He averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists per game in his MVP season, while making 44.5% of his field goals and leading the Bulls to the top record in the entire NBA.
#4 LeBron James - 2011-12 and 2012-13 NBA MVP
In his second and third seasons with the Miami Heat, LeBron James won the regular-season MVP award and then guided the team to NBA championships.
"The King" was the first pick of the legendary 2003 NBA Draft and had already won two MVPs for the Cleveland Cavaliers before reaching four with Miami.
Both campaigns were tremendous from James as he was arguably at the peak of his physical powers and his basketball IQ was definitely at the highest of levels.
James averaged 26.9 points, eight rebounds and 6.8 assists per game over the two seasons. He also made 54.9% of his field goals, 39% of his three-pointers and 76% of his free throws on those two campaigns.
Both years were capped off with NBA titles and Finals MVP awards for James.
#3 Kevin Durant - 2013-14 NBA MVP
Kevin Durant was the second pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. He was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics and his NBA MVP award came with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the Sonics were relocated after his rookie season.
Durant exploded as one of the best scorers in the NBA in his sophomore season, when he averaged 25 points per game. After taking the OKC Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals, Durant kept showing greatness and won the NBA MVP award two years later with a tremendous 2013-14 campaign.
Durant averaged a league-leading 32 points per game in the 2013-14 season with 50/39/87 shooting splits. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in his MVP season.
#2 Russell Westbrook - 2016-17 NBA MVP
After Durant left the OKC Thunder to join the 73-9 Golden State Warriors, Russell Westbrook was left as the team's leader for the 2016-17 NBA season. Westbrook had been with the Thunder since being selected fourth in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Westbrook went on to win the MVP award after becoming the first player in league history to average a triple-double in an entire season since the 1961-62 NBA season (when Oscar Robertson the first to do so).
Westbrook put up a league-high 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game in a historic NBA campaign. He went on to average a triple-double in three other seasons over the last four campaigns.
#1 James Harden - 2017-18 NBA MVP
James Harden was the most recent Top 5 NBA Draft pick to win the regular-season NBA MVP award. Harden was the third pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harden eventually won the only MVP of his career so far with the Houston Rockets in the 2017-18 campaign and not the team that selected him in the NBA Draft. The Rockets had a historic offense that campaign, led by Harden's 30.4 points per game and 8.8 assists per game.
The nine-time All-Star won the first of his three scoring titles that year and also posted 44/36/85 shooting splits, while leading the Rockets to the best record in the NBA.
Also read: NBA Draft Picks 2021: Complete Results from Round 1
Guess the Lakers players!
