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NBA Draft classes tend to produce talented players who go on to etch their names in the NBA's history. Each of the last few editions of the NBA Draft have had more than one player who could be transcendent in the league.
On that note, let us have a look at the best pick in each of the last five editions of the NBA Draft.
NBA Draft - The best player drafted in each of the last five NBA Drafts
Luka Doncic is arguably the greatest player picked up by a team in the last five NBA Draft classes. However, the last five NBA Draft nights have featured other promising players as well.
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Ahead of the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft on November 18th, which has no established pecking order of draft picks, let us have a look at the best pick in each of the last five editions of the NBA Draft.
2019 NBA Draft - Zion Williamson - 1st overall pick
Though Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies deservedly won the Rookie of the Year Award in the 2019-20 NBA season, Zion Williamson was dominant in the 24 games he started after suffering a knee injury at the start of the campaign.
The New Orleans Pelicans picked Zion Williamson with the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft, a player whose future looks promising in the competition.
Williamson made his NBA debut on January 22nd, 2020 against the San Antonio Spurs. He made a slow start in his first NBA night but exploded with 17 points in the fourth quarter. Williamson shot 6/8 from the field and 4/4 from the three-point line to finish his first NBA game with 22 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.
The player grew in confidence with more NBA games under his belt. He had two tremendous games against the mighty LeBron James-led LA Lakers, scoring 29 points in one game and 35 points in the other.
In his first NBA season, Williamson averaged 22.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 58% shooting.
2018 NBA Draft - Luka Doncic - 3rd overall pick
Luka Doncic might become one of the greatest players to have graced the competition if he continues his upward trajectory. His spot among the active players is already assured.
In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Doncic with the third pick only to trade him for Trae Young, who was picked fifth by the Dallas Mavericks.
The 21-year-old Slovenian came into the league after playing professional basketball with Spanish club Real Madrid from an early age. He averaged 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game in his rookie year, earning the ROY award.
Last season, Doncic grew in stature after averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, leading the NBA in triple-doubles (17). Doncic also finished in fourth place in the NBA MVP voting, behind winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and James Harden.
2017 NBA Draft - Jayson Tatum - 3rd overall pick
This was a close call between Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell. Though Mitchell won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in this NBA Draft class, Tatum has evolved to be an All-NBA player.
Tatum should have been the first pick in this NBA Draft, but the Celtics only got him with the third pick.
He has had incredible progress since his rookie year, when he was one of the best players on a Boston team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals. Tatum averaged 18 points and four rebounds per game against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tatum had a great 2019-20 NBA season, averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists per game on 45% shooting as he led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.
2016 NBA Draft - Ben Simmons - 1st overall pick
Ben Simmons has played a more stellar role for the Philadelphia 76ers, outshining the likes of Brandon Ingram and Jamal Murray. He has undoubtedly been the best player from the 2016 NBA Draft class even if Ingram's and Murray's scoring abilities are taken into account.
Although he has been afflicted by injuries (he missed his entire rookie year), Simmons has been putting in great numbers, despite not possessing a reliable jump shot.
Simmons averages 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists per game on 56% shooting from the field in 217 regular-season games. For the Philadelphia 76ers to become title contenders, Simmons could likely shoulder the bulk of their offensive threat, considering his ability to push the ball and find teammates.
Ben Simmons is already a two-time All-Star and has earned All-NBA and All-Defensive selections as well.
2015 NBA Draft - Karl-Anthony Towns - 1st overall pick
Another close call. The best player from the 2015 NBA Draft is Karl-Anthony Towns. Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker was also part of this NBA Draft class, but KAT edges out the former owing to his superior efficiency.
Towns has already been an All-NBA player and an All-Star (twice). He was selected the Rookie of the Year in the 2015-16 season.
Though Booker is widely recognized as a great shooter, KAT has been better from the three-point line. KAT shoots 40% in his career on 3.6 attempts per game while Booker does it with 35% from three on 5.5.
Karl-Anthony Towns has averaged 22.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in his five-year NBA career while shooting 53% from the field, 40% from the three and 83% from the FT line.
Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Chris Paul trade seen as too 'risky' by the New York Knicks.
