I still remember sitting in my living room that June evening in 2018, basketball statistics spread across my coffee table and multiple screens glowing with draft projections. The energy surrounding that year's NBA draft felt particularly electric, with teams positioning themselves for what many analysts called one of the deepest classes in recent memory. Having followed basketball professionally for over fifteen years, I've developed a sixth sense for draft nights that will reshape the league's landscape, and 2018 had all the makings of a franchise-altering event. The Phoenix Suns held that coveted first pick, facing a decision that would either accelerate their rebuild or set them back years—the kind of pressure that makes or breaks front offices.
The top of that draft order created fascinating dynamics that we're still seeing play out today. Phoenix selecting Deandre Ayton first overall wasn't surprising to those of us who'd tracked his dominant single season at Arizona, though I'll admit I was among the analysts who wondered if Luka Dončić might have been the smarter choice. Sacramento picking Marvin Bagley III second instead of Dončić remains one of those draft mysteries we'll debate for decades, especially given how Dončić's EuroLeague MVP season had demonstrated readiness for the NBA that few international prospects have ever shown. When Atlanta grabbed Trae Young fifth overall after trading Dončić's draft rights to Dallas, it set in motion a narrative connection between two future stars that continues to fuel league discussions six seasons later.
What fascinates me most about revisiting that draft is how several teams found incredible value outside the lottery picks. The Denver Nuggets selecting Michael Porter Jr. at 14th overall was a calculated risk given his back issues, but one that's paid off tremendously with their 2023 championship. Similarly, Miami picking local product Bam Adebayo at 14th in 2017 looked even smarter a year later when they added undrafted Duncan Robinson, showing how championship rosters are often built through late-draft gems and development systems. The LA Clippers trading for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 11th, only to include him in the Paul George trade a year later, represents one of those fascinating "what if" scenarios that haunts franchises.
The second round produced what I consider the draft's biggest steal—the Memphis Grizzlies selecting Jalen Brunson at 33rd overall, though he didn't sign with them. Watching Brunson develop into a franchise cornerstone for New York reminds me that talent evaluation extends far beyond the first round. Teams that invest in sophisticated scouting departments, like Miami and Denver, consistently find rotation players and occasional stars in the draft's later stages. Gary Trent Jr. at 37th to Sacramento and Mitchell Robinson at 36th to New York further demonstrated how deep this class truly was, with nearly twenty players from that draft developing into legitimate starters.
Reflecting on the 2018 draft order reveals how much luck factors into team-building success. The Dallas Mavericks moved from fifth to third in the lottery, positioning them to draft Dončić, who's since become a perennial MVP candidate. Meanwhile, teams like Orlando and Chicago, who picked sixth and seventh respectively, are still searching for the franchise players they hoped they'd find that night. The draft's international flavor was particularly strong, with six of the first fifteen picks coming from outside the United States—a trend that's only accelerated since then and fundamentally changed how teams scout globally.
The quote about being ready to face top contenders and defend a belt resonates strongly when I think about how these draft picks have developed. Much like fighters preparing for championship bouts, these young players entered a league where they'd need to prove themselves against established veterans. Dončić and Young have shouldered franchise expectations from day one, similar to champions defending their titles against hungry challengers. Ayton's journey from first overall pick to role player on a contender illustrates how draft position creates expectations, but performance determines legacy.
Four NBA seasons later, we can properly evaluate how these decisions shaped franchises. The 2018 draft produced at least five players who've made All-NBA teams and several others who've become crucial to championship contenders. The class has already generated two MVP winners in Jokic and Dončić, though Nikola Jokić was actually drafted back in 2014—see how even experienced analysts can mix up details when discussing multiple drafts? What stands out most is how this draft's point guard renaissance has influenced today's pace-and-space style, with players like Gilgeous-Alexander and Young redefining offensive creation.
Looking back, the 2018 draft order created ripple effects we're still witnessing today. Teams that nailed their picks, like Dallas and Atlanta, accelerated their competitive timelines dramatically. Others who missed, like Sacramento and Phoenix (despite Ayton's contributions), found themselves making costly trades to fill the gaps in their rosters. The draft's depth has allowed several franchises to build sustainable contenders through internal development rather than marquee free agency signings. As we approach future drafts, the lessons from 2018 remain relevant: talent can be found throughout the order, international prospects deserve serious consideration at the top, and sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make—like Philadelphia trading Mikal Bridges immediately after drafting him, a decision that still baffles me given his perfect fit alongside their core.