preface
As the world's best basketball league, the NBA's scouting department is also the most professional in the world, often a player they have to track his sports and competitive status since high school, so although there will be parallel goods in the draft, most of the time scouts are difficult to see. However, objective factors such as injuries cannot be predicted, such as the 2017 star Langzo Bauer, who is quite reasonable in this position with his talent, but no one could have predicted that he would suffer so many injuries, resulting in him now not playing for more than a year, and even he himself does not know what injury he suffered, and there is no time before he returns, and what state he will be after his comeback is also unknown. Today, we will re-rank the top ten picks of the year based on the performance of the class of 2017 after entering the NBA, plus the current team status.
10. Joshhart (original 30th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists
Hart was one of the hopes of the Lakers' revival that year, and although his pick was only the last place in the first round, fans still had high hopes for him. It just so happened that Walton, the first coach Hart encountered, had a coaching philosophy of "egalitarianism", and he could get opportunities under him both at the top of the table and at the end of the first round, so Hart averaged 23 minutes per game and 7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in his rookie season. After James joined the Lakers the following season, Hart also began to be recognized by more fans, and his frontcourt rebounds and desperate saves left a deep impression on fans.
After being traded to the Pelicans in 2019, he played the first two seasons as a substitute until his third season here, when Hart gradually established himself as a starter. Even if he was later traded to the Blazers, he was a starter, and this season the Knicks traded Hart again before the trade deadline to make up for it, and the defensive and tough Hart has clearly become the best in the league. With his help, the Knicks entered the playoffs as fifth in the East, and eliminated the Cavaliers 4-1 in the first round, and although they lost to the Heat in the second round, Hart averaged 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
9. Derrick White (original 29th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists
White barely played much during his rookie season, playing just 17 games and averaging only 8.2 minutes per game. However, after Leonard left the team in 2018, the direction of the team immediately changed from championship competition to rebuilding, so White also got a chance. The 2018-2019 season was White's real NBA season, averaging 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and he has been a core player for the Spurs in the days since, whether it is a starter or a substitute, he has played very well.
The Spurs, who want to continue to rot in 2022, sent White to the championship-contender Celtics, and this deal can be said to be a win-win, although White who came to the Celtics Although the ball has decreased, the championship hopes have greatly increased, and his importance to the Celtics is also obvious, and with his help, the Celtics also returned to the Finals last season. This season, White averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in the regular season, and was named to the Defensive Second Team of the Season, it can be said that White is now also an offensive and defensive player, it is worth mentioning that White has never shot less than 40% from three-point range in any season in his career.
8. Jarrett Allen (original 22nd pick in the first round)
Career averages: 12 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks
Allen in his rookie season was reused by his coach from the beginning because the Nets were in the rebuilding phase at the time, and he averaged 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his rookie season. Then from the second season, Allen gradually settled in the starting position, and in the 2018-2019 season, Allen played his first playoff game with the Nets, averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. After briefly playing a few games with Durant and Irving, the Nets traded him to the Cavaliers, which is now a good thing for Allen.
After coming to the Cavaliers, Allen is still the team's starting center, and even the ball has increased, and Allen played a career season in 2021-2022, averaging 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, relying on excellent performance and host status, Allen was also selected as an All-Star. Although the Cavaliers have played mediocrely in the playoffs this season, after all, the core of the team is still relatively young, and the oldest Mitchell is only 26 years old, so the Cavaliers are still very competitive in the next few years.
7. OG Anunobi (original 23rd pick in the first round)
Career averages: 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals
Anunobi has been positioned as a 3-D player since he entered the league, and he spent most of his first few seasons on the field defensive, and the offense was basically not involved. He averaged 5.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season, and in the 2018-2019 season, Anunoby missed the team's championship trip due to injury, and although he also received a ring in the end, it was a pity for him not to play, and he could only sit on the courtside to cheer on his teammates. Leonard did not choose to stay here in 2019, and Anunoby's position in the team has gradually changed.
In the 2019-2020 season, Anunoby averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and because of Leonard's departure, everyone on the team gained more shots than before, and Anunoby gradually became the core of the team. This season, Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.9 steals per game, not only was selected for the best defensive second team, but also won the first steal king of his career, but unfortunately the Raptors lost to the Bulls in the playoffs and eventually missed the playoffs. Anunoby is now a favorite player for all major championship teams, and if the Raptors choose to rebuild this offseason, he will most likely go to a strong team in the league.
6. Kerkuzma (original 27th pick in the first round)
Career averages of 16.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists
Kuzma, like Hart, is the "touch" at the end of the first round of the 2017 Lakers, and Kuzma's talent is obviously higher than Hart, so he responded to the manager's trust in him with an average of 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game when he got the opportunity. However, in 2019, thick eyebrows joined the Lakers, coupled with the change of head coach, so Kuzma can only be transformed into a role player of the team, and the average points per game have been reduced to 12.8 points, but this year the Lakers' goal is to compete for the championship, so his sacrifice is also for a reason, and finally the Lakers won the championship in the first season of restructuring.
After the Lakers' failed title defense in 2021, Kuzma was sent to the Wizards, where Kuzma completely lost the opportunity to compete for the championship, but with it came more possession and shots, which is even more important for him to win a big contract than a championship. This season, Kuzma can average 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, it can be said that Kuzma has completely practiced the ball offense, and he will most likely refuse to implement next season's player options in the offseason, and the big contract is already beckoning to Kuzma.
5. Laurie Markkanen (original 7th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 17.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists
As a lottery pick, the Bulls have trusted him since entering the NBA, averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season. But after the Bulls traded for Vučevic, Markkanen's possession of the ball on the team was reduced, and from this time there was a rift in the relationship between him and the Bulls management, so in 2021, Markkanen signed and then traded to the Cavaliers. However, the deal did not immediately change his career, and the Cavaliers already had two interior linemen, Allen and Mobley, so Markkanen did not get many opportunities with the Cavaliers.
In the 2022 offseason, the Jazz announced a rebuild, and the Cavaliers exchanged Markkanen and others for Mitchell, and from here Markkanen really came to the turning point of suppression. After being established as the core of the team this season, Markkanen averaged 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, not only was he elected an All-Star, but also got the most improved player after the regular season. Looking at the performance this season, his previous season can be said to be completely delayed, especially during the time with the Bulls.
4. Bam Adebayo (original 14th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists
Adebayo played modestly for the first two seasons, and he played most of the time as a substitute for the team, and it was not until the 2019-2020 season that Adebayo officially became the team's starting center. As a short center of 2.06 meters, Adebayo's mobility and all-round play have gradually become the most critical part of the Heat's system, and in the 2019-2020 season, Adebayo averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, was named to the All-Star and All-Defensive Second Team, and helped the Heat all the way to the Finals.
This season, Adebayo played the best season of his career in personal offense, averaging 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game, Adebayo's biggest shortcoming now is that he is extremely inactive on the court at some times, and every attack always wants to finish with a projection, and the efficiency of shooting is ultimately not comparable to impacting the inside, so this season is the first season in Adebayo's career to average more than 20+ points per game. Now he is much more defensive than offensive for the Heat, facing a strong interior Heat to defend together, facing top guard Adebayo can also defend, this is the defensive diversity he provides the team, and now the Heat can complete the black eight to reach the East finals again has an inseparable relationship with him.
3. Dalong Fox (original 5th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists
Fox's first few seasons can be said to be basically unnoticed, because he was the player selected by the Kings, and his performance was indeed mediocre. However, in the 2020-2021 season, Fox has proven his ability, averaging 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, but the team's record is still bad, and the team chose to trade the latter between him and Haliburton last season and caused a lot of controversy, most of them still think that Fox is just a data brush, otherwise the Kings would have made the playoffs long ago, in fact, the turmoil within the Kings in those years and the team's roster has never stabilized is the key to the problem.
This season, the Kings replaced a new head coach, Mike Brown, re-established the team's offensive and defensive system, and eventually Fox led the team to prove himself, the Kings finished third in the West in the regular season, and Fox also won the Best Key Player award. In the first round of the playoffs against the defending champion Warriors, the Kings dragged the game into a best-of-seven battle, and if it weren't for Curry's 50 points, it would likely be the Kings who advanced. However, this result is completely acceptable for the Kings and Fox, after all, they are still young, they can still make a comeback next season, and Fox's first playoff performance in his career has become their biggest confidence.
2. Donovan Mitchell (original 13th pick in the first round)
Career averages: 24.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals
As an older rookie, Mitchell's immediate prowess was the main reason he became a lottery pick, and in his first season with the Jazz, Mitchell averaged 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and the Jazz also made the playoffs under his leadership. In those years, he and Gobert's style of play helped the Jazz keep the playoffs, but he never led the team to the Western Conference finals, and his best result was only the Western Conference semifinals, and finally last offseason the Jazz announced a complete rebuild, and Mitchell and Gobert also went their separate ways.
After joining the Cavaliers this season, Mitchell was initially unfavorable, and his small combination with Garland was also more offensive than defensive, but Mitchell soon proved himself. He played the best season of his career in the regular season, averaging 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, and scored 71 points in a single game during the season, and he was also selected to the second team for the first time of his career. However, the Cavaliers' final step in the first round of the playoffs also caused a lot of controversy, fortunately Mitchell is still young, and he still has the opportunity to continue to lead the Cavaliers to better results.
1. Jason Tatum (original 3rd pick in the first round)
Career averages of 22.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists
Tatum's career was a bit of a downgrading blow in the same draft, and he led the team to the East finals in his rookie season, where he averaged 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in the playoffs. The failure of the 2018-2019 season also made the Celtics completely determined that they can only usher in a revival if Tatum is established as the team's star as soon as possible. In the 2019-2020 season, Irving left the Nets, so Tatum's possession rose sharply, averaging 23.4 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game, and led the team to the Eastern Conference finals again.
Tatum has improved every season since entering the NBA, and after losing to the Warriors in the Finals last season, Tatum played the best season of his career this year, averaging 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, and was once a favorite for MVP. In the playoffs, Tatum still carried the team to the East finals, facing the 76ers in the second round, Tatum slashed 51 points to refresh the all-time personal single-game highest score, although his play is still a little unstable, but his ceiling is obviously the highest among his peers, and now he is already the top star in the league, and his young results in the playoffs are beyond the reach of other players.