The 2024 NBA Draft is just around the corner, so it’s time to grab the DeLorean and go back 10 years to see what happened at the 2014 NBA Draft. And there were some pivots not too bad at the time.
The top 10
The tops
Joel Embiid certainly did not play during his rookie season, the fault of a capricious physique, but he has today established himself as one of the best centers in the league, with another one of whom you will hear a little about lower. The naturalized American pivot is now wreaking havoc in every racket he goes through, and it shouldn’t stop. Julius Randle, 7th choice in the 2014 Draft, initially struggled with the Lakers and the Pelicans, before becoming a multiple All-Star with the Knicks, whom he helped put back on the map of the NBA planet. His offensive arsenal is good in today’s NBA and the Knicks are impatiently awaiting his return from injury. Zach LaVine, chosen in 13th position by the Wolves, may have been angry when he learned that he was going to join Minnesota, he is today one of the guards who weigh in the league despite his injuries, he is already multiple All-Star and can offer brilliant actions quite regularly. As for Aaron Gordon or Marcus Smart, they are today solid role players in the NBA who have found their place in the league. They are respectively 2023 NBA Champion and Best Defender of the Year 2022.
The flops
Difficult to put him among the busts with his All-Star selection and his NBA title, but compared to what was expected when he left Kansas, Andrew Wiggins can legitimately be considered as such. His athletic potential was limitless and was expected to do damage in the NBA, but Drew never embraced his status as the “new LeBron James” and often appeared borrowed on the court. However, he has become a good role player in the league. Jabari Parker was hit by injuries after a good start to his career in Milwaukee, his knees decided to make life hell for the former Dukie, who fought to keep his place in the NBA, notably in Chicago, Washington , Atlanta, Sacramento and Boston. The winger finally had to resign himself and cross the Atlantic to join Europe and FC Barcelona. Dante Exum could have suffered the same fate, but he held on to his dream and is today part of the Mavericks, 2024 NBA Finalists. Nik Stauskas was seen as a big shooter at the time of his Draft by the Kings, but like Jimmer Fredette, he never managed to find his place in the league, just like Noah Vonleh, now missing in the NBA. Bruno Caboclo also had a pretty incredible career for someone who was nicknamed the “Brazilian Kevin Durant”. Otherwise, do you remember James Young, Tyler Ennis, Mitch McGary or even Jordan Adams? No ? This is normal, it’s called selective memory.
Les steals
Who else than Nikola Jokic in the steals section? The Serbian pivot, who was drafted during an ad for a Taco Bell burrito, as we recall, is today the best pivot in the league with a physique that does not suggest as much. His technique, his vision, his altruism have allowed him to win four or three MVP titles over the last four years, and he took his Nuggets to the roof of the league in 2023, allowing the franchise to lift the first Larry Trophy O’Brien of his story. Jerami Grant, selected in 39th position by the Sixers, first had to go through the famous “Process” in Philadelphia before exploding in OKC. Then passed through Denver, Detroit and Portland, he is a solid two-way player. Dwight Powell, 45th pick, has more than done the job in the Mavs’ racket, and Jordan Clarkson, 47th pick, is today dynamiting the defenses coming off the bench at Utah, where he was voted 6th man of the year in 2021.
The Frenchies
Two French people were selected in the 2014 NBA Draft, both in the second round. This is Damien Inglis, selected by the Bucks in 31st position, the first choice of the second round. The former Roannais played 20 short matches in the Daims jersey and never returned to the NBA floor after that. As for Louis Labeyrie, chosen with the 57th pick by the Pacers, who immediately transferred him to New York, he will simply never wear the Knicks jersey, spending his entire career on the Old Continent.
2024-06-21 09:05:00
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