I still remember sitting in my living room back in June 2019, watching the NBA Draft unfold with that peculiar mix of anticipation and skepticism that always accompanies these events. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've developed this sixth sense about which picks will flourish and which will fade into obscurity - though I'll admit my predictions are wrong almost as often as they're right. Looking back at the 2019 draft class NBA now, five seasons later, what fascinates me isn't just the obvious success stories but how dramatically our initial perceptions have shifted.
The absolute home run of that draft was clearly Zion Williamson going first to New Orleans - though his career has been this rollercoaster of breathtaking athleticism and frustrating injuries. When he's healthy, my goodness, he's everything we dreamed he'd be and more. But the real steal? Ja Morant at number two to Memphis. I remember thinking Memphis was reaching, but boy was I wrong - that kid plays with a ferocity we haven't seen since prime Derrick Rose. Then there's RJ Barrett going third to New York, who's become exactly what you'd expect from a high lottery pick: solid, reliable, though perhaps not quite the superstar some hoped for.
What really makes analyzing drafts so compelling are the surprises, both good and bad. Darius Garland at five to Cleveland looked questionable initially, but he's developed into an All-Star caliber point guard. On the flip side, Cam Reddish going tenth to Atlanta never quite panned out the way scouts anticipated - he's bounced around four teams already. The biggest miss for me? Bol Bol falling to 44th. Sure, he's got limitations, but seeing someone with his unique skill set last that long shows how much teams overthink these things sometimes.
I can't help but think about how social media has changed how we process these draft outcomes. There's this quote I always come back to from a veteran scout who told me, "Nothing good will come out of that so my advice is always don't go to read the comment session. Unfortunately, I don't have so much success in that because they always go there to read." He's absolutely right - the instant reactions on Twitter and Reddit after each pick are brutal. I've learned to avoid them myself, though I'll admit sometimes I can't resist the temptation to see what everyone's saying.
What separates successful franchises from perpetual strugglers often comes down to draft philosophy. The Miami Heat picking Tyler Herro at 13th demonstrated their knack for identifying players who fit their culture, while some other teams seemed to draft based purely on athletic measurements without considering fit. The Warriors selecting Jordan Poole at 28th was another brilliant move - they saw something others missed, and it paid off with a championship contribution. Meanwhile, some top ten picks have already washed out of the league entirely, which just goes to show how unpredictable this process remains despite all our advanced analytics.
Reflecting on the 2019 class now, what stands out is how quickly narratives can change. Players written off after their rookie seasons have blossomed into key contributors, while some early standouts have plateaued. The lesson I've taken from covering multiple draft classes is that we need at least three to four years before making definitive judgments - though that never stops us from forming strong opinions immediately. The 2019 draft gave us several future All-Stars, a couple of potential superstars, and plenty of reminders that in the NBA, development isn't linear and opportunity matters just as much as talent.