Isaiah Thomas is having an amazing season averaging over 29 point per game, 6 assists a game and has been voted to his second consecutive All-Star game. As we all know Isaiah was drafted 60th overall in the 2011 NBA draft, which is incredible for a player who averages over 18 points and 5 assists per game for his career. I think it’s far to say he’s outshone a few players drafted ahead of him, Jan Veselý (6th), JaJuan Johnson (27th) and Kyle Singler (33rd) to name a few.
So inspired by the documentary ‘The Brady 6‘ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHJMfF-3FD0). I wanted to look at the point guards drafted ahead of him. It’s crazy so many teams got it wrong with him.
Some players are combo guards, and stats are as for the day I wrote this
- (Cavaliers) Kyrie Irving
Before the draft: Highly ranked in high school went to Duke. Looked so good in 11 games before suffering a season ending big toe injury, that he still went on to go number overall.
NBA Career: 21.2 pts, 5.5ast, 2.7tov per game. Rookie of the year, 4X time Allstar, All NBA third team. Hit the winning shot in the NBA finals last season.
Where he is today: Still with the Cavs, averaging over 24pts per game, just voted the starter for the 2017 all star game, he’s Uncle Drew, he’s got a ring and he’s still only 24. Nobody in Cleveland wishes they drafted Isaiah.
- (Pistons) Brandon Knight
Before the draft: Another highly ranked high school player. Went to Kentucky, where they would make it to the final four losing to the eventual champions UCONN. Knight averaged 17.3pts and 4.2ast before declaring for the NBA draft after one season.
NBA Career: 15.5 pts, 4.3ast, 2.7tov with three different teams. In a crazy February 19 2015, the Suns traded away Dragic and Isaiah Thomas and traded for Knight in three separate trades.
Where he is today: Averaging 12 and 4.2 coming off the bench for the Phoenix Suns, in the second year of a 5 year $70 million contract. February 15 is a day that continues to frustrate and confuse the Sun’s fan base to this day.
- (Bobcats (Hornets)) Kemba Walker
Before the draft: Highly ranked (but not as high as the other two) in Highschool. Spent three years with UCONN, where in his final year he would come second in voting for College basketball player of the year, and win the NCCA tournament as the MVP of the tournament.
NBA Career: 18pts, 5.4ast, 3.9tov still with the Hornets.
Where he is today: Named as 1 of 5 point guards for the Eastern All-Stars. Putting together a really good season in Charlotte averaging 23pts, 5.5ast, 2.3tovs.
- (Kings) Jimmer Fredette
Before the draft: Not highly recruited out of Highschool, Jimmer went to BYU. In his senior year he would average 28.9pts (lead the nation), 4.3ast with 3.5tov on his way to being named unanimously the national player of the year.
NBA Career: 6pts, 1.4ast, 0.9tov for four different teams, may have been different if the Kings didn’t draft Thomas later on, I guess we’ll never know.
Where he is today: Currently playing in China for the Shanghai Sharks (with the Celtics 2016 first round pick Guerschon Yabusele) he is currently leading the League in scoring averaging 37 a game. In China has been dubbed the “King of Loneliness” because of the Chinese characters used to spell his name, apparently it’s a positive thing in China.
- (Trail Blazers) Nolan Smith
Before the draft: Was the captain on Oak Hill Academy team that would that included Micheal Beasley, Ty Lawson, and Brandon Jennings. The Four-star recruit would go to Duke. There he would play four years where as a junior he would play of a championship team and average 20.6pts and 5.1 as a senior
NBA Career: Would go on to play two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers averaging 3.3pts and 1.2ast per game
Where he is today: He is an assistant coach at Duke, before he would have a few different spells in the D-league and Europe.
- (Thunder) Reggie Jackson
Before the draft: Not overly ranked went to Boston College. He would play 3 years there, as a junior he would average 18.2pts and 4.5ast per game.
NBA Career: Drafted by the Thunder and was used as backup to Russell Westbrook. He was averaged 12.2pts and 4.3ast per game
Where he is today: In 2013 he was traded to the Pistons to be the starter this is where he remains today. In Detroit he was averaged 17.9pts, 7ast and 3 tov per game.
- (Heat) Norris Cole
Before the draft: Wasn’t highly ranked in high school went to Cleveland state. Would do 4 years there averaging 21.7pts and 5.3reps per game as a senior.
NBA Career: Drafted by the Bulls traded via the Timberwolves to the Heat. A career backup. A member of the 2012 and 2013 Champion Miami Heat rosters.
Where he is today: Playing for the Pelicans these days averaging career highs in both points and assists this season, at 10.6 and 3.7 respectively.
- (Spurs) Cory Joseph
Before the draft: Fairly highly ranked coming out of high school, went to the university of Texas. He would send one season there averaging 10.4pts and 3ast per game.
NBA Career: Another career backup. Spent 4 years with the San Antonio Spurs before being allowed to leave for his native Toronto Raptors. Career averages are 6.5pts and 2.8ast per game
Where he is today: As mentioned playing for the Raptors. This season he is averaging 8.8pts and 2.8ast per game.
- (Wizards) Shelvin Mack
Before the draft: Not heavily recruited out of high school, he went to play for Brad Stevens at Butler. There he would go to the final of the NCAA tournament twice, being the runner up both times.
NBA Career: Bit of a journeyman player playing for four different teams averaging 6.3pts and 2.9asts per game.
Where he is today: With the Utah Jazz this season, backing up George Hill. Averaging 7.9pts and 2.9 asts per game.
- (Lakers) Darius Morris
Before the draft: Ranked as a 3 star recruit coming out of high school he would spend would spend two seasons with Michigan.
NBA Career: After the Lakers has never spent more than one season with a NBA team, averaging 3.3pts and 1.3 pts per game.
Where he is today: Currently playing in the D-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging 19.9pts and 6.1ast per game.
- (Warriors) Charles Jenkins
Before the draft: Not highly recruited out of high school, he would go to Hofstra University for 4 years. His number 22 is retired there.
NBA Career: As a rookie for the Warriors he would average 5.8pts and 3.3ast per game before being traded to the 76ers in his sophomore season. He would play one season in Philadelphia.
Where he is today: He is currently playing in Serbia for Crvena Zvezda. He is averaging 8.8pts and 2.3ast per game.
- (Lakers) Andrew Goudelock
Before the draft: Not recruited highly out of high school he was would go to College of Charleston for four years.
NBA Career: Heading between NBA and D-League teams playing one NBA game between 2013-2015 seasons. Averaging 4pts and 0.5ast per game
Where he is today: Playing in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv with former Celtic draftie Colton Iverson. He is averaging 15.6pts and 3.2asts per game.
- (Grizzlies) Josh Selby
Before the draft: A top recruit coming into the class, averaging 32pts, 7ast, 5rep and 2stl per game in his senior high school season. Originally committed to Tennessee before decommitting and going to Kansas. He would be suspended for the first 9 games of his only season at Kansas for taking improper benefits. He averaged 7.9pts and 2.2 asts per game at Kansas.
NBA Career: Only played two seasons for the Grizzlies, averging 2.2pts and 0.9ast per game.
Where he is today: After leaving the Grizzlies he would have spells in the D-league, China, Croatia, Israel and Azerbaijan. Currently playing for his second Israeli team, Maccabi Kiryat Gat B.C. averaging 11pts and 1.7ast per game.
- (Celtics) E’Twaun Moore
Before the draft: Ranked as a 4 star recruit would end up going to Purdue for 4 years. During his senior year he would average 17.9pts and 3.1ast per game.
NBA Career: While playing for 5 different teams Moore has averaged 6.3pts and 1.7ast and 18mp per game. The Celtics traded him as part of the Courtney Lee trade.
Where he is today: Currently playing for the Pelicans. Averaging a career high in points and minutes per game at 9.8pts and 24.8 respectively, while averaging 2.3 ast.
Submitted February 01, 2017 at 05:00PM by Dylanpayne13