Top 2nd Overall NBA Draft Picks Of Last 10 Years
The Lakers' lottery draw of the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft provides the franchise a sense of hope it has not felt in several years. Marking the abyss of an increasingly lackluster Laker team was a 2014-15 season that resulted in a 21-61 (.256) record-low for the franchise. After back-to-back seasons of not qualifying for the playoffs, the Lakers need some energy pumped back into Staples Center that does not sport a red and blue jersey. An exciting 2015 draft class means the Lakers' pick will provide an opportunity to add a vital, long-absent component to their roster.
We take a look at some of the top second overall picks to be drafted into the NBA since 2005.
5.) Evan Turner, 2010, Philadelphia 76ers
Shooting guard Evan Turner was a junior at Ohio State when he was picked directly behind first overall pick and then-future All-Star John Wall. While Turner has yet to be selected for an All-Star game, his final season with the Sixers was also his best. After putting up 565 and 610 points in 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively, Turner saw his playing time explode from 1,713 minutes to 2,892 minutes; enough time to gather 1,094 points on the season. That season was followed up with a 1,131-point 2013-14 in Toronto. After some jumping around, Turner ended up in Boston for the 2014-15 season, where his productivity dropped to 779 points and a .277 three-point percentage.
4.) Michael Beasley, 2008, Miami Heat
Directly after future All-Star and All-NBA Team member Derrick Rose was picked by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in 2008, strong forward Michael Beasley was a freshman at Kansas State when he entered the draft. Beasley was productive from the moment he took the court with the Heat in 2008-09, rewarding 2,009 minutes of rookie playing time with 1,123 points, 439 total rebounds and a .407 three-point percentage. Matching that season in 2009-10 was a 1,156-point effort, although his three-point percentage dropped to .275. Despite this, he finished the season two rebounds shy of 500. His top season was in 2010-11 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which he scored 1,401 points. After a brief stint in Phoenix, Beasley returned to Miami, where his role has since reduced.
3.) Victor Oladipo, 2013, Orlando Magic
The 2013 NBA Draft disappointed in terms of productivity in the pros. Anthony Bennett from UNLV was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he has yet to impress. 2013 is an example of a year in which the second overall pick greatly outplayed the first in terms of immediate impact. Oladipo's rookie campaign resulted in 2,487 minutes, producing 1,106 points — an impressive number for a player who started only 44 games. That season was followed up with a 2014-15 in which he started 71 games and improved to 1,292 points.
2.) LaMarcus Aldridge, 2006, Chicago Bulls (Portland Trailblazers)
As was the case with Oladipo, Aldridge was a No. 2 pick that surpassed his first-overall fellow draftee. Whereas first-overall pick Andrea Bargnani posted a number of solid years in Toronto, Aldridge was quick to be named to both the All-Star team and the All-NBA team — a fact the Chicago Bulls look on with regret, and the Portland Trailblazers received the benefit from. The 6-foot-11 forward has scored 12,562 points through nine seasons, eventually earning $14.1 million in 2014-15. Teamed up with Derrick Rose, Aldridge has emerged as one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA.
1.) Kevin Durant, 2007, Seattle SuperSonics
Big man Greg Oden was taken as the first-overall pick by Portland in 2007, and the fact that he spent three seasons out of the game did not give the team a return on their pick. The second overall pick that year, however, has been monumental for his franchise and has emerged not only as the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but as one of the most prominent players in the NBA. Kevin Durant out of Texas was an immediate shining star during and after the franchise's move from Seattle to Oklahoma City, but it was the 2009-10 season that propelled him to All-Star status. Playing 3,239 minutes, Durant scored 2,472 points and found ways to get to the free-throw line more than most players in NBA history. Four of his next five seasons would see offensive production that did not dip beneath 2,161 points.
