This year's NBA draft has ended. As a draft predicted to be a small year by the media, the quality of this year's rookies will only be determined after one or two years of actual practice. However, when it comes to the most successful draft in recent years, I think it is undoubtedly the 2018 draft! This draft has been hailed as a big draft year from the beginning. Even the former No. 1 high school student in the United States, Michael Porter, fell to the 14th pick due to injuries! Later, facts proved that this was indeed the case. The 18th draft did produce many top stars in the league today, and even 7 players received big contracts! Today we will take stock.
First of all, Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 18th draft, undoubtedly performed as expected. He did not produce overly exaggerated data, but he demonstrated his talent very well. In the regular season this season, Ayton averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Ayton's outstanding physical talent makes getting a double-double as natural as eating and drinking. Last season, Ayton also helped the sun enter the finals and became the absolute core of the team's inside line. This summer, there is no doubt that Ayton will sign a maximum salary contract, but whether he will stay in the Suns is not certain.
Secondly, the most shining two stars in the 18th class are undoubtedly the 3rd pick Doncic and the 5th pick Trae Young. During the draft, the two exchanged clubs due to a transaction, and as a rookie The two started fighting each other this season. Trae Young wanted to challenge Doncic's Rookie of the Year trophy at the last moment of the regular season, but in the end he was successfully defended by Doncic. In the second year of their careers, the statistics of Doncic and Trae Young began to soar. In his second year as a rookie, Trae Young averaged 29.6 points and 9.3 assists per game, while Doncic averaged 28.8 points. The all-around data of 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists. In 2021, Trae Young helped the Hawks reach the Eastern Conference Finals after many years. Last season, Doncic also successfully led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. The fighting skills of the two rookies, It feels like the conversation between Magician and Larry Bird .
And Jaren Jackson Jr., selected by the Grizzlies with the 4th overall pick, also successfully proved himself in the playoffs this season. During the playoffs this season, Jaren Jr. averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. With a data of 2.5 blocks, he ranks first in the league in blocks per game. As an excellent outside fort, JJJ has accurate three-pointers and is huge. He can hit the basket and cause fouls, and he can also shoot down three-pointers from outside. It can be said that He is a strong contender to be the number one space power forward in the league in the future. With his outstanding performance, JJJ also renewed his contract with the Grizzlies in advance with a four-year, US$106 million contract in 2021, becoming the fourth 18th rookie to receive a big contract.
So far, four of the top five picks in the 2018 draft have made their mark and received big contracts. In addition, there is also the 10th pick, Mikal Bridges, as this year's DPOY A strong contender, he also renewed his contract with the Suns in advance for 90 million for four years in 2021; Alexander, the 11th pick, has become the well-deserved youth core of this Thunder ; Michael Porter Jr., the 14th pick, also He successfully proved himself in , Nuggets and , and got his own big contract. Seven of the top 14 picks successfully got big contracts, which is rare in any draft. (ikuet)
