Breaking Down the Top Picks and Surprises From the 2020 NBA Draft
I still remember sitting in my home office that November evening, watching the virtual draft unfold with unusual anticipation. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've developed this sixth sense for when a draft class is about to deliver something special, and 2020 had that feeling from the start. The Minnesota Timberwolves holding that first pick created this electric tension - everyone knew they were taking Anthony Edwards, but nobody could predict how quickly he'd transform from a raw talent into the franchise cornerstone he's become today.
What struck me most about Edwards wasn't just his explosive athleticism - though his 42-inch vertical certainly turned heads - but that undeniable competitive fire. I recall thinking during his Georgia days that he played with this old-school mentality you don't often see in one-and-done prospects. Fast forward to last season's playoffs, and there he was, facing off against Devin Booker in what's becoming one of the league's premier rivalries. When Edwards dropped 40 points in Game 2 against Phoenix, a colleague texted me saying, "He's facing a longtime rival, and I know how much this means to him." That sentiment captures exactly why Edwards was the right pick at number one - he's got that killer instinct you simply can't teach.
The real stunner of the night came when Golden State passed on James Wiseman at number two. I'd spoken with several scouts who had Wiseman pegged as a perfect fit for their system, but Charlotte's selection of LaMelo Ball third overall proved to be the draft's defining moment. I'll admit I had doubts about Ball - his unconventional path through Lithuania and Australia raised questions about his readiness, but watching him dish out 7.6 assists per game as a rookie while shooting 37.8% from three completely won me over. Sometimes the most obvious picks in hindsight are the biggest surprises in the moment.
What fascinates me about this draft class in retrospect is how many gems emerged outside the lottery. Tyrese Haliburton falling to twelfth still baffles me - I had him ranked sixth on my board and thought Sacramento got away with highway robbery. Then there's Desmond Bane going thirtieth to Memphis, which might be the steal of the entire draft. I remember watching Bane's workout tapes and thinking his 43.9% three-point shooting in college would translate immediately, but nobody expected him to become such a complete two-way player this quickly.
Looking back three years later, what makes the 2020 draft particularly memorable is how it defied the unprecedented circumstances. These players had no combine, limited workouts, and yet several have already become franchise pillars. The success rate seems unusually high - we're talking about multiple All-Stars and several players who've already signed max extensions. In my evaluation, this class might eventually rival the legendary 2003 draft in terms of depth and star power. The teams that trusted their instincts rather than conventional wisdom - Charlotte with Ball, Memphis with Bane - are reaping the benefits today, while others are left wondering what might have been.