Zion Williamson and the 20 best one-and-done players in college basketball history

1. Kevin Durant, Texas, 2006-2007

The man who is perhaps the second best player in the NBA today was one of the first prospects affected by the one-and-done rule. After the NBA instituted its age limit in 2005, Kevin Durant to go to college for a year, opting to play for Rick Barnes at the University of Texas.

The Longhorns got one of the best college seasons we’ve seen in the last 20 years as Durant averaged 25.8 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, as well as 1.9 blocks and steals a night. The awards also piled up for Durant, who was named the AP’s Player of the Year, a first-team All-American, Naismith Award winner and Wooden Award winner.

Texas ended up with a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament that year, where they won a round before getting upset in the second round by USC. Durant declared for the draft after that, where he ended up being selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics.

Greg Oden went number one that year, and his injuries combined with Durant’s brilliance made that choice one of the biggest mistakes in NBA history. Durant immediately became one of the best players in the NBA and thrived once the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City after his rookie year.

After failing to break through with the Thunder, Durant moved on to Golden State, where he has won two straight championships with the Warriors and is well on his way to a third. Durant is slated to become a free agent after this season and could leave the Bay Area, with his decision likely to shift the balance of power in the league going forward.