5 biggest surprises of the 2018-19 NBA season

TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 29: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors reacts to a play during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 29, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 24: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks talk before the game on October 24, 2018 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. The consistency and impressiveness of this draft class

The draft is always a bit of a crapshoot. No matter how much scouting a team does, the element of chance looms over what appears to be the surest decision. Accordingly, it’s been many years since the top five picks of any draft have all turned out to be good selections for their team. Just in the past few years, the teams that selected Anthony Bennett, Jahlil Okafor, Dragan Bender, and Thomas Robinson, among others, would almost certainly like a do-over. However, this year, all top five picks look like, if not necessarily future superstars, great building blocks for each team that drafted them.

Next. Meet the 2018 NBA 25-under-25. dark

Luka Doncic and Trae Young are the obvious standouts, though Deandre Ayton has had no problems scoring in the low post, Marvin Bagley III has been great coming off the bench for the Kings, and Jaren Jackson Jr., at his best, looks like a potential Unicorn and future All-Defensive Team member. This is to say nothing of players drafted later such as Mitchell Robinson, Mo Bamba, Landry Shamet, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, and Mikal Bridges among others, who all look poised to have very good NBA careers. It’s early, but if these players continue to impress and exceed expectations in coming years, it’s very possible that this draft class could be the best in many years, if not one of the best of all time.

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