5 biggest surprises in NBA Draft history
By Jakob Ashlin
Biggest surprises in NBA Draft history: 1. Anthony Bennett
2013 NBA Draft: Round 1, pick 1 (Cleveland Cavaliers)
When David Stern announced the Anthony Bennett pick, it sparked an unprecedented reaction. “Whoa!” exclaimed ESPN broadcaster Bill Simmons. The crowd erupted in cheers, shock, and bewilderment.
Entering draft night, the Cleveland Cavaliers were faced with a difficult dilemma. They held the number one pick, but the 2013 draft class lacked a clear top prospect. They had three clear options: center Nerlens Noel, shooting guard Victor Oladipo, and small forward Otto Porter Jr.
Noel was in the mix for the number one pick, but after suffering a torn ACL, he saw his draft stock tumble. Oladipo had all the tools to be an elite two-way guard, but the Cavaliers believed they already had their backcourt of the future in Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters (the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 draft). Porter appeared to be a seamless roster fit. The team needed a small forward, and he had a desirable 3-and-D skillset. Still, he was viewed as a “high-floor, moderate ceiling” prospect. Could they justify using the number one pick on him?
In the face of these questions, the front office took an unexpected path, selecting UNLV forward Anthony Bennett. ESPN had ranked Bennett as the sixth overall prospect. He went on to play in 52 games for the franchise, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited minutes.
Next. 10 best undrafted NBA players of all time. dark
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.