2025-11-17 11:00
by
nlpkak
I still remember sitting in my living room on that June evening in 2019, watching the NBA draft unfold with my notebook filled with prospect analysis and mock drafts. Having followed basketball professionally for over fifteen years, I've developed what my colleagues call an "uncanny ability" to spot both potential stars and future busts. The 2019 draft class particularly fascinated me because it arrived at a transitional moment for the league—the three-point revolution had fully taken hold, and teams were increasingly valuing versatile players who could defend multiple positions while creating their own shots.
When Zion Williamson's name was called first by the New Orleans Pelicans, nobody was surprised. The hype around this generational talent had been building for years, and his college statistics were simply absurd—averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals while shooting 68% from the field at Duke. What impressed me most wasn't just his athleticism but his understanding of spacing and defensive positioning, rare for someone his age. I recall telling my podcast audience that Williamson had the potential to redefine power forward position much like Kevin Garnett did two decades earlier, though I did express concerns about whether his explosive playing style would be sustainable given his 285-pound frame.
The second pick brought Ja Morant to Memphis, and I'll admit I was among the skeptics initially. Coming from Murray State, he hadn't faced the consistent high-level competition that prepares prospects for the NBA grind. But watching his tape, something stood out—his court vision reminded me of a young Jason Kidd, combined with Russell Westbrook's fearlessness attacking the rim. His 24.5 points and 10 assists per game in his final college season weren't flukes; they demonstrated an advanced understanding of pick-and-roll dynamics that many veterans never develop.
RJ Barrett going third to New York felt inevitable, though I never quite bought into the hype surrounding him. His efficiency concerns at Duke—shooting just 45% from two-point range and 31% from three—worried me, and I thought the Knicks might have been better served trading down or selecting Darius Garland, who went fifth to Cleveland. Garland's limited college playing time due to injury made him a risky pick, but sometimes you have to trust the eye test over statistics. His smooth shooting stroke and ball-handling creativity suggested he could develop into an elite offensive guard, which we're seeing now with his All-Star selection this past season.
What made the 2019 draft particularly intriguing was the number of players who dealt with significant injuries before entering the league. This brings to mind something I heard from a prospect I interviewed years ago, whose situation reminds me of several players in this draft class. He told me, "It was a bit complicated because of my injury. We had to figure out what would work for me." That sentiment perfectly captures the dilemma teams faced with talents like Bol Bol, who slid to 44th despite top-10 talent due to foot injury concerns, or Kevin Porter Jr., selected 30th amid questions about both health and attitude.
The middle of the first round contained what I consider the draft's biggest steals. Tyler Herro at 13th to Miami has proven to be an absolute gem, and I'm proud to say I had him pegged as a future star despite the criticism he received during the pre-draft process. His confidence bordering on arrogance reminded me of Larry Bird—he genuinely believed every shot would go in, and his work ethic matched that self-assurance. Then there was Jordan Poole at 28th to Golden State, whose development trajectory has been fascinating to track from inefficient rookie to crucial championship contributor.
International prospects added another layer of intrigue to this draft. I've always had a soft spot for international players because they often bring fundamentally sound games developed through different systems. Rui Hachimura becoming the first Japanese player selected in the first round (9th to Washington) represented basketball's continuing globalization, while Goga Bitadze (18th to Indiana) brought traditional European post skills that are becoming increasingly rare in today's perimeter-oriented game.
As the draft progressed into the second round, several teams found remarkable value. Terence Mann at 48th to the Clippers has developed into a rotation player who contributed significantly to their 2021 conference finals run, while undrafted Max Strus—who eventually signed with Chicago—has become a legitimate starting wing for Miami. These later picks highlight how crucial scouting and development have become in building competitive rosters under the modern salary cap system.
Looking back nearly four years later, the 2019 class has already produced two All-Stars (Williamson and Garland) with several others like Morant, Herro, and Poole establishing themselves as core pieces for their franchises. The class has significantly outperformed my initial expectations, particularly in terms of offensive firepower. What stands out most in retrospect is how teams balanced immediate needs against long-term potential, with some franchises clearly prioritizing upside over readiness—a strategy that has paid dividends for Memphis with Morant but yielded mixed results elsewhere.
The true test of any draft class comes years later, and while it's still too early for definitive judgments on the 2019 group, the early returns suggest this might be one of the stronger classes of the past decade. The blend of superstar potential at the top with quality rotation players throughout the first round and into the second has provided franchises with both cornerstones and complementary pieces. As someone who's analyzed drafts since 2005, I'd place this class slightly below the legendary 2003 group but potentially on par with 2009 in terms of overall impact when all is said and done. What continues to fascinate me is watching these players' development paths—some, like Williamson, arrived with enormous expectations, while others like Poole and Herro have dramatically exceeded their projected ceilings, reminding us why the draft remains the most compelling annual event for team-building in professional basketball.
