Now that the NBA Finals have concluded, basketball fans have shifted their focus towards the Draft.
The NBA Draft will take place on July 29th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Draft will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET. It will return to its in-person format which it moved away from last year due to the COVID-19 protocols.
Several unanswered questions are going into the Draft which is just days away. Will the Houston Rockets trade up to the first pick? Which sleepers will get drafted earlier than anticipated? And of course who will come out as the winners and losers of this year’s Draft?
This draft class is very unique because of the mix of players who have most recently played at the collegiate level, professionally in the G-League, and overseas.
I think one thing to take away from this upcoming draft will be the destination for each of the prospects picked. A player must be comfortable with the team they are drafted by.
Although mock drafts often predict the best players to get picked higher based on their statistics, teams will more likely base their picks on positions they lack and players they feel are the right fit.
Throughout history, some of the NBA’s best and most successful players were chosen later in the draft. For example, the NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected 15th Overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.
This draft class should present some hidden gems that teams could be seeking later into the first round and maybe even the second round. These players may not be all-stars and as successful in their first few years but, who’s to say they won’t be in their career.
As the 2021 NBA Draft is within reach, here are my ten prospects most likely to succeed in the NBA.