Michigan State Basketball: Why Emoni Bates should choose Spartans
By Ryan Kay
No. 1. Becoming the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
Playing college basketball has been very beneficial for those seeking to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
2021 No. 1 pick— Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State)
2020 No. 1 pick — Anthony Edwards (Georgia)
2019 No. 1 pick — Zion Williamson (Duke)
2018 No. 1 pick — Deandre Ayton (Arizona)
2017 No. 1 pick — Markelle Fultz (Washington)
2016 No. 1 pick — Ben Simmons (LSU)
2015 No. 1 pick — Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky)
Playing professional basketball or playing right after high school instead of going to college has not gone as planned from being selected the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft
2021 No. 2 pick— Jalen Green (G League)
2020 No. 3 pick— LaMelo Ball Illawarra (Australia)
2018 No. 24 pick— Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy)
2017 No. 21 pick— Terrance Ferguson Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
2016 No. 10 pick — Thon Maker Orangeville Prep Basketball Academy (Canada)
2015 No. 7 pick — Emmanuel Mudiay Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Being the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft does not determine if you are going to be the next superstar in the NBA. It does pay you approximately a million dollars a year more than being selected No. 2 for example and being selected No. 1 is about prestige and bragging rights.
Some amazing players have not been selected No. 1 overall so it is not a must that Bates puts himself in a position to be selected No. 1. It is even possible if he sat out next season and he could still be selected No. 1 overall but going to Michigan State may put him in the best position to be chosen No. 1 in the 2023 NBA Draft.
No. 2. Going to Michigan State could prepare him for greatness in the NBA
NBA Draft Picks under Tom Izzo who is currently playing in the NBA that has done well in the league.
Draymond Green
3× NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018)
3× NBA All-Star (2016–2018)
2× Olympic Gold Medalist (2021 and 2016)
All-NBA Second Team (2016)
All-NBA Third Team (2017)
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2017)
4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2015–2017, 2021)
2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2018, 2019)
NBA steals leader (2017)
Jaren Jackson Jr.
No. 4 Pick in NBA Draft (2018)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2019)
Gary Harris
NBA Draft top 20 Pick (2014)
Signed a four-year, $84 million contract extension (2017)
Miles Bridges
NBA Draft Lottery Pick (2018)
Rising Stars Challenge MVP award for Team USA (2020)
Bryn Forbes
NBA champion (2021)
Denzel Valentine
No. 14 Pick in the NBA Draft (2016)
The list of players doesn’t scream Michigan State players well be amazing in the NBA but it does show that even the underrated, underappreciated, and undervalued players that came from the Spartans have had lasting careers in the NBA after their rookie contract expires.
Green has done very well with Golden State after being drafted in the 2nd round. Jackson and Bridges were both NBA lottery picks and both players look to have breakout years this upcoming season after having early success in the NBA thus far.
Less herald players like Forbes just won an NBA championship which led to a multi-year deal with the Spurs and players like Valentine and Harris who have battled through injuries of late look to have a good, productive season coming up.
Izzo has his doubters and those who criticize his coaching style and tactics but he may be the best-suited coach for Bates to get him ready to possibly become the next Kevin Durant as the si.com story had suggested.