NBA 2020 Draft Analysis: Top Picks and Their Impact on the League

I remember watching the 2020 NBA Draft from my home office, feeling that peculiar mix of anticipation and skepticism that always accompanies these virtual events. The pandemic had transformed what's normally a glittering spectacle into something more subdued, yet the stakes felt higher than ever. Teams were making franchise-altering decisions based on limited college tape and Zoom interviews rather than the usual combine measurements and in-person workouts. What struck me most was how this unusual context seemed to mirror Coach Tim Cone's observations about underestimating talent—just as he warned against undervaluing Blackwater because key players had been in and out of the lineup, I worried we might be missing the full picture on these draft prospects due to the truncated evaluation process.

When the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards with that coveted first pick, I'll admit I had my doubts. The kid had undeniable athleticism—his combine numbers showed a 42-inch vertical leap even in limited testing—but his inconsistent defensive effort at Georgia concerned me. Yet watching him develop over these past few seasons has been one of my genuine pleasures as an analyst. He's transformed from a raw talent into someone averaging 24.7 points per game last season, demonstrating the kind of growth that makes me optimistic about his ceiling. The Warriors' front office must be kicking themselves for passing on him, though James Wiseman at number two seemed like the safer choice at the time.

The Charlotte Hornets picking LaMelo Ball third overall generated the most buzz that night, and frankly, I thought the hype was justified. Having followed his unconventional path through Lithuania and Australia's NBL, I believed his flashy playmaking would translate better to the NBA than many critics suggested. His rookie season proved me right—averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists earned him Rookie of the Year honors, and he's only improved since. What fascinates me about Ball is how he's changed Charlotte's entire offensive identity, much like how Coach Cone described the transformative impact of players returning to lineup consistency. The Hornets' offensive rating jumped from 105.3 the season before drafting Ball to 112.4 in his first year—that's not just improvement, that's a franchise transformation.

What many casual observers miss about draft analysis is how team context determines success as much as raw talent. Patrick Williams going fourth to Chicago surprised many, but I've always believed his two-way potential was worth the reach. His defensive versatility—able to guard positions 1 through 4—makes him exactly the kind of modern NBA forward that contenders covet. The Bulls have been patient with his development, and last season's 13.7 points per game while shooting 48% from the field suggests they're being rewarded for that patience. This reminds me of Cone's point about not underestimating teams when their key pieces finally play together—Williams took time to find his rhythm alongside Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, but now he looks like a cornerstone.

The international flavor of this draft particularly excited me. Israeli forward Deni Avdija going ninth to Washington demonstrated how global the talent pool has become, while Serbian guard Aleksej Pokusevski to Oklahoma City at 17 showed how teams increasingly value unique skill sets over traditional positional fit. Having traveled to watch European prospects before the pandemic, I've always argued that we underestimate how quickly international players can adapt to the NBA game. Avdija's perimeter defense has been better than advertised—he held opponents to 42% shooting when he was the primary defender last season—while Pokusevski's combination of size and ball-handling makes him a fascinating project.

What strikes me now, looking back, is how this draft class has redistributed talent across the league in ways we couldn't fully appreciate at the time. The Thunder's accumulation of future picks—they ended up with three first-rounders in this draft—set in motion their current rebuild, while the Knicks finding Immanuel Quickley at 25 demonstrated the value of astute scouting in the later rounds. Quickley's 14.3 points per game as a rookie far exceeded typical expectations for that draft position. This kind of value finding separates competent front offices from exceptional ones, much like how Coach Cone's teams always seem to maximize role players in ways that surprise opponents.

The true test of any draft class comes years later, and while it's still early, I'm increasingly convinced 2020 will be remembered as above average despite the unusual circumstances. The top three picks have all made All-Star appearances already—a rare feat—while players like Tyrese Haliburton (12th pick) and Desmond Bane (30th) have outperformed their draft positions dramatically. Haliburton's ascent to averaging 20.7 points and 10.4 assists this season makes him one of the league's most efficient playmakers, while Bane's transformation into a 21.5-points-per-game scorer for Memphis represents incredible value for the final pick of the first round.

Reflecting on this draft through the lens of time, I'm reminded that player development often matters more than initial selection order. Organizations like Miami (picking Precious Achiuwa at 20) and Denver (selecting Zeke Nnaji at 22) have demonstrated how proper development systems can maximize talent regardless of draft position. This aligns with what Coach Cone suggested about not underestimating teams when their pieces finally click—sometimes it's not about acquiring more talent, but about properly utilizing what you already have. The lasting impact of the 2020 draft class appears to be not just in the star power at the top, but in the remarkable depth that continues to reveal itself as these players enter their primes.