I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2018 NBA Draft like it was yesterday. The speculation, the mock drafts, the endless debates about who should go first - it all culminated in the Phoenix Suns selecting Deandre Ayton with that coveted first overall pick. As I look back now, what fascinates me most isn't just where these players landed, but how their careers have unfolded in ways both predictable and utterly surprising. That draft class has produced some genuine superstars, but also players whose journeys remind us that being picked first doesn't guarantee anything in this league.
When the Suns chose Ayton, I'll admit I had my doubts despite his dominant college performance. The modern NBA values big men who can stretch the floor and defend multiple positions, and Ayton's traditional center game seemed almost retro. Yet watching him develop into the defensive anchor for a Suns team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals was genuinely impressive. His numbers - averaging 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds through his first five seasons - don't fully capture his impact. What stands out in my memory is how he embraced his role during that Finals run, perfectly encapsulating the team-first mentality when he said, "So I asked the team na sacrifice and let's do our job." That willingness to buy into his role, even when it meant fewer touches than other top picks might demand, speaks volumes about his character and basketball IQ.
The real story of that draft, though, extends far beyond Ayton. Luka Doncic, selected third by Atlanta and immediately traded to Dallas, has arguably become the class's crown jewel, already racking up four All-NBA First Team selections by age 24. Meanwhile, Trae Young, who went fifth, has become one of the league's most electrifying scorers and passers. What's fascinating to me is how the draft order seems almost comical in hindsight - Jalen Brunson, picked 33rd, has outperformed numerous players taken before him, including making an All-Star team before several top-5 picks. The 2018 class has produced 7 All-Stars to date, which is remarkable when you consider that some drafts are lucky to produce three or four quality starters.
Reflecting on these career trajectories, I've come to appreciate that draft position is merely the starting line, not the finish. Ayton's journey has taken him from Phoenix to Portland in a blockbuster trade that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, and watching him adapt to his third system in six years has been revealing. His scoring dipped to 15.8 points last season, but his rebounding remained solid at 10.2 per game. Meanwhile, players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, picked 11th, have developed into legitimate MVP candidates - something nobody would have predicted on draft night. The development paths have been anything but linear, with injuries, team fits, and personal growth all playing massive roles in determining who thrives and who merely survives in the league.
Five years later, the 2018 draft class stands as one of the most talented in recent memory, with its players having already accumulated 19 All-Star appearances between them. Ayton may not have become the transformational superstar some envisioned, but he's carved out a solid career as a starting center in this league - something that shouldn't be taken for granted. The real lesson here, one I've come to appreciate more with each season I cover the NBA, is that draft position creates expectations, but character, work ethic, and situation determine outcomes. As we watch these players enter their primes, I'm particularly excited to see how the later picks continue to develop - because if there's one thing the 2018 draft taught us, it's that the real gems are often found well after the first selection.
