NBA
5 Most Interesting Facts About the 2020 NBA Draft
The best facts to know from the 2020 NBA Draft including unique NBA prospects, unexpected players drafted, and more!
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
As the 2020 NBA Draft came to a conclusion, a lot of new players were introduced to new teams and there are plenty of expectations for the top picks in this draft (especially Wiseman, LaMelo, and Anthony Edwards) to perform for teams that were not so good last season. Another Ball brother was introduced to the NBA while some players from smaller schools out ranked the players from the bigger schools and conferences. Other prospects from unique backgrounds are ready to make a name for themselves in the NBA.
Here are the 5 most interesting facts to know about the 2020 NBA Draft:
Anthony Edwards showed high upside during his time at Georgia in the SEC despite his historically bad shooting percentage. He will join Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell as the stars to lead the Timberwolves out of the dark depths of the NBA.
Anthony Edwards' 40.2% FG pct is the lowest career college FG pct by a player drafted No. 1 overall in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
However, one top pick had a season with a lower FG pct: Allen Iverson shot 39% as a freshman at Georgetown (drafted after sophomore season). pic.twitter.com/YIfqqV4nRo
Anthony Edwards was the first overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in last night's NBA Draft.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
He was the 6th SEC player in the common draft era (since 1966) to be selected with the top pick. pic.twitter.com/7JQIcjf3Uu
Anthony Edwards is the first player from the University of Georgia selected with the first overall pick in the #NBADraft.
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) November 19, 2020
The last top-five pick from Georgia was Dominique Wilkins in 1982.
LaMelo Ball is looking to change the direction of the Hornets franchise. Watching Charlotte vs. New Orleans will be a more interesting matchup this year than ever before.
Lonzo and LaMelo Ball are the first pair of brothers ever to each be drafted in the Top-5 of the NBA Draft. h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/o0lGkcFnoK
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
James Wiseman has all the makings of an impact player in the post on both sides of the ball but didn’t get to show that off much at the NCAA level.
James Wiseman, the 2nd overall pick to the Golden State Warriors, played only 3 games at Memphis.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
The only Top-5 pick in the One-and-Done Era (since 2006) to attend college and play fewer games was Enes Kanter, who was ruled ineligible prior to his freshman season. pic.twitter.com/O2r59cwe4G
Very few coaches and teams are expected to develop a top NBA prospect every year. Some college basketball programs didn’t disappoint while others couldn’t continue their streaks.
The SEC is the first conference to have the No. 1 pick in the NBA and NFL Draft in the same year since the Mountain West in 2005 (Andrew Bogut and Alex Smith).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
It's the first time the SEC has ever had both in the same year. pic.twitter.com/F9oPMYKcOg
This is the first time Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke did not have a player drafted in the lottery since 2000.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
Kentucky had a lottery pick in each of the previous 10 Drafts entering 2020, the longest streak by any school since the lottery began in 1985.
Tyrese Maxey is the 21st pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
Kentucky extends its streak with a 1st round draft pick to 11 Drafts, the longest streak in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966).
That's 30 1st rounders from Kentucky under John Calipari. pic.twitter.com/5QthzzMoor
Duke didn't have a 1st round pick for the first time since 2010.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
Duke's 9 straight Drafts with at least 1 first rounder was the 2nd-longest streak in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966), behind only Kentucky's active streak, which was extended to 11 tonight. pic.twitter.com/CiGohv5RiJ
Tom Crean (Marquette, Indiana, Georgia) joins John Calipari (UMass, Memphis, Kentucky) as the only coaches in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966) to produce a Top-5 NBA Draft pick at 3 schools.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
Crean also had Dwyane Wade at Marquette, and Victor Oladipo & Cody Zeller at Indiana. pic.twitter.com/YbzzewBeRg
Whether it be New York or France, this special group of NBA prospects are putting their countries and cities on the map. It’s now their time to represent their place of origin while many look up to them.
Obi Toppin, the 8th overall pick to the Knicks, is a New York native and was born in Brooklyn.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
He is the first player born in 1 of the 5 boroughs to be drafted by the Knicks in the Top-10 in the Modern Draft Era (since 1966). h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/PkHOrvNy1C
Killian Hayes is the 7th overall pick to the Detroit Pistons.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
He was born in Florida but grew up in France. He's the highest player drafted out of France (previous: Frank Ntilikina in 2017 went 8th overall to Knicks). pic.twitter.com/l12TywNohy
Deni Avdija is the 9th pick by the Washington Wizards. He is the first player born in Israel ever to be drafted in the Top 10 of the NBA Draft. 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/36GxbzgrxC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020
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