When NBA teams draft their players on June 24th, they always hope to seize the next big thing, the next super star that no one saw coming. To get that guy, the one who is going to turn your franchise around, or the guy to take the torch from your current leader in to the future.
Take a look at the number 1 picks in the draft over the last 10 seasons. Most have turned out to be pretty good, except for a few busts. Some, better than others, of course, LeBron in 2003, was not too shabby a grab, opposed to Kwame Brown in 2001. But, then, you do find that guy every so often who tends to do extremely well, swiftly. In 2010, there are plentiful young talented rookies, who are standing out amongst the rest, who are the favorites for the NBA Rookie of the Year award at this point in the NBA season. I’ll take a look at some of the guys I think have been very good, all deserve to be watched for their respective future NBA careers.
Blake Griffin, PF, (Los Angeles Clippers) We all awaited Mr. Blake Griffin to arrive in the NBA since drafted in 2009. Has been awesome in 2010, and has not looked back, putting up 22 pts and 13 boards including 12 games with 15 or more rebounds. The 6-10 Power Forward has been great for the lowly Los Angeles Clippers, scratching for every win, they are improving, slowly but unquestionably are getting better, already with 41% of last years total in wins. Easily the favorite.
John Wall, PG, (Washington Wizards) The former Wildcat exploded on the scene, when opening night he dropped 14 points and 9 assist vs the Magic. Wall is currently 5th in the NBA amongst point guards in assists per game with 8.8. John Wall has officially taken over the Washington Wizards, leading them in assist 2nd in steals and 3rd in scoring, not too bad for a 20 year old kid.
DeMarcus Cousins, PF, (Sacramento Kings) I don’t think many expected Cousins to make the impact he has since jumping ship and joining the NBA ranks with the Kings. Scoring 13 a night and grabbing 8 bounds a contest. He is ranked 3rd amongst scoring in rookies this year, struggling a little with his shot, but he’ll come around in time. He is a big body down low to deal with and brings a fighter in the paint.
Landry Fields, G, (New York Knicks) Not many take notice to the guy, drafted in the 2nd round in 2010. He’s scoring 10 a night for the Knicks, and hitting 37% of his 3 balls. The kid can stroke the rock, and is a good player in the mix for the new and improved Knicks squad.
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, (Los Angeles Clippers) Not getting a large number of playing time for the Clips, its only time before he eventually gets more time on the hardwood and less on the pine, scoring 7 ppg and nailing 41% from behind the arc. He will eventually over take Ryan Gomes in the 3 slot in the city of LA. He is a capable scorer who opens up the court for the Griffin to do his work down low.