When we think of the premier draft classes of the NBA, years such as 2003, 2009, 1998 and 1999, as well as 1987, 1985, 1996, and of course, 1984.
For basketball purists, it’s as much a jump ball between ‘84 and ‘03 as it fuels both sides of the argument of the G.O.A.T. conversation … but we’ll save that for another day.
But how special was the Class of 2018?
After all, many of that draft class played last night on Opening Night, and many others will make their 2025-26 debut in a full slate of games tonight.
The Class of 2018 could now be labeled the meat and potatoes of the NBA, with those that have surprised, some that have wholly disappointed, some already out of the league, and there’s even a couple of championship rings in the mix of talent from that class already.
Let’s take a look at a few of them and how they’ve fared in their career so far:
- Bruce Brown (42nd Pick) has certainly ridden the range in his time in the league, having been with six teams in his seven years. He was a spark plug in the Denver Nuggets’ championship run, but then Cowboy Bruce galloped off to the Indiana Pacers in search of bigger bank. After turns with the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans, Brown is back in Denver ready to be a part of the Nuggets being a contender in the always competitive West once again. I’m certain they’re glad to have him back with his 8.9 point, 4.2 rebound, 2.4 assist averages.
- Jarred Vanderbilt (41st Pick) was originally a Nugget, but the Vandolorian moved to a couple more teams before becoming a big man the Los Angeles Lakers were hoping would be the enforcer he was at the University of Kentucky. The jury’s still out on that, however, with career averages of 5.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists; last night, Vando only played 11 minutes, scoring 0 points and only getting three rebounds in an Opening Night loss.
- Gary Trent, Jr. (37th Pick) was originally selected by the Portland TrailBlazers, but has spent the bulk of his seven years with the Toronto Raptors with averages of 13.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists that the Milwaukee Bucks hope will make folks Fear the Deer once again (and keep Giannis Antetokuonmpo interested in remaining in Milwaukee).
- Mitchell Robinson (36th Pick) has been a career-long New York Knick since Day One, but has been ‘knick’-ed up for a lot of his career thus far. His best season was 2021-22, but the Block Ness Monster has only played 107 games since that season, but focused on getting and remaining healthy for this year’s Eastern Conference favorites.
Jalen Brunson (33rd Pick) – 18.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists
The Brunson Burner was one of the first players that Dallas Mavericks fans hated to see leave – in fact, people were just as angry, frustrated, and emotional about Brunson’s departure as they were about Nico Harrison trading Luke Doncic; and Doncic was one of the more frustrated ones. But Captain Clutch was just the shot in the arm the fledgling and flailing Knicks had needed to provide a glimmer of hope and promise that the franchise hadn’t experienced in nearly two decades. The Villanova product is now the anointed King of New York … and he and his fellow Knicks are hands down favorites to take the East this season.
Obviously, this would be a novel if I went down every player in the first round, but I would also be negligent if I didn’t note them and their contributions before continuing with the obvious names.
- At last check, Robert Williams (27th Pick) was still a member of the Blazers, but the Lakers keep their finger on the pulse of that situation; he brings 7.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists to the table
- Kansas City native Landry Shamet (26th Pick) is on his sixth roster in seven years, but a key reserve for the Knicks. Lanbo brings 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in relief for New York
- Moritz Wagner (25th Pick) has been teaming up with his younger brother Franz on the Orlando Magic for the last four seasons, after bouncing around to three other teams before settling in Orlando. Moe is averaging career numbers of 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
- Anfernee Simons (24th Pick) might not be able to hold a candle when it comes to replacing Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics’ line-up, but he’s no slouch either. A career-long Blazer, Simons brings 15.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists – not exactly numbers you’d just toss into the harbor just because you don’t like them.
I know there are so many still out there making impacts, some being the glue of their respective franchises – names like Grayson Allen (21), Josh Okogie (20), Kevin Huerter (19), Donte DiVincenzo (17), Collin Sexton (8), Wendell Carter (7), Mo Bamba (6), and Marvin Bagley (2) … but there will be more articles forthcoming throughout the year.
Let’s analyze six more, and really look at the biggest names:
First of all, Miles Bridges (12th Pick) and Mikal Bridges (10th Pick) are no relation … unless you do your Ancestry.com all the way back to Adam and Eve. But each is solid in their respective game. Mikal was a superstar burst of energy, a solar flare when the Phoenix Suns needed him. After a brief layover in Brooklyn, he is bringing that energy to the Knicks roster along with fellow Villanova alumni Brunson and Josh Hart (and in AT&T commercials with DiVincenzo as well). Miles has played six of his seven years all in Charlotte (out in 2022-23), holding it down for the Charlotte Hornets until the team can add Gradey Dick and Lonzo Ball to the roster (see photo below) … kidding, of course.
Now let’s tackle disappointment – the No. 1 pick of that draft: Deandre Ayton. “DominAyton” has been nothing but the opposite. His salad days would have been unlimited had he gotten along with Monty Williams. The Lakers needed a big, and apparently any big would do (besides Vanderbilt), so they took a runner on a guy who gave them an ROI of 10 points and six rebounds last night in an Opening Night loss against a smaller Draymond Green and Al Horford. Pedestrian numbers for most – in fact, I’d go out and re-sign Kwame Brown’s 6.6 point, 5.5 rebound, and 0.9 assist career averages just for sheer effort alone. A far cry from the Rookie of the Year in a draft class that has so many big names that it is making this a longer-than-usual piece.
Then there’s the draft-and-swap of Luka Doncic (Pick 3) and Trae Young (Pick 5) between the Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks. While I’ll show their numbers comparison below, any living breathing NBA fan knows that both have been the darlings of their original teams (post-swap). One couldn’t imagine the Hawks without Ice Trae’s scruffy ‘do and smooth as silk three pointers. And, until last year, no one could envision Doncic in any other jersey and being a #MFFL – except Nico Harrison. Now Doncic will arguably replace LeBron James as the face of the Lakers franchise (as could be evidenced by James’ absence from an Opening Night lineup last night for the first time since 2003).
| Luka Doncic | 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists |
| Trae Young | 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists |
And with the 11th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, the cream of the crop of the University of Kentucky, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the new (emerging, at least?) face of the NBA itself – the Charlotte Hornets select Shai Gilgeous-Alexander … and then ship him to the Los Angeles Clippers for the aforementioned Miles Bridges … and then give up on his progress and evolution for Paul George. With a little mentoring from Chris Paul in his early days in OKC, SGA has become a premier player in the league and leading his Thunder to the NBA title just a few short months ago. Accomplishments in 2025-26 already? Only the most exciting game of the season against future Western Conference Finals opponent Houston Rockets and former Thunder icon Kevin Durant, where he tied the game and sent it into overtime, but then hit winning free throws in the second overtime. 35 points, five rebounds, five assists.
The future of the league is bright with the Class of 2018 leading the way – they are all the new face(s) of the NBA.
Except Ayton and Bagley.
Another story, another day – but only they have the chance to re-write it.
NOTE: Kobe Bryant was also selected by the Charlotte Hornets before also heading to L.A., but he won his first championship in four years, while SGA did it in seven.
****************************************
Tracy ‘T-Money’ Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com owner of TMoneyMedia.com and also has his posts on SubStack at allballs.substack.com
He has written the NBA, appeared as a guest on NBA Radio, and the last 25+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and also tackles the NFL and NCAA. He’s spent 25+ years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
He has raised five kids, and now currently resides in the heart of SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee – home of the 2024 Men’s Baseball World Series Champion Tennessee Volunteers.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
