Looking back at the 2016 NBA Draft, I still get that familiar tingle of excitement mixed with professional curiosity. Having covered basketball prospects for over a decade now, I've learned that draft classes aren't just about individual talent—they're about connections, parallel journeys, and sometimes, the beautiful coincidences that shape careers. This particular draft class had something special brewing, reminding me of how certain players' paths intertwine long before they ever share an NBA court. Not only have they known each other at a very young age, but their paths to basketball stardom have been rather identical, creating fascinating narrative threads throughout this draft board.
When I first started compiling my big board for 2016, I immediately noticed how many of these prospects had crossed paths during their formative years. Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, my top two prospects, had been on the radar since their early teens, both following that classic trajectory from high school phenom to one-and-done college star. Simmons' athleticism was just off the charts—I had him clocked at 4.8 win shares per 40 minutes at LSU, which absolutely crushed the competition. Meanwhile, Ingram's shooting mechanics made me confident he'd translate immediately to the NBA game, despite that slender frame that had some scouts worried. What fascinated me most was how these two had been circling each other in various camps and tournaments since they were about fourteen years old, developing their games in parallel universes that were destined to collide on draft night.
The middle of the first round presented some of the most intriguing value picks in recent memory. I remember being particularly high on Domantas Sabonis, who I had ranked at 12 despite most mock drafts slotting him in the late teens. Having watched his development since his teenage years alongside other international prospects, I saw a player whose basketball IQ and fundamental skills were being dramatically undervalued. Then there was the curious case of Thon Maker—at 7'1" with guard skills, he was either going to be the steal of the draft or a massive project. I'll admit I was more optimistic than most, putting him at 16 on my board because sometimes you just have to bet on unique physical tools.
What really made this draft class special was the number of players who had grown up competing against each other. Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert had been facing off since their AAU days, both developing into versatile wings who I believed could contribute immediately. Brogdon's defensive metrics at Virginia were sensational—he held opponents to just 38% shooting when he was the primary defender, which is exactly the kind of stat that jumps off the page when you're doing these deep dives. Meanwhile, LeVert's injury history concerned me enough to drop him to 25 on my board, though I'll confess I lost sleep over whether that was too conservative for a player with his creation ability.
The second round gems are always my favorite part of building these draft boards, and 2016 didn't disappoint. I had Malcolm Brogdon significantly higher than most analysts because his four-year college career showed a level of maturity and polish that I value tremendously in prospects. Then there was Ivica Zubac, who I first saw play internationally at age 16 and immediately flagged as someone to watch. His footwork for a player his size was just exceptional, and having tracked his development alongside other European big men, I felt confident slotting him at 32 despite the crowded center market. These are the picks that can make or break a franchise's depth chart, and I've learned over the years that betting on fundamental skills over raw athleticism usually pays off in the second round.
As I reflect on this draft class several years later, what stands out isn't just the top-end talent but the remarkable interconnectedness of these players' journeys. That phenomenon of prospects knowing each other from young ages and following similar paths creates a unique dynamic that I believe positively impacts their development and eventual NBA adjustment. The 2016 class has produced multiple All-Stars and several solid rotation players, validating many of the assessments we made at the time while reminding us that basketball talent often develops in clusters rather than isolation. If there's one lesson I've taken from studying this draft class, it's that context matters just as much as statistics when evaluating how these young men will transition to the professional game.
