Where Can Matas Buzelis And Ron Holland Stand Amongst The Best NBA Draft Prospect Duos In Recent History?
The 2024 NBA Draft Class boasts quite a few names vying for the top spot. In addition to players such as USC’s Isaiah Collier and Kentucky’s D.J. Wagner, G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland sit near the top of most 2024 draft big boards at the moment.
To see two top-tier prospects playing for the same team is certainly rare, but it has happened before. Take this year, for example, with Amen and Ausar Thompson. Though it is more expected to see identical twins play for the same squad, both found ways to star for the City Reapers of Overtime Elite. The 6-foot-6 guards showcased their generational athletic traits to shine as two-way playmakers. Ultimately, Amen was selected fourth overall to the Houston Rockets while Ausar was taken with the next pick by the Detroit Pistons. They became the first pair of brothers to be selected in the top five of the same draft in NBA history.
In 2019, though, the basketball world witnessed an even more successful prospect duo in terms of draft position at Duke. Wing RJ Barrett came into the season as the No. 1 ranked high school player in the country. Not trailing far behind, was his now-teammate Zion Williamson, who quickly stole the show.
Williamson immediately put on one of the best campaigns in college basketball history regardless of class. The 6-foot-6 sensation averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. He put up these lofty numbers all while an absurdly efficient 70.2 true shooting percentage en route to winning the National Player Of The Year award. His unique style of power and skill made him one of the best prospects and biggest draws in NBA history.
After Williamson was picked first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, he didn’t have to wait long to see his teammate go off the board. Barrett was selected third overall by the New York Knicks, and this prospect duo had staked their claim as two of the first three picks in the draft.
However, the actual most successful prospect duo in recent NBA history hailed from another blue blood school. In 2012, Wildcat duo Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were the top two picks in the NBA Draft. This gets forgotten by many due to Kidd-Gilchrist’s underwhelming career for a second overall pick, as he never averaged more than 10.9 points per contest. Still, no other prospect duo have been able to be the first two names off the board in any NBA Drafts since.
But 12 years later, that could finally change. Starting for G League Ignite, Buzelis and Holland have a real chance to establish themselves as the top two selections in the 2024 NBA Draft.
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