Where Does Jaime Jaquez Jr Rank Against Every 18th-Overall Pick Since 2000?
Drafting in the NBA is hard. We see it year after year that there are no guarantees, even when you’re drafting inside the Top 10.
Then, once you get into the teens, you’re just shooting for the stars, hoping that one of those guys will be a decent bench player for your team.
Sometimes, you might get lucky and find a Jaime Jaquez, who is averaging 13.7 points, three rebounds, and two assists, but how often does that happen at pick No. 18?
Since 2000, the 18th overall pick has produced one All-Star, David West, with the New Orleans Hornets.
Some other notable 18th overall picks are: Quentin Richardson, Jr Smith, Gerald Green, JaVale McGee, Eric Bledsoe, Ty Lawson, and Marco Belinelli.
Only Jr Smith has averaged double digits in scoring as a rookie. The All-Star, West, didn’t average double digits until his third year in the league.
Since 2013, the list of 18th overall picks is a lot less memorable: Shane Larkin, Tyler Ennis, Sam Dekker, Henry Ellenson, TJ Leaf, Lonnie Walker, Goga Bitadaze, Josh Green, Tre Mann, and Dalen Terry round out that group.
There is still some time for a few of those guys on that list, but Lonnie Walker is the only one who stands out. He is a solid role player for the Brooklyn Nets.
So, where would Jaquez fall on that list?
He will obviously be behind David West, the lone All-Star. Richardson, Smith, Bledsoe, and Lawson all have done enough as starters in the league to earn the nod as of today.
Around sixth since 2000 is where I would place Jaquez, who is 30 games into his rookie season. Getting to No.2 is well within reach for him and would shock no one at this point.
Only time will tell if Jaquez can unseat West from the No. 1 spot for the 18th overall class.
Devin Brown is a contributing writer to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at dbrwnjr@gmail.com or Twitter @dbrwnjr.
