How Have The Leading Draft Picks Started In The NBA?

The 2019 NBA Draft is considered to be one of the strongest classes of college players set to embark on the NBA in a number of years, including many from Kentucky. Those who were drafted in the first round have been tipped to have a great career in the professional game.

Here is a look at the three leading picks from that draft and how they have started with their respective teams in the 2019/20 NBA season.

Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)

19-year-old Zion Williamson looks set to be a superstar in the NBA. He picked up numerous accolades in 2019 including the ACC Player of the Year. The spectacular year for the freshman led to him being selected as the first overall pick in the draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Unfortunately for the Pelicans, they have yet to get Williamson on court for a regular season game as the small forward is still suffering from a right-knee injury. Williamson underwent surgery just before the new campaign began and he has only recently returned to full practice.

The Pelicans are desperate to get their first overall pick fit as they are 7-23 through their opening 30 games in what has been a disappointing start for the New Orleans franchise, who are now out to +20,000 in the NBA betting on the Southwest Division.

Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)

Murray State point guard Ja Morant had a huge sophomore year for the Races as he led the NCAA in assists. He became the first player in history to average 20 points and 10 assists per game in one season, while he also landed the Point Guard of the Year Award.

The Memphis Grizzlies took Morant as the second overall pick in the 2019 draft, and that decision looks to have been a wise one as their highly talented prospect is leading the league in average points by any rookie with 18.21 while he also has the highest average assists with 6.63.

Morant is the odds-on favorite to be the Rookie of the Year and, if he continues to put up the numbers he is doing for the Grizzlies, he is sure to land that award at the end of his first season in the NBA.

RJ Barrett (New York Knicks)

RJ Barrett was the highest placed Canadian on the 2019 NBA Draft board as he was taken third overall by the New York Knicks.

Barrett was part of both the Sporting News’ All-American First Team and All-ACC First Team last season. He started 38 games across the campaign, averaging 22.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.

The 19-year-old from Toronto, Ontario has made a solid start to life in the NBA. He is averaging 13.9 points per game, while the shooting guard is third among all rookies in steals with an average of 1.1.

Barrett recently had a career-high 27 points which included six rebounds in the Knicks’ 143-120 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The New York team is 7-23 for the season though, in what has been a disappointing start to the 2019/20 campaign.

Of course, there is plenty of basketball still to be played this season from now until the regular season ends on April 15, when the NBA Rookie of the Year will be named. But these are certainly three players to watch out for.

How Have The Leading Draft Picks Started In The NBA? to SEC Basketball

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