Looking Back at the 2011 NBA Draft: Where Are the Top Picks Now?
Looking back at the 2011 NBA Draft feels like flipping through an old yearbook where some faces became superstars while others faded into obscurity. I remember watching that draft live, thinking how these young men held basketball's future in their hands. What fascinates me most about draft analysis isn't just who succeeded, but how careers unfolded in ways nobody could have predicted. That draft class has given us everything from MVPs to players who disappeared from the league entirely, and tracking their journeys reveals so much about player development, team systems, and plain old luck.
Kyrie Irving going first overall to Cleveland felt inevitable at the time, though I'll admit I had my doubts about a point guard who'd only played 11 college games. Boy, was I wrong. That silky handle and clutch gene we'd later see in his 2016 Finals game-winner against Golden State was there all along. He's put up career averages around 23 points and 6 assists while collecting 8 All-Star selections - numbers that comfortably place him among the elite guards of his generation. His journey from Cleveland to Boston to Brooklyn and now Dallas has been fascinating to follow, though I've always felt he never quite reached his absolute ceiling despite the championship and individual accolades.
Derrick Williams going second to Minnesota always puzzled me - a tweener forward without a clear position in the modern NBA. His career never really took off, bouncing through 6 teams before heading overseas. Meanwhile, the third pick Enes Kanter Freedom became a double-double machine, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds over his career while becoming better known recently for his political activism than his basketball. The real steal came at pick 15 when Kawhi Leonard landed with Indiana before being traded to San Antonio. I recall thinking his defense was special, but nobody predicted he'd develop into a 2-time Finals MVP and one of the most complete two-way players we've seen.
The draft's middle rounds produced several fascinating careers. Chandler Parsons at 38 became a walking lesson about the dangers of overpaying for potential, while Isaiah Thomas at 60 embodied the underdog spirit by making two All-Star teams despite being the draft's final selection. Jimmy Butler at 30 developed into a 6-time All-Star, proving that work ethic can trump raw talent. What strikes me about analyzing this draft class is how much context matters - the right team, the right development staff, the right timing can make all the difference between a career year and a career-ending injury.
There's something poignant about reflecting on these career arcs while considering that quote from Belga about readiness and opportunity. "I was really eyeing for it," he said, discussing being prepared for a chance that ultimately went to someone else. "In case wala talaga, I can." That sentiment resonates deeply when examining these draft picks - so many were eyeing greatness, prepared to contribute, but circumstances dictated different paths. Some, like Kyrie, found their moment in the spotlight, while others watched as teams chose different directions.
The international picks from that draft tell their own stories - Jonas Valančiūnas at 5 became a reliable center, Bojan Bogdanović at 31 developed into a scoring specialist, and Davis Bertans at 42 became one of the league's premier shooters. What I find compelling is how these players adapted to the NBA game, often taking longer to develop but frequently providing better value than their draft positions suggested. The success of international scouting has completely transformed how teams approach the draft today, with executives willing to be more patient with overseas prospects.
Ten years later, only a handful of players from that draft class remain impactful NBA contributors. The busts like Jan Veselý at 6 or Jimmer Fredette at 10 remind us that college success doesn't always translate, while solid role players like Tristan Thompson at 4 and Kemba Walker at 9 carved out respectable careers. What stays with me is how random player development can be - the difference between a career derailed by injuries (like Walker's knee issues) and one that flourishes often comes down to luck as much as talent.
As I look at current drafts, I can't help but measure them against the 2011 class that gave us such contrasting career narratives. The stars who shone brightly, the role players who found their niches, the prospects who never quite put it together - they all represent different paths in the basketball journey. That draft taught me to be humble about projections, to appreciate the unexpected success stories, and to remember that every pick represents a human being navigating the unpredictable waters of professional sports. The final lesson might be that while we can analyze talent and fit all day long, sometimes the most compelling stories are the ones nobody saw coming.
