In light of the NBA draft this past week, let’s look further into the importance of building a franchise through the draft.
San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs have long been the model of how to build up a winning team through the draft. Gregg Popovich, who is best known by the casual basketball fan for his sarcastic sideline interviews during games, has been able to get the most out of his players that the Spurs have drafted--regardless of their talent level.
Notable picks:
C Tim Duncan: 1997 first round pick, first overall.
PG Tony Parker: 2001 first round pick, 28th overall.
SG Manu Ginobili: 1999 second round pick, 57th overall.
SF Kawhi Leonard: 2011 first round pick, 15th overall. Acquired from the Pacers via trade.
This summer, Ginobili is testing free agency. However, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili were the “Big 3” in San Antonio when I was a young boy growing up. Not only that, but they have accounted for four championships rings while playing together. Leonard helped the Spurs to one championship ring back in 2014.
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder have also developed their core of talented players through their draft picks in the past decade, rather than free agency and trades.
Notable Picks:
PF Nick Collison: 2003 first round pick, 12th overall.
SF Kevin Durant: 2007 first round pick, second overall.
PG Russell Westbrook: 2008 first round pick, fourth overall.
PF Serge Ibaka: 2008 first round pick, 24th overall.
PG James Harden: 2009 first round pick, third overall.
C Steven Adams: 2013 first round pick, 12th overall.
PG Cameron Payne: 2015 first round pick, 14th overall.
Harden is now a member of the Houston Rockets, and Ibaka was recently traded to the Magic this summer. When the Thunder made the NBA finals in 2012, Collison, Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Harden all were key contributors throughout that season.
Golden State Warriors: The Warriors will be legitimate title contenders for the next couple years as they have appeared in back to back NBA Finals. How did their success story begin? Let’s look back at the draft.
Notable Picks:
PG Steph Curry: 2009 first round pick, seventh overall.
SG Klay Thompson: 2011 first round pick, 11th overall.
SF Harrison Barnes: 2012 first round pick, seventh overall.
C Festus Ezeli: 2012 first round pick, 30th overall.
PF Draymond Green: 2012 second round pick, 35th overall.
The 2012 draft was special for the Warriors not only because they secured role players in Barnes and Ezeli, but they also stole a future All-Star in the second round which is quite remarkable. Another thing to note: the five players listed above happened to be the five starters for the Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals just a few weeks ago.
It is just a coincidence that the three teams featured happen to all be members of the Western Conference. However, it is not a coincidence that their successes all started because of their draft picks. When creating a team that will sustain success, it is important to build through the draft with young talent. The most difficult part is being patient and waiting to see if the players you selected pan out to be who you thought they would be. All of these teams had dismal season after dismal season until these drafted players helped turn around struggling franchises.
As the old cliché goes, patience pays off. It has for these three teams who have all appeared in an NBA Final in the past decade.
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