Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
HAPPY SUNDAY FOLKS.
I have spent entirely too much time working on this but I need to leave the house so I am publishing it now before football starts lol.
In honor of the three-year anniversary (and the nice double RP bonus) I ranked every No. 1 pick in SLN history based on arbitrary but thoughtful criteria that are in my head and generally vibes.
I included every player's draft notes just because I think it's a fun discussion unto itself as to which players could have been better/how prospects compare head to head just from scratch. Hope we can discuss that in the comments.
Anyway it's crazy it's been three IRL years and I hope everyone enjoys. Grateful for all the friends I have made through this league but not grateful for how it has arguably ruined my life and use of spare time!!!
Ok, rankings.
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32. Zion Williamson - 2019, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing on the inside. Finishes with authority over anyone. Very good strength. Excellent athleticism.
Weaknesses: Outside is very weak. Will have turnover problems. Mediocre everywhere else.
Scout's Take: Zion is a polarizing prospect. Thought to be loaded with potential and absolute star power finishing ability, he checks a lot of boxes; however, he struggles in just about every other aspect of the game and will need a focused effort to bring up to that true superstar level. But there's no doubt he is starting with all the room in the world to be amazing.
Ratings: Zion Williamson PF 6'6''284 20 A C- C C C A
Naturally, this exercise favors players who have full SLN bodies of work. But I can tell you who the absolute biggest SLN bust of all time is: sadly, it’s Zion. He’s the Anthony Bennett of our league, and Anthony Bennett managed to have arguably a better career than him. Was he the correct pick? Likely yes, because the best player in this miserable 2019 draft class was a second-round sleeper (Darius Bazley).
What went wrong? Well, Zion never developed enough of an all-around game to become clearly winning-additive. He’s actually a pretty efficient scorer now. But his defense is nonexistent, his rebounding is average, and he never developed enough outside shooting to play small forward. He clearly had immense potential, but was over 85 in most of the important things to start and his supercamp couldn’t really fix things.
Zion was kind of OK off the bench for the Timberwolves this season, for what it’s worth, but that team was ass. I’m holding out hope he might still become a weirdo role player somewhere in the future, but that’s probably the best-case scenario at this point. Sad!
31. Karim Lopez 2028, Pacers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Deceptive first step and gets to the basket with ease. Decent jump shot. Pesky defender that challenges shots and plays solid man defense. Good feel for rebounding. Solid strength and quickness.
Weaknesses: Range and handles need some work.
Scout's Take: Karim Lopez may not be dominant in the athletic department, but he has a unique way of slashing to the basket or creating his own shot. He has shown flashes of impressive scoring ability while maintaining consistent defense that can give opposing players trouble. He also shows a great feel for rebounding, which teams will value highly. Scouts feel his versatile two-way potential will lead to him being taken pretty highly in the draft.
Ratings: Karim Lopez SF 6'8'' 210 21 B C+ C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
This ranking is just because Lopez has to be on the list. His whole life is ahead of him. I wouldn't call him an elite no-doubt No. 1 pick candidate, but he is a solid prospect and should be very good.
30. Tyran Stokes - 2027, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Outstanding athlete that finishes with authority. Slashes to the basket with ease. Solid vision and playmaking abilities. Will get a lot of steals. Solid potential for some blocks as well. Perimeter defense is decent. Very good rebounder for his position. Good quickness. Solid strength.
Weaknesses: Shooting isn't there yet. Free throw shooting is inconsistent, and range even more so. Decision-making needs a lot of work as well.
Scout's Take: Stokes is a next level talent that has been setting the basketball world ablaze this past year. Behind the hype there is an extremely athletic and talented player ready to move up to the big stage. Capable of making an impact offensively, defensively, and rebounding, Stokes has teams very excited, putting it mildly. Should be a strong consideration for #1.
Ratings: Tyran Stokes SF 6'7'' 225 20 B+ C C+ C+ B- A
Stipulations: None.
Much like Lopez, it's way too early to know what to make of Stokes. Some excellent strengths and pronounced holes in his game. Not much to see or say here yet.
29. Brandon Roy - 2006, Jazz
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Strong finisher in the lane. Very good jump shot with blossoming range beyond the arc. Good vision with solid handles. Decent perimeter defense with some steals. Good strength and quickness. Decent rebounder.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Brandon Roy has all the makings of a superstar. Can score, defend, make plays, and board well at the 2 spot. His talent level coming into the league is at the very highest of levels. Scouts have been hearing mumblings about his durability, however, citing some concerns with his knees.
Ratings: Brandon Roy SG 6'6'' 215 22 B B B B C B
Stipulations: Every "Knee" injury (Sprained Knee, Hyper Extended Knee, Dislocated Knee, Patella Tendinitis, and Torn ACL) will result in -10 Quickness to Roy. If Roy's Quickness would become 0, he will retire.
Built with great ratings but with average potential and a damaging stip, Roy had a solid career but never made much noise that I can recall. I think he got hit with the -10 quickness once or twice? Idk. Forgettable career.
Not for nothing, this turned out to be one of the worst drafts in SLN history, with the best player (LaMarcus Aldridge) getting picked fourth.
28. Jaylen Brown - 2016, Magic (traded to Spurs)
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Decent inside game. Should get a steal. Decent positional defense. Good strength, athleticism, and quickness.
Weaknesses: Shooting needs work.
Scout's Take: Brown has a good toolset but has some work to be done at the next level. He's a smart kid but can also overthink the game. One scout put it like this: "At least Gerald Green came in with a wet jump shot."
Ratings: Jaylen Brown SF 6'6'' 223 20 B C+ C- B- C A
Stipulations: None.
Jaylen Brown has been extraordinarily consistent but also exceptionally boring for most of his career. He scores 20 per game, plays quality defense, doesn't turn it over that much, scores with above average efficiency, and yet I feel like we collectively stopped caring about him like six seasons ago. He's been traded so many times I don't know where to start. Jaylen, sorry bro, enjoy free agency. He was taken ahead of Jamal Murray and Domantas Sabonis, two guys who wound up having better careers.
27. Jayson Tatum - 2017, Warriors
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good inside with a solid jump shot and developing range. Decent steals and blocks. Serviceable perimeter defender. Pretty good rebounder. Solid strength and quickness.
Weaknesses: Handles need work.
Scout's Take: Tatum comes into the league with a pretty complete toolset that has a lot of teams excited. He should develop nicely into a very good two-way wing, with superstardom on the horizon.
Ratings: Jayson Tatum SF 6'8'' 210 19 B- B- C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
Unlike Jaylen, Jayson did make an SLN All-Star team once, but he has spent most of his career frustrating our friend Clint to no end. He's a very good scorer who turns it over and never fully developed a secondary skillset. He is also still a one-club man which is pretty crazy to think about. How is this guy only 30 years old? He's generally been fine - just not a transcendent team-changing player like the real Tatum eventually became. Some iffy TC luck coupled with the rise of Markelle Fultz as the best player in this draft class kinda casts a shadow over this one, although nobody can blame the Dubs for taking JT first.
26. Cooper Flagg - 2025, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Above-average finisher around the rim. Solid jump shot with developing range. Decent vision. Should get a steal and a block a game. Passable defense against bigger players, but good perimeter defense. Solid rebounder. Decent strength, quickness, and athleticism.
Weaknesses: Will probably need some time to adjust to the big leagues. Handles need some work.
Scout's Take: This kid has been giving journalists hard-ons for a while now, but it might finally be time to see him move onto the next level. In spite of the whiteflation, he has a really good skillset. He has two-way stud written all over him if he can develop his offense. Defensively he is pretty SLN ready. Should be a great stocks guy with good positional defense. Scouts love his upside, and he is probably a lock for the #1 selection.
Ratings: Cooper Flagg SF 6'9'' 205 19 B C+ C+ B+ C+ A
Stipulations: None.
I'm putting Flagg a hair ahead of Brown and Tatum just because I think he's trending toward being better than both of them — his defense and rebounding are outstanding and he's dealing with some early-career efficiency development that those guys also had as small forwards. He took a leap forward this season and is probably an inside boost away from going nuts. We'll see if he can uphold this ranking long-term.
25. Chris Paul - 2005, Bullets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Brilliant playmaker. Can score inside and out, great vision, solid handles. Good defender that aggressively plays the passing lanes. Good athleticism. Excellent quickness. Deceptive rebounder.
Weaknesses: Undersized. Range needs work.
Scout's Take: Chris Paul is the most tantalizing PG to come out in years. He has superstar written all over him. Teams are frothing at the mouth to make this man their floor general. Strong candidate for the #1 pick.
Ratings: Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 20 C+ B- B+ B C A
Stipulations: None.
CP3 had some good early years, but we all know the story more or less by now — his handling never got where it needed to get to make him a competent turnover-manager, and as a result he kind of bounced around teams and settled into an off-ball role while dwindling into obscurity. He was also the recipient of a bad supercamp (knowing what we know now in this era of SLN, that probably would not have happened, so not gonna hate on Wes for that one - that may have been the last time he spent any of his RP period. His value to the Bullets mostly came through the copious great draft picks Wes got from Nolan that time. He's mostly a test case for how things can go wrong for even the most well-made prospects who have clear No. 1-caliber notes.
24. Jamario Moon - 2000, Suns
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredible athlete. Excellent quickness and leaping ability. Good handling with decent court-vision. Good stocks. Plus rebounder.
Weaknesses: His range is still developing. Needs work on his form. Not the best positional defender. Not very strong.
Scout's Take: Okay so the good: Jamario Moon is one of the most exciting players when he sets foot on the court. Excellent entertainer. He finishes with authority and creates turnovers and extra possessions. Just seems to have a certain knack for the game. The bad: He is still a little raw but scouts have no doubt he can develop into a great player because talent and potential wise, the sky is the limit. The real issue is he is a little "shady" or at least that is what's going around the league. He just turned down an offer from the Globetrotters and some in his inner circle have mentioned him repeatedly saying that "he is going to get his." Teams a little more fiscally irresponsible should be wary.
Ratings: Jamario Moon SF 6'8'' 205 19 B C+ C+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: Every season prior to FA, Jamario Moon's team will mysteriously incur extra debt of a random amount($1M/$3M/$5M). Any season-ending injury will incur extra medical costs to the tune of $3M rolling into the next season. His Reward Camps will cost an additional 50% RP. He cannot go the NDL.
One of the most lovable and also financially detrimental players in SLN history, Jamario had a pretty solid career when not embezzling. Ashes went on record when we podded about this draft and said that Tyler got the pick right — Moon had tons of potential - but his inside scoring never quite got where it needed to get for him to become a star. Still, he was stocky as shit and on some good teams, plus vibes, way cooler than Jaylen and Jayson.
23. Cade Cunningham - 2021, Pistons
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: This baller does it all. Gonna dunk on fools. Shot is wet. Dishes the rock. Creates turnovers. Boxes out.
Weaknesses: Man sometimes there's a lot going on, and a baller might turn it over. It happens.
Big Baller's Take: I flew in to catch some games from this young baller and let me tell you, he is a BALLER and teams just can't deal with this cat. I'm sold. Kid's the #1 pick.
Ratings: Cade Cunningham SG 6'6'' 220 20 B+ B A- B C+ A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
It feels like Cade is on the verge of being great, especially after getting handles freebies this month - but it hasn't amounted to a ton yet. With his current scoring ratings it's hard not to see him exploding as a point guard next year, but unfortunately he's stuck in the Lou Williams Help Me I Can Play Point Guard But I Am Blocked By A Lesser Point Guard Also Being On My team zone (do I still regret trading away Lou, yeah for sure).
The talent is there and Cade has had a couple of great seasons, but Jalen Green has made a strong case as the best guy from the 2021 draft class and Jalen Suggs is pretty good too. RB give this man the keys!!!
22. Karl-Anthony Towns - 2015, Timberwolves
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good scorer in the paint with a good jump shot. Range is getting there. Decent vision for a big man. Might get a block and a steal. Solid post defender. Good rebounder. Strong.
Weaknesses: A little careless with the ball at times.
Scout's Take: KAT has an outstanding base to become a unique big man in the next few years. He scores a bit inside and out, is somewhat serviceable on the defensive end, and should be a good rebounder at the next level. Scouts are high on him and he's shaping up to be the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.
Ratings: Karl-Anthony Towns C 7'0'' 248 20 B- B- C C+ B- A
Stipulations: None.
Am I still a little salty about KAT totally laying waste to my team in the second half of last year's Finals? Probably. But that may stand as the peak of his career, as he was largely pretty mid for most of it — turns it over a ton and his efficiency has come and gone, although his blocks and boards are quite good. Ironically he's kind of the antithesis of real KAT.
KAT had the vaunted "shaping up to be the No. 1 pick" in his notes — so it's not like this was expressly the wrong pick — but while his blocks and rebounds took off, he never really became the type of offensive machine that he seemingly could have been. His outside scoring/FT splits are generally outstanding, so I'm gonna guess he didn't get enough inside scoring boosts (and also spent most of his prime clashing with Giannis) to become elite in the sense we expected. Myles Turner became the best player in this class after becoming a wing — I wonder if KAT might have benefitted from going that route ultimately? (Can't believe I just wrote that sentence).
21. Chet Holmgren - 2022, Mavericks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very promising scorer. Good post moves and a very consistent shooting touch. Might get a steal and some blocks. Decent positional defense. Average rebounder.
Weaknesses: Will turn the ball over. Needs to hit the weight room.
Scout's Take: Holmgren is a very unique big man. He stretches the floor well and should get decent stocks. He has all the tools to check all the boxes you'd want out of a big, but his decision-making is sloppy, and teams will need to target that to bring him to true superstar status. He has yet to declare for the 2022 Draft.
Ratings: Chet Holmgren C 7'1'' 195 20 C+ B+ C- B- C+ A
Stipulations: Cannot start at SF/SG/PG.
Chet has become a very well-rounded and fun FBB player, developing to a point where he does everything really well. His big man skills are sound, but it's his efficiency and versatility that make him such a cool player now seven seasons into his career. I put him a hair ahead of KAT because it's somewhat clear he's on a better trajectory and also because I'm mad at KAT. But regardless, Chet is one of the league's better big men in an era where there aren't that many of them — a good unicorn development case, if you will.
20. Paul George - 2010, Celtics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good scoring base with solid inside and a good jumper. Decent quickness and vision. Very good steals and solid perimeter defense. Pretty good rebounding. Good strength. Can definitely play both the 2 and 3.
Weaknesses: Range is still developing and he needs to rein in his turnovers a bit.
Scout's Take: George is another name people are considering at the top. He might need a year or two, but scouts have no doubt he can become a top wing in the league. His two-way potential could see him becoming a cornerstone on a championship team.
Ratings: Paul George SG 6'8'' 220 20 B- C+ C B C A
Stipulations: None.
Paul George was redeemed by a late-career arc where he was evidently saved by Kyrie Irving and turned into one of the league's elite two-way wings at his peak. Before that, he was kind of mid due to a handling issue and evidently not enough inside scoring to be consistently dominant. He was jettisoned by the Celtics and kind of bounced around before his late-career breakout with the Lakers. That peak was pretty crazy good — it was just short.
19. Dwight Howard - 2004, 76ers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
trengths: Powerful big man with the prototypical build. Excellent strength and athleticism. Very strong rebounder especially on the defensive end. Decent defense in the paint and will block shots. Has the quickness to play the 4 well.
Weaknesses: Offensive game is pretty raw. Carried by his athleticism. Can't shoot. Handles are iffy.
Scout's Take: Has all the tools you'd want in a big man and more. Should at least become a defensive anchor and has the potential to grow into a dominant post game as well given the right development. Likely #1 pick.
Ratings: Dwight Howard C 6'10'' 265 19 B D D B- B+ A
Stipulations: None
Dwight will primarily be remembered for his role in sabotaging what could have easily been a 76ers dynasty, fleeing Philly for Portland while Shaun Livingston went to Houston and tore DMo and LeBron's hearts out. Quady then gave Dwight an absolutely batshit contract in a moment of mental weakness that defined his entire career. He eventually won a title as a role player on a really good inside-oriented Suns team that beat me in seven games in the Finals, and I think he was making like $30m or something that season.
Say what you want about Dwight's career but the man was an all-defensive team mainstay and holds the all-time record with 4.2 (fuck!) blocks per game in 2011. He was flawed as a scorer and couldn't make free throws, but he more or less lived up to the billing as one of the most dominant butts ever.
18. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2013, Timberwolves
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Excellent ability to drive and finish at the rim. Decent vision. Good defender in the post or on the perimeter. Good stock potential. Solid rebounder. Very quick for his size.
Weaknesses: His jump shot is firmly mediocre. His range is worse than that. May turn the ball over a bit.
Scout's Take: This relatively unknown kid from Greece has been skyrocketing up the draft boards. His size, length, and versatility have teams dreaming big for his future. He has a few rough spots in his game, but scouts feel if he can bulk up and somehow maintain his scary speed advantage over guys his size, then you might be looking at an unstoppable force up and down the floor with the ball in his hands. Excellent upside.
Ratings: Giannis Antetokounmpo PF 6'11'' 212 19 B C C+ B C+ A
Stipulations: Cannot change his position. For his first three offseasons, Giannis will gain +10lbs and +10 Strength.
Does Pankin know Giannis is entering free agency right now? Giannis has certainly had a career, and I'm pretty sure he's been one of the best players in the league for a lot of it, but the T-Wolves haven't done much experimentation to figure out exactly what to do with him. He turns it over a shit-ton but he's always been a great rebounder and probably needed to be featured in an inside offense to shine. I kind of think of him in this PG/Dwight bucket where a late-career dominant run is very much on the table, with this year's dip in turnover output potentially a sign of things to come. One of the most confusing SLN careers ever? We'll find out I guess.
17. Reed Sheppard - 2024, Celtics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good jump shot. Solid range. Solid handles. Should get steals and might get a block or so. Good perimeter defender. Solid quickness and athleticism.
Weaknesses: Not a very good rebounder. Might need to hit the weights a bit.
Scout's Take: Reed has shown flashes of excitement for scouts shooting and on the defensive end. Teams love his hustle and feel for the game. Expectations are 3 and D combo guard on the low end and potential star on the high end in the right situation.
Ratings: Reed Sheppard SG 6'2'' 185 20 C B C B C- A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
This is maybe a bold placement for Mr. Sheppard due to his turnover concerns but the guy is a dynamite scorer with amazing defense and on a great trajectory. He should move up this list over time. Interestingly enough, it doesn't even look like he was built with handling issues, but his receiving SG camps probably limited the natural growth of that stat to some extent to this point. I want to say he got a freebie this week which should help. He's on a trajectory to surpass the guy two spots ahead of him on this list, turning in an All-League and All-Defensive team year this year. Time will tell how this all holds up, but he's on a good path and was pretty clearly the right pick that year.
16. Derrick Rose - 2008, Clippers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing slashing guard. Gets to the rim and finishes extremely well. Decent jump shot. Good quickness, strength, and athleticism. Solid perimeter defender. Might get a steal. Good offensive rebounder.
Weaknesses: Some decision-making issues. 3P needs a lot of work.
Scout's Take: Rose is one of the most exciting PGs to enter the league. He is a strong finishing, offensive-oriented guard that won't look to pass much. His combination of athleticism and scoring presence should firmly place him in the race for who goes #1.
Ratings: Derrick Rose PG 6'3'' 200 20 B+ C C C+ C- A
Stipulations: None.
Rose never quite lived up to the quality of his notes, primarily because his handling was never good and his TOs were too high to be fully manageable. The good news was his shooting became more than passable, leading him on an incredible late-career shooting guard run where he was one of SLN's best scorers. He never won a ring, but at least he was extraordinarily healthy (sigh) and enjoyed a really strong peak, ultimately. He had the capability to carry an offense, just not as a point guard.
Interestingly, all the top guys in this draft - Rose, Westbrook, Love - ended up falling a touch short of where they could have landed developmentally. I think D-Rose probably is a touch underrated by our league canonically, but it was also pretty hard to put him any higher than this.
15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 2018, Bucks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Capable of getting to the rim. Very good jump shot with decent range. Good handles. Nice stock potential. Decent perimeter defender. Serviceable rebounding. Good strength for his size. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: SGA might take a bit to pick up steam in the league, but he's not wasting any time surging in draft stock. He has a perfect mix of everything for a guard. Word around the league is he may contend for the #1 spot.
Ratings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SG 6'6'' 180 20 C+ B C+ B- C A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
SGA has spent much of his career living up to being the Guy Who Got Picked Ahead Of Luka and he's hit a crazy peak this season while playing off the ball more or less full-time. I think this is another case study of handles in SG-PGs not always developing cleanly enough to make them turnover-efficient at lead guard, but Shai has developed to a point where he's incredibly dominant at the two as well. As his notes said, he took a while to develop. But he's an extremely dynamic player who offers a ton on both ends.
At any rate, I think the defensive play at his current peak probably puts Shai a tick ahead of Rose, who was offensively a bit more dominant on a regular basis but similar. Whether he can move higher on the list, we'll see!
14. Joel Embiid - 2014, Knicks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very good scorer. Finishes well in the paint, good post moves, very good jump shot, and good range beyond the arc. Good vision. Solid steals and blocks. Good positional defense. Good rebounder. Excellent strength.
Weaknesses: Not very quick. Will turn the ball over.
Scout's Take: Embiid is the real deal. Game changer on so many levels. Will be the cornerstone of any franchise he goes to. However, there are serious injury concerns. Early word is he requires surgery and will miss extended time, but scouts are adamant he will still be a major force for years to come.
Ratings: Joel Embiid C 7'0'' 280 20 B- B C+ B- B- A
Stipulations: Embiid will miss his entire rookie season and there is a strong chance he misses his sophomore season as well. Could maybe extend beyond that.
Embiid has had an excellent career statistically speaking, as an All-League team mainstay into his 30s and one of the league's best interior scorers. The question has always been whether he can get it done at the highest levels of winning, as he's very turnover-prone and always has been, and also waffles on the efficiency front more than you'd expect. His stip led to him being fully baked after sitting out two seasons, and also helped the Knicks tank to get Myles Turner while he sat out, so that turned out to be a pretty positive outcome stemming from his selection (even though Jokic has arguably had the more prolific FBB career). I have a hard time putting him higher than this, but Embiid certainly panned out in a realistic way with his warts.
13. Tim Duncan - 1997, Bullets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very craft post scorer. Bank shot is all day, every day. Very good with his back to the basket. Excellent defender. Can lock down opposing Centers as well as Power Forwards. Great rebounder. Will be a double-double guy for sure. Strong forward with good footwork.
Weaknesses: Not a good free throw shooter. Needs to improve at passing out of the double team and needs to work on minimizing turnovers.
Scout's Take: Duncan has all the tools to be one of the greatest forwards to play the game. He is without a doubt a future all-star. He will be a member of All-League teams and All-Defensive teams. It's hard to see him not going #1 overall.
Ratings: Tim Duncan PF 6'11'' 250 21 B C- C- B+ B+ A
Stipulations: None
As maligned as Simothy Duncan is around these parts, I had a really hard time figuring out where he belonged on the list. He had insane longevity, he finished as SLN's All-Time leading rebounder, and his career stats aren't really as bad as they felt in the moment when he was bouncing from team to team. Granted, in his era there were way more capable butts lying around and his strengths maybe weren't quite as pronounced relative to where the watermark was for bigs. But I have a hard time thinking of him as a bust, and I also think if he re-entered the league today where we all have more knowledge of the game, he'd probably have turned out way better.
I think we're also in an era where his turnovers don't actually seem that bad in hindsight! The issue here was really his offensive inconsistency, which Ashes explained pretty clearly was the fact his jump shot couldn't keep up with his inside scoring and strength. He averaged double digit rebounds for 20 straight seasons! At the end of the day he didn't win a title — but I think at peak he's ahead of Embiid and Giannis for me, two guys who also have not won them and are questionably winning-adjacent at times.
12. Stephen Curry - 2009, Nuggets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Best shooter to ever declare for the draft. Has SLN-developed range out of the gate. Will score a lot. Should get a few steals a game.
Weaknesses: Handles aren't great. Positional defense is lacking, but not terrible. Rebounding is subpar. Strength and athleticism are lacking.
Scout's Take: Curry is a lights-out scorer that will likely take the league by storm with his shooting. He won't get a lot of assists, which might balance out his turnovers a bit. Defensively, he will create turnovers, which may be enough for teams. Mouthguard antics drive me absolutely nuts.
Ratings: Steph Curry PG 6'2'' 185 21 C A- C C C- A
Stipulations: None.
Steph had a very good career that was arguably pretty boring by Steph Curry standards - he was an elite offensive point guard, won a title in Denver early in his career, and went on to score a lot of points, make a lot of money, and anchor some elite offensive teams in Orlando. I don't know if we didn't appreciate Steph enough, or if we just expected more from him, but he ultimately was built a lot like you'd think he would be. It's possible that he could have developed even better offensively with better rolls. Still, nothing to feel bad about here.
11. Anthony Davis - 2012, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Almost does it all. Very strong scorer in the post, moves well with the ball, and has a pretty solid jump shot. Has the ability to be a stock monster. Very good post defender and defensive rebounder. Good strength with solid quickness for his size.
Weaknesses: 3P shot is still a work in progress. Might turn it over a solid amount.
Scout's Take: One of the most anticipated prospects these last few years, Anthony Davis and his patented unibrow are looking to take the SLN by storm. His offensive upside coupled with his future DPOY-esque defense combine to make one of the best prospects scouts have seen in a long time. Would be a shocker if he wasn't the #1 pick.
Ratings: Anthony Davis C 6'10'' 253 19 B C+ C B B- A
Stipulations: None.
For better or worse AD has kind of been the Tim Duncan of his generation, but the SLN Tim Duncan and not the real one. He's been a transcendent player on the defensive end, but has only really had a couple of truly great offensive seasons despite having an incredible jump shot (has to be inside scoring?) - regardless, he did win a title and has curbed his turnovers over time, putting him a hair ahead of Duncan in my book. He also has plenty left in the tank now 17 seasons into his career, so points for longevity and effectiveness on my non-existent vibes scale. He was clearly the best player in an overall booty draft. More TC luck on the offensive end might have really cemented him as a generational player, but five DPOY awards and a lot of success overall is nothing to sneeze at.
10. LaMelo Ball - 2020, Nuggets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Penetrates the lane well. Pretty good jump shot with developing range. Good vision. Should get steals. Good rebounder for his position. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: Pretty ball-dominant, so he is going to turn it over. Positional defense is so-so.
Scout's Take: Following a strong marketing campaign from his camp, Ball exploded up the draft boards. Couple that with legit play and talent, and you've got a guy vying for the #1 pick. Teams love his all-around contributions on the court and feel he can really elevate his game further in the right situation. There is some concern surrounding his agency, led by his father, who has raised some eyebrows recently with major foreign and pharmaceuticals investments...
Ratings: LaMelo Ball PG 6'7'' 180 19 C+ B- B+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: BBB
Despite the controversy surrounding his father and the fact the Nuggets were forced to select him No. 1, LaMelo has turned into one of the best point guards in SLN, with no real holes in his game and a title under his belt at age 27. How exactly he went from 4.2 turnovers as a rookie to where he is now is extremely mysterious, as was his BBB stip, as was the fact he got unceremoniously shipped out of Denver after two seasons before making positive strides throughout his 20s. LaMelo is a good scorer whose best skills are arguably his rebounding, defense and turnover control — he developed quite well on all fronts and would be a standout SLN player in any era.
Whether there are more titles in store, we'll find out — but he was clearly the right pick at No. 1 anyway, with Anthony Edwards not turning into a transcendent FBB player (at least not yet)
9. Kawhi Leonard - 2011, Nuggets (traded to Spurs)
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Developing scorer. Good finisher with a solid jump shot. Excellent defender. Can comfortably defend multiple positions. Will get steals and might block a shot. Good strength, quickness, handles. On the cusp of pretty good rebounding.
Weaknesses: Range still needs some work.
Scout's Take: Kawhi has teams frothing at the mouth. His offense still needs some polishing at the next level, but the tools he has right now has teams wondering not if but when he will become a superstar.
Ratings: Kawhi Leonard SF 6'7'' 225 20 B- C+ C B+ C A
Stipulations: None.
Kawhi is a memorable player in SLN history on a few levels — he was selected by the Spurs who got extraordinarily lucky after the pick they acquired from the Nuggets jumped to No. 1, he was also viewed as the safe choice and selected ahead of Kyrie Irving. He kind of struggled for four or five seasons offensively, but played a role on a title team in San Antonio before eventually getting some freebies and turning into one of the best two-way wings SLN has seen during a dominant peak. Kinda mirrors real life minus the tree planting! As is the case for many of these guys, ultimately Kawhi could have been even better, but he was generally awesome and had a few insanely good years.
8. Victor Wembanyama - 2023, Raptors
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Generational, game-changing talent. Scores easily in the paint. Very good jump shot. Decent range. Block monster. Will probably get a steal. Good positional defense. Pretty good rebounder. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: Will turn the ball over. Needs to bulk up.
Scout's Take: The league may not be ready for this French kid. He has GOAT written all over him. He might even still be growing! Will undoubtedly be the #1 pick. Word is there is a hefty buyout attached to his name currently, but he is very interested in coming to SLN. He has yet to declare for the 2022 Draft.
Ratings: Victor Wembanyama C 7'3'' 225 20 B B+ C- B+ B- A
Stipulations: Currently under contract in France.
I'm biased here but factually Wemby is one the most decorated age-25 players in league history, having developed into the league's best big man rather quickly, winning three-straight all-league first team selections and two straight first-team all defense, a DPOY and with his entire prime still ahead of him. Need to go wipe down my keyboard brb. The funny thing about Wemby is that IRL he blocks even more shots per game than he does in SLN (had I camped blocks early maybe that goes different but I felt his offense required the most attention which has more or less born out to be true, I'm hoping he has another good TC or two in the tank because most of the stuff that matters is already over 85 and can't get freebie'd.
Anyway — based on notes and current development I think he's pretty clearly on a trajectory that would put him ahead of most of the guys on the list, and I justified this by how good he became as fast as he did. He did have that mildly annoying stip, but it was still very worth it. In an era where there just aren't that many elite bigs, he kind of stands alone right now as a game-breaking player and the best big man of this current era - hopefully can get him some hardware, which he deserves.
7. Darryn Peterson - 2026, Clippers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Deceptive, controlled drives to the basket. Finishes well. Good shooter. Makes good decisions with the ball and gets his team involved. Decent man defender. Good stock potential. Rebounds very well for his size and position. Very good quickness.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Peterson has been making a strong case for the #1 pick. His game is polished, and he excels just about everywhere on the court. He might not be the flashiest of players, but scouts feel he is a winning one. Teams like his chances to lead a team and become a franchise player at the next level.
Ratings: Darryn Peterson SG 6'5'' 195 20 B B B C+ C+ B
Stipulations: Can be moved to PG with a -10 hit to Handles. Will still be subject to FBB rebounding limitations.
Honestly think Peterson deserves this placement considering he's the best point guard in SLN at age 22. Remember when there was debate in league circles about whether to take Nate Ament over this guy? I think what Ashes did with him was pretty clear — he expected someone to exercise the stip and then camp his handles, and the B potential was simply designed to curb him from having batshit crazy point guard TCs. Essentially he ensured the crazy high floor by giving Peterson broken inside scoring and everything else has already panned out well. This guy just averaged 33.6 points per game while anchoring a 1 seed!
Who knows where it goes from here - maybe the lower starting potential will shorten his peak - but Peterson is on a trajectory to be the best guard of his generation. This might be way too high but he appears to already be better than the majority of guys on the list!
6. Yao Ming - 2002, Hornets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Excellent scorer on the inside. Great with his back to the basket or can step out and hit the midrange. Money from the free throw line. Very strong. Good defender down low and will block shots.
Weaknesses: Might cough up the ball a bit to tiny, pesky guards bothering him in the paint. Very slow. While a decent rebounder, will probably need work there.
Scout's Take: Yao Ming is the greatest export of China. He has all the tools to be a prolific scoring big man that provides good stocks. He has a few aspects of his game that need work to reach full elite status, but there's no doubt in my mind that he will get there. Don't get cute with it, he's the #1 pick.
Ratings: Yao Ming C 7'6'' 310 22 B C D+ B C+ A
Stipulations: None
Yao led the Hornets to back to back titles and also had an insanely long run of relevance, I put him a hair behind Manu just because the overall team success factor kind of came and went, but Yao was arguably the best center in the league, was a free throw machine, and probably could have won even more with a bit more micromanagement of his peak years. What a stud.
5. Manu Ginobili -1999, Pacers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Borderline does it all. Scores inside at will. Good shooter from the line and beyond. Will get steals. Decent vision with good handling. Solid man defender. Decent strength with very good quickness. Decent rebounder.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Ginobili is a special talent that comes at an interesting price. While he may or not be stuck in Italy for a few years, scouts are convinced he has all-time talent and should be a perennial All-Star once he arrives in the league.
Ratings: Manu Ginobili SG 6'6'' 205 21 B- B C C+ C A
Stipulations: Manu Ginobili is still committed to playing with his Italian team, Kinder Bologna, for three more seasons. He may not go to the NDL. He will be set on the IR. The team that drafts him will have the following options (Must decide BEFORE TC): 1) They may buy out his Italian contract ($12M x 3 Years) and allow him to play in SLN immediately. 2) They may opt to let him play out his Italian contract for the three years (He will remain on IR and occupy a roster spot) but when he is eligible to play in his 4th season, he will receive a 2 Year extension at 10% increases from his rookie contract 4th year salary.
If I recall Manu only won one title, but everyone remembers how insanely good he was. He was great in Indiana and got Calvin (RIP) to the Finals, then was traded and eventually got his ring in Boston. According to his Hall of Fame profile, he averaged over 30 points for his career which is legitimately crazy. He was the best two-guard in the league, and pretty clearly in league history as well, not much else to say here.
4. LeBron James - 2003, 76ers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing finisher at the rim. Will slash to the basket and finish with authority. Excellent court vision. Excellent strength and athleticism. Good quickness for his size. Will create turnovers and convert them to fast breaks. Might block a shot a game. Good rebounder.
Weaknesses: Outside game is underdeveloped. Needs to work on FTs and his 3P range. Needs the ball in his hands.
Scout's Take: Generational talent doesn't do this man enough justice. LeBron James has all the tools to be the absolute cornerstone of any franchise and a future Hall of Famer. He is the unquestioned #1 pick and the best player to enter the draft to date.
Ratings: LeBron James SF 6'9'' 250 19 A- C B+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: Can play PG. Will play to at least age 39. Must be a starter for the duration of his career.
LeBron is going to retire as the oldest player ever and between his two FBB profiles he's the career leader in minutes, games, points, field goals attempted made and missed, free throws made and attempted, second in threes made, third in rebounds, second in assists, eighth in steals and first in turnovers. WHEW!
That type of longevity coupled with his two late-career titles has rightfully changed the discourse around LeBron's FBB career, most of which he spent in Philly, where he got abandoned by Shaun Livingston and Dwight Howard and only got the Sixers to the finals once. After leaving the Sixers he remained extremely dominant, with the Bronny stip clearly helping to prolong his insane career, and from a pure talent perspective he's probably still the single hardest player to contend with in a playoff series that I can think of. Peak LeBron singlehandedly took good teams down.
I couldn't put his career ahead of the three gentlemen beneath him on the list, but I think history will obviously smile on LeBron, whose records will probably never be broken just purely off of the number of seasons he's put in.
3. Tony Parker - 2001, Suns
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredibly quick. Excellent finisher capable of weaving through traffic and scoring on just about anyone. Good midrange game. Decent handling. Will probably get a steal a game.
Weaknesses: Sorely lacking 3P range. Not the best defender. Poor rebounder.
Scout's Take: Tony Parker is a blur on the court and a treat to watch when he gets going. A lot of aspects of his game are raw and need work, but there's no doubting his talent and potential. Scouts feel he could become one of the best PGs in the league with the right attention.
Ratings: Tony Parker PG 6'2'' 185 19 B C C+ C D+ A
Stipulations: None
Sure it took a lot of freebie shooting camps to get him to his peak, but Tony Parker became the indisputable SLN point god, winning titles with three different teams and proving mega-relevant until the very end, with his very last game (as a two-year mercenary with the Raptors lol) a Game 7 loss in the Finals (sigh). He averaged 30 points per game for eight straight seasons in his prime and was just insanely good the entire time, minus his rebounding which was more easily mitigated by the number of good rebounding bigs in that era of FBB.
This is a best-case example of why you always want high-potential teenage point guards, but also the amount of attention that needs to get paid to their weaknesses sometimes. Parker is unquestionably in the pantheon of true SLN greats.
2. Dirk Nowitzki - 1998, Sonics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: One of the best shooting big men around. Can score from anywhere on the court. Good post-up game and great outside shooting. A dynamic scorer in every sense of the word. Pretty good at taking care of the ball. Okay rebounder.
Weaknesses: Below-average athleticism. Not a good defender. Won't block many shots. Will struggle against faster or stronger forwards. Might not get you the desired rebounds you'd get from a prototypical big man.
Scout's Take: Dirk is a rare player. Absolutely impossible to stop his jumper, Dirk should be a scary scorer in this league. Multiple All-Star Games are in his future. Will be a top 3 pick.
Ratings: Dirk Nowitzki PF 7'0'' 245 20 B B+ C- C C+ A
Stipulations: None
We all know how this went down. Nick developed Dirk with his heart and soul, and Dirk became a three-time champ and averaged 40 per game that one time. Insane! He would obviously be No. 1 if not for...
1. Kevin Durant - 2007, Bucks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredible scorer. Can score inside and out with range well beyond the arc. Might get a solid mix of stocks. Rebounding is above average. Good quickness for his size.
Weaknesses: While he has the tools to be a good defender when he wants to, it's not the focus of his game, thus his positional defense suffers a bit. Needs the ball in his hands, so might turn it over a bit. Needs to hit the weights.
Scout's Take: The other contender for the #1 pick, Kevin Durant is a truly special offensive talent. His combination of size and talent makes him a nightmare to guard and scouts feel he has quite a few scoring titles in his future. He isn't exactly one-dimensional, but the development of his defensive side is up in the air. Either way, he is going to be an absolute terror for many seasons.
Ratings: Kevin Durant SF 6'10'' 220 19 B B C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
KD's four rings, three-peat with the Hawks (and one with the Bullets), and six (!) straight finals trips from 2018 to 2023 will probably never be matched. That's all there is to say about it. This man is the SLN GOAT unless you live in Seattle. Not sure if any player will ever do that again!
Going to watch football now so end of list.
I have spent entirely too much time working on this but I need to leave the house so I am publishing it now before football starts lol.
In honor of the three-year anniversary (and the nice double RP bonus) I ranked every No. 1 pick in SLN history based on arbitrary but thoughtful criteria that are in my head and generally vibes.
I included every player's draft notes just because I think it's a fun discussion unto itself as to which players could have been better/how prospects compare head to head just from scratch. Hope we can discuss that in the comments.
Anyway it's crazy it's been three IRL years and I hope everyone enjoys. Grateful for all the friends I have made through this league but not grateful for how it has arguably ruined my life and use of spare time!!!
Ok, rankings.
***
32. Zion Williamson - 2019, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing on the inside. Finishes with authority over anyone. Very good strength. Excellent athleticism.
Weaknesses: Outside is very weak. Will have turnover problems. Mediocre everywhere else.
Scout's Take: Zion is a polarizing prospect. Thought to be loaded with potential and absolute star power finishing ability, he checks a lot of boxes; however, he struggles in just about every other aspect of the game and will need a focused effort to bring up to that true superstar level. But there's no doubt he is starting with all the room in the world to be amazing.
Ratings: Zion Williamson PF 6'6''284 20 A C- C C C A
Naturally, this exercise favors players who have full SLN bodies of work. But I can tell you who the absolute biggest SLN bust of all time is: sadly, it’s Zion. He’s the Anthony Bennett of our league, and Anthony Bennett managed to have arguably a better career than him. Was he the correct pick? Likely yes, because the best player in this miserable 2019 draft class was a second-round sleeper (Darius Bazley).
What went wrong? Well, Zion never developed enough of an all-around game to become clearly winning-additive. He’s actually a pretty efficient scorer now. But his defense is nonexistent, his rebounding is average, and he never developed enough outside shooting to play small forward. He clearly had immense potential, but was over 85 in most of the important things to start and his supercamp couldn’t really fix things.
Zion was kind of OK off the bench for the Timberwolves this season, for what it’s worth, but that team was ass. I’m holding out hope he might still become a weirdo role player somewhere in the future, but that’s probably the best-case scenario at this point. Sad!
31. Karim Lopez 2028, Pacers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Deceptive first step and gets to the basket with ease. Decent jump shot. Pesky defender that challenges shots and plays solid man defense. Good feel for rebounding. Solid strength and quickness.
Weaknesses: Range and handles need some work.
Scout's Take: Karim Lopez may not be dominant in the athletic department, but he has a unique way of slashing to the basket or creating his own shot. He has shown flashes of impressive scoring ability while maintaining consistent defense that can give opposing players trouble. He also shows a great feel for rebounding, which teams will value highly. Scouts feel his versatile two-way potential will lead to him being taken pretty highly in the draft.
Ratings: Karim Lopez SF 6'8'' 210 21 B C+ C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
This ranking is just because Lopez has to be on the list. His whole life is ahead of him. I wouldn't call him an elite no-doubt No. 1 pick candidate, but he is a solid prospect and should be very good.
30. Tyran Stokes - 2027, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Outstanding athlete that finishes with authority. Slashes to the basket with ease. Solid vision and playmaking abilities. Will get a lot of steals. Solid potential for some blocks as well. Perimeter defense is decent. Very good rebounder for his position. Good quickness. Solid strength.
Weaknesses: Shooting isn't there yet. Free throw shooting is inconsistent, and range even more so. Decision-making needs a lot of work as well.
Scout's Take: Stokes is a next level talent that has been setting the basketball world ablaze this past year. Behind the hype there is an extremely athletic and talented player ready to move up to the big stage. Capable of making an impact offensively, defensively, and rebounding, Stokes has teams very excited, putting it mildly. Should be a strong consideration for #1.
Ratings: Tyran Stokes SF 6'7'' 225 20 B+ C C+ C+ B- A
Stipulations: None.
Much like Lopez, it's way too early to know what to make of Stokes. Some excellent strengths and pronounced holes in his game. Not much to see or say here yet.
29. Brandon Roy - 2006, Jazz
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Strong finisher in the lane. Very good jump shot with blossoming range beyond the arc. Good vision with solid handles. Decent perimeter defense with some steals. Good strength and quickness. Decent rebounder.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Brandon Roy has all the makings of a superstar. Can score, defend, make plays, and board well at the 2 spot. His talent level coming into the league is at the very highest of levels. Scouts have been hearing mumblings about his durability, however, citing some concerns with his knees.
Ratings: Brandon Roy SG 6'6'' 215 22 B B B B C B
Stipulations: Every "Knee" injury (Sprained Knee, Hyper Extended Knee, Dislocated Knee, Patella Tendinitis, and Torn ACL) will result in -10 Quickness to Roy. If Roy's Quickness would become 0, he will retire.
Built with great ratings but with average potential and a damaging stip, Roy had a solid career but never made much noise that I can recall. I think he got hit with the -10 quickness once or twice? Idk. Forgettable career.
Not for nothing, this turned out to be one of the worst drafts in SLN history, with the best player (LaMarcus Aldridge) getting picked fourth.
28. Jaylen Brown - 2016, Magic (traded to Spurs)
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Decent inside game. Should get a steal. Decent positional defense. Good strength, athleticism, and quickness.
Weaknesses: Shooting needs work.
Scout's Take: Brown has a good toolset but has some work to be done at the next level. He's a smart kid but can also overthink the game. One scout put it like this: "At least Gerald Green came in with a wet jump shot."
Ratings: Jaylen Brown SF 6'6'' 223 20 B C+ C- B- C A
Stipulations: None.
Jaylen Brown has been extraordinarily consistent but also exceptionally boring for most of his career. He scores 20 per game, plays quality defense, doesn't turn it over that much, scores with above average efficiency, and yet I feel like we collectively stopped caring about him like six seasons ago. He's been traded so many times I don't know where to start. Jaylen, sorry bro, enjoy free agency. He was taken ahead of Jamal Murray and Domantas Sabonis, two guys who wound up having better careers.
27. Jayson Tatum - 2017, Warriors
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good inside with a solid jump shot and developing range. Decent steals and blocks. Serviceable perimeter defender. Pretty good rebounder. Solid strength and quickness.
Weaknesses: Handles need work.
Scout's Take: Tatum comes into the league with a pretty complete toolset that has a lot of teams excited. He should develop nicely into a very good two-way wing, with superstardom on the horizon.
Ratings: Jayson Tatum SF 6'8'' 210 19 B- B- C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
Unlike Jaylen, Jayson did make an SLN All-Star team once, but he has spent most of his career frustrating our friend Clint to no end. He's a very good scorer who turns it over and never fully developed a secondary skillset. He is also still a one-club man which is pretty crazy to think about. How is this guy only 30 years old? He's generally been fine - just not a transcendent team-changing player like the real Tatum eventually became. Some iffy TC luck coupled with the rise of Markelle Fultz as the best player in this draft class kinda casts a shadow over this one, although nobody can blame the Dubs for taking JT first.
26. Cooper Flagg - 2025, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Above-average finisher around the rim. Solid jump shot with developing range. Decent vision. Should get a steal and a block a game. Passable defense against bigger players, but good perimeter defense. Solid rebounder. Decent strength, quickness, and athleticism.
Weaknesses: Will probably need some time to adjust to the big leagues. Handles need some work.
Scout's Take: This kid has been giving journalists hard-ons for a while now, but it might finally be time to see him move onto the next level. In spite of the whiteflation, he has a really good skillset. He has two-way stud written all over him if he can develop his offense. Defensively he is pretty SLN ready. Should be a great stocks guy with good positional defense. Scouts love his upside, and he is probably a lock for the #1 selection.
Ratings: Cooper Flagg SF 6'9'' 205 19 B C+ C+ B+ C+ A
Stipulations: None.
I'm putting Flagg a hair ahead of Brown and Tatum just because I think he's trending toward being better than both of them — his defense and rebounding are outstanding and he's dealing with some early-career efficiency development that those guys also had as small forwards. He took a leap forward this season and is probably an inside boost away from going nuts. We'll see if he can uphold this ranking long-term.
25. Chris Paul - 2005, Bullets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Brilliant playmaker. Can score inside and out, great vision, solid handles. Good defender that aggressively plays the passing lanes. Good athleticism. Excellent quickness. Deceptive rebounder.
Weaknesses: Undersized. Range needs work.
Scout's Take: Chris Paul is the most tantalizing PG to come out in years. He has superstar written all over him. Teams are frothing at the mouth to make this man their floor general. Strong candidate for the #1 pick.
Ratings: Chris Paul PG 6'0'' 175 20 C+ B- B+ B C A
Stipulations: None.
CP3 had some good early years, but we all know the story more or less by now — his handling never got where it needed to get to make him a competent turnover-manager, and as a result he kind of bounced around teams and settled into an off-ball role while dwindling into obscurity. He was also the recipient of a bad supercamp (knowing what we know now in this era of SLN, that probably would not have happened, so not gonna hate on Wes for that one - that may have been the last time he spent any of his RP period. His value to the Bullets mostly came through the copious great draft picks Wes got from Nolan that time. He's mostly a test case for how things can go wrong for even the most well-made prospects who have clear No. 1-caliber notes.
24. Jamario Moon - 2000, Suns
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredible athlete. Excellent quickness and leaping ability. Good handling with decent court-vision. Good stocks. Plus rebounder.
Weaknesses: His range is still developing. Needs work on his form. Not the best positional defender. Not very strong.
Scout's Take: Okay so the good: Jamario Moon is one of the most exciting players when he sets foot on the court. Excellent entertainer. He finishes with authority and creates turnovers and extra possessions. Just seems to have a certain knack for the game. The bad: He is still a little raw but scouts have no doubt he can develop into a great player because talent and potential wise, the sky is the limit. The real issue is he is a little "shady" or at least that is what's going around the league. He just turned down an offer from the Globetrotters and some in his inner circle have mentioned him repeatedly saying that "he is going to get his." Teams a little more fiscally irresponsible should be wary.
Ratings: Jamario Moon SF 6'8'' 205 19 B C+ C+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: Every season prior to FA, Jamario Moon's team will mysteriously incur extra debt of a random amount($1M/$3M/$5M). Any season-ending injury will incur extra medical costs to the tune of $3M rolling into the next season. His Reward Camps will cost an additional 50% RP. He cannot go the NDL.
One of the most lovable and also financially detrimental players in SLN history, Jamario had a pretty solid career when not embezzling. Ashes went on record when we podded about this draft and said that Tyler got the pick right — Moon had tons of potential - but his inside scoring never quite got where it needed to get for him to become a star. Still, he was stocky as shit and on some good teams, plus vibes, way cooler than Jaylen and Jayson.
23. Cade Cunningham - 2021, Pistons
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: This baller does it all. Gonna dunk on fools. Shot is wet. Dishes the rock. Creates turnovers. Boxes out.
Weaknesses: Man sometimes there's a lot going on, and a baller might turn it over. It happens.
Big Baller's Take: I flew in to catch some games from this young baller and let me tell you, he is a BALLER and teams just can't deal with this cat. I'm sold. Kid's the #1 pick.
Ratings: Cade Cunningham SG 6'6'' 220 20 B+ B A- B C+ A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
It feels like Cade is on the verge of being great, especially after getting handles freebies this month - but it hasn't amounted to a ton yet. With his current scoring ratings it's hard not to see him exploding as a point guard next year, but unfortunately he's stuck in the Lou Williams Help Me I Can Play Point Guard But I Am Blocked By A Lesser Point Guard Also Being On My team zone (do I still regret trading away Lou, yeah for sure).
The talent is there and Cade has had a couple of great seasons, but Jalen Green has made a strong case as the best guy from the 2021 draft class and Jalen Suggs is pretty good too. RB give this man the keys!!!
22. Karl-Anthony Towns - 2015, Timberwolves
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good scorer in the paint with a good jump shot. Range is getting there. Decent vision for a big man. Might get a block and a steal. Solid post defender. Good rebounder. Strong.
Weaknesses: A little careless with the ball at times.
Scout's Take: KAT has an outstanding base to become a unique big man in the next few years. He scores a bit inside and out, is somewhat serviceable on the defensive end, and should be a good rebounder at the next level. Scouts are high on him and he's shaping up to be the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.
Ratings: Karl-Anthony Towns C 7'0'' 248 20 B- B- C C+ B- A
Stipulations: None.
Am I still a little salty about KAT totally laying waste to my team in the second half of last year's Finals? Probably. But that may stand as the peak of his career, as he was largely pretty mid for most of it — turns it over a ton and his efficiency has come and gone, although his blocks and boards are quite good. Ironically he's kind of the antithesis of real KAT.
KAT had the vaunted "shaping up to be the No. 1 pick" in his notes — so it's not like this was expressly the wrong pick — but while his blocks and rebounds took off, he never really became the type of offensive machine that he seemingly could have been. His outside scoring/FT splits are generally outstanding, so I'm gonna guess he didn't get enough inside scoring boosts (and also spent most of his prime clashing with Giannis) to become elite in the sense we expected. Myles Turner became the best player in this class after becoming a wing — I wonder if KAT might have benefitted from going that route ultimately? (Can't believe I just wrote that sentence).
21. Chet Holmgren - 2022, Mavericks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very promising scorer. Good post moves and a very consistent shooting touch. Might get a steal and some blocks. Decent positional defense. Average rebounder.
Weaknesses: Will turn the ball over. Needs to hit the weight room.
Scout's Take: Holmgren is a very unique big man. He stretches the floor well and should get decent stocks. He has all the tools to check all the boxes you'd want out of a big, but his decision-making is sloppy, and teams will need to target that to bring him to true superstar status. He has yet to declare for the 2022 Draft.
Ratings: Chet Holmgren C 7'1'' 195 20 C+ B+ C- B- C+ A
Stipulations: Cannot start at SF/SG/PG.
Chet has become a very well-rounded and fun FBB player, developing to a point where he does everything really well. His big man skills are sound, but it's his efficiency and versatility that make him such a cool player now seven seasons into his career. I put him a hair ahead of KAT because it's somewhat clear he's on a better trajectory and also because I'm mad at KAT. But regardless, Chet is one of the league's better big men in an era where there aren't that many of them — a good unicorn development case, if you will.
20. Paul George - 2010, Celtics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good scoring base with solid inside and a good jumper. Decent quickness and vision. Very good steals and solid perimeter defense. Pretty good rebounding. Good strength. Can definitely play both the 2 and 3.
Weaknesses: Range is still developing and he needs to rein in his turnovers a bit.
Scout's Take: George is another name people are considering at the top. He might need a year or two, but scouts have no doubt he can become a top wing in the league. His two-way potential could see him becoming a cornerstone on a championship team.
Ratings: Paul George SG 6'8'' 220 20 B- C+ C B C A
Stipulations: None.
Paul George was redeemed by a late-career arc where he was evidently saved by Kyrie Irving and turned into one of the league's elite two-way wings at his peak. Before that, he was kind of mid due to a handling issue and evidently not enough inside scoring to be consistently dominant. He was jettisoned by the Celtics and kind of bounced around before his late-career breakout with the Lakers. That peak was pretty crazy good — it was just short.
19. Dwight Howard - 2004, 76ers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
trengths: Powerful big man with the prototypical build. Excellent strength and athleticism. Very strong rebounder especially on the defensive end. Decent defense in the paint and will block shots. Has the quickness to play the 4 well.
Weaknesses: Offensive game is pretty raw. Carried by his athleticism. Can't shoot. Handles are iffy.
Scout's Take: Has all the tools you'd want in a big man and more. Should at least become a defensive anchor and has the potential to grow into a dominant post game as well given the right development. Likely #1 pick.
Ratings: Dwight Howard C 6'10'' 265 19 B D D B- B+ A
Stipulations: None
Dwight will primarily be remembered for his role in sabotaging what could have easily been a 76ers dynasty, fleeing Philly for Portland while Shaun Livingston went to Houston and tore DMo and LeBron's hearts out. Quady then gave Dwight an absolutely batshit contract in a moment of mental weakness that defined his entire career. He eventually won a title as a role player on a really good inside-oriented Suns team that beat me in seven games in the Finals, and I think he was making like $30m or something that season.
Say what you want about Dwight's career but the man was an all-defensive team mainstay and holds the all-time record with 4.2 (fuck!) blocks per game in 2011. He was flawed as a scorer and couldn't make free throws, but he more or less lived up to the billing as one of the most dominant butts ever.
18. Giannis Antetokounmpo - 2013, Timberwolves
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Excellent ability to drive and finish at the rim. Decent vision. Good defender in the post or on the perimeter. Good stock potential. Solid rebounder. Very quick for his size.
Weaknesses: His jump shot is firmly mediocre. His range is worse than that. May turn the ball over a bit.
Scout's Take: This relatively unknown kid from Greece has been skyrocketing up the draft boards. His size, length, and versatility have teams dreaming big for his future. He has a few rough spots in his game, but scouts feel if he can bulk up and somehow maintain his scary speed advantage over guys his size, then you might be looking at an unstoppable force up and down the floor with the ball in his hands. Excellent upside.
Ratings: Giannis Antetokounmpo PF 6'11'' 212 19 B C C+ B C+ A
Stipulations: Cannot change his position. For his first three offseasons, Giannis will gain +10lbs and +10 Strength.
Does Pankin know Giannis is entering free agency right now? Giannis has certainly had a career, and I'm pretty sure he's been one of the best players in the league for a lot of it, but the T-Wolves haven't done much experimentation to figure out exactly what to do with him. He turns it over a shit-ton but he's always been a great rebounder and probably needed to be featured in an inside offense to shine. I kind of think of him in this PG/Dwight bucket where a late-career dominant run is very much on the table, with this year's dip in turnover output potentially a sign of things to come. One of the most confusing SLN careers ever? We'll find out I guess.
17. Reed Sheppard - 2024, Celtics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Good jump shot. Solid range. Solid handles. Should get steals and might get a block or so. Good perimeter defender. Solid quickness and athleticism.
Weaknesses: Not a very good rebounder. Might need to hit the weights a bit.
Scout's Take: Reed has shown flashes of excitement for scouts shooting and on the defensive end. Teams love his hustle and feel for the game. Expectations are 3 and D combo guard on the low end and potential star on the high end in the right situation.
Ratings: Reed Sheppard SG 6'2'' 185 20 C B C B C- A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
This is maybe a bold placement for Mr. Sheppard due to his turnover concerns but the guy is a dynamite scorer with amazing defense and on a great trajectory. He should move up this list over time. Interestingly enough, it doesn't even look like he was built with handling issues, but his receiving SG camps probably limited the natural growth of that stat to some extent to this point. I want to say he got a freebie this week which should help. He's on a trajectory to surpass the guy two spots ahead of him on this list, turning in an All-League and All-Defensive team year this year. Time will tell how this all holds up, but he's on a good path and was pretty clearly the right pick that year.
16. Derrick Rose - 2008, Clippers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing slashing guard. Gets to the rim and finishes extremely well. Decent jump shot. Good quickness, strength, and athleticism. Solid perimeter defender. Might get a steal. Good offensive rebounder.
Weaknesses: Some decision-making issues. 3P needs a lot of work.
Scout's Take: Rose is one of the most exciting PGs to enter the league. He is a strong finishing, offensive-oriented guard that won't look to pass much. His combination of athleticism and scoring presence should firmly place him in the race for who goes #1.
Ratings: Derrick Rose PG 6'3'' 200 20 B+ C C C+ C- A
Stipulations: None.
Rose never quite lived up to the quality of his notes, primarily because his handling was never good and his TOs were too high to be fully manageable. The good news was his shooting became more than passable, leading him on an incredible late-career shooting guard run where he was one of SLN's best scorers. He never won a ring, but at least he was extraordinarily healthy (sigh) and enjoyed a really strong peak, ultimately. He had the capability to carry an offense, just not as a point guard.
Interestingly, all the top guys in this draft - Rose, Westbrook, Love - ended up falling a touch short of where they could have landed developmentally. I think D-Rose probably is a touch underrated by our league canonically, but it was also pretty hard to put him any higher than this.
15. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 2018, Bucks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Capable of getting to the rim. Very good jump shot with decent range. Good handles. Nice stock potential. Decent perimeter defender. Serviceable rebounding. Good strength for his size. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: SGA might take a bit to pick up steam in the league, but he's not wasting any time surging in draft stock. He has a perfect mix of everything for a guard. Word around the league is he may contend for the #1 spot.
Ratings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SG 6'6'' 180 20 C+ B C+ B- C A
Stipulations: Can play PG.
SGA has spent much of his career living up to being the Guy Who Got Picked Ahead Of Luka and he's hit a crazy peak this season while playing off the ball more or less full-time. I think this is another case study of handles in SG-PGs not always developing cleanly enough to make them turnover-efficient at lead guard, but Shai has developed to a point where he's incredibly dominant at the two as well. As his notes said, he took a while to develop. But he's an extremely dynamic player who offers a ton on both ends.
At any rate, I think the defensive play at his current peak probably puts Shai a tick ahead of Rose, who was offensively a bit more dominant on a regular basis but similar. Whether he can move higher on the list, we'll see!
14. Joel Embiid - 2014, Knicks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very good scorer. Finishes well in the paint, good post moves, very good jump shot, and good range beyond the arc. Good vision. Solid steals and blocks. Good positional defense. Good rebounder. Excellent strength.
Weaknesses: Not very quick. Will turn the ball over.
Scout's Take: Embiid is the real deal. Game changer on so many levels. Will be the cornerstone of any franchise he goes to. However, there are serious injury concerns. Early word is he requires surgery and will miss extended time, but scouts are adamant he will still be a major force for years to come.
Ratings: Joel Embiid C 7'0'' 280 20 B- B C+ B- B- A
Stipulations: Embiid will miss his entire rookie season and there is a strong chance he misses his sophomore season as well. Could maybe extend beyond that.
Embiid has had an excellent career statistically speaking, as an All-League team mainstay into his 30s and one of the league's best interior scorers. The question has always been whether he can get it done at the highest levels of winning, as he's very turnover-prone and always has been, and also waffles on the efficiency front more than you'd expect. His stip led to him being fully baked after sitting out two seasons, and also helped the Knicks tank to get Myles Turner while he sat out, so that turned out to be a pretty positive outcome stemming from his selection (even though Jokic has arguably had the more prolific FBB career). I have a hard time putting him higher than this, but Embiid certainly panned out in a realistic way with his warts.
13. Tim Duncan - 1997, Bullets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Very craft post scorer. Bank shot is all day, every day. Very good with his back to the basket. Excellent defender. Can lock down opposing Centers as well as Power Forwards. Great rebounder. Will be a double-double guy for sure. Strong forward with good footwork.
Weaknesses: Not a good free throw shooter. Needs to improve at passing out of the double team and needs to work on minimizing turnovers.
Scout's Take: Duncan has all the tools to be one of the greatest forwards to play the game. He is without a doubt a future all-star. He will be a member of All-League teams and All-Defensive teams. It's hard to see him not going #1 overall.
Ratings: Tim Duncan PF 6'11'' 250 21 B C- C- B+ B+ A
Stipulations: None
As maligned as Simothy Duncan is around these parts, I had a really hard time figuring out where he belonged on the list. He had insane longevity, he finished as SLN's All-Time leading rebounder, and his career stats aren't really as bad as they felt in the moment when he was bouncing from team to team. Granted, in his era there were way more capable butts lying around and his strengths maybe weren't quite as pronounced relative to where the watermark was for bigs. But I have a hard time thinking of him as a bust, and I also think if he re-entered the league today where we all have more knowledge of the game, he'd probably have turned out way better.
I think we're also in an era where his turnovers don't actually seem that bad in hindsight! The issue here was really his offensive inconsistency, which Ashes explained pretty clearly was the fact his jump shot couldn't keep up with his inside scoring and strength. He averaged double digit rebounds for 20 straight seasons! At the end of the day he didn't win a title — but I think at peak he's ahead of Embiid and Giannis for me, two guys who also have not won them and are questionably winning-adjacent at times.
12. Stephen Curry - 2009, Nuggets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Best shooter to ever declare for the draft. Has SLN-developed range out of the gate. Will score a lot. Should get a few steals a game.
Weaknesses: Handles aren't great. Positional defense is lacking, but not terrible. Rebounding is subpar. Strength and athleticism are lacking.
Scout's Take: Curry is a lights-out scorer that will likely take the league by storm with his shooting. He won't get a lot of assists, which might balance out his turnovers a bit. Defensively, he will create turnovers, which may be enough for teams. Mouthguard antics drive me absolutely nuts.
Ratings: Steph Curry PG 6'2'' 185 21 C A- C C C- A
Stipulations: None.
Steph had a very good career that was arguably pretty boring by Steph Curry standards - he was an elite offensive point guard, won a title in Denver early in his career, and went on to score a lot of points, make a lot of money, and anchor some elite offensive teams in Orlando. I don't know if we didn't appreciate Steph enough, or if we just expected more from him, but he ultimately was built a lot like you'd think he would be. It's possible that he could have developed even better offensively with better rolls. Still, nothing to feel bad about here.
11. Anthony Davis - 2012, Nets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Almost does it all. Very strong scorer in the post, moves well with the ball, and has a pretty solid jump shot. Has the ability to be a stock monster. Very good post defender and defensive rebounder. Good strength with solid quickness for his size.
Weaknesses: 3P shot is still a work in progress. Might turn it over a solid amount.
Scout's Take: One of the most anticipated prospects these last few years, Anthony Davis and his patented unibrow are looking to take the SLN by storm. His offensive upside coupled with his future DPOY-esque defense combine to make one of the best prospects scouts have seen in a long time. Would be a shocker if he wasn't the #1 pick.
Ratings: Anthony Davis C 6'10'' 253 19 B C+ C B B- A
Stipulations: None.
For better or worse AD has kind of been the Tim Duncan of his generation, but the SLN Tim Duncan and not the real one. He's been a transcendent player on the defensive end, but has only really had a couple of truly great offensive seasons despite having an incredible jump shot (has to be inside scoring?) - regardless, he did win a title and has curbed his turnovers over time, putting him a hair ahead of Duncan in my book. He also has plenty left in the tank now 17 seasons into his career, so points for longevity and effectiveness on my non-existent vibes scale. He was clearly the best player in an overall booty draft. More TC luck on the offensive end might have really cemented him as a generational player, but five DPOY awards and a lot of success overall is nothing to sneeze at.
10. LaMelo Ball - 2020, Nuggets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Penetrates the lane well. Pretty good jump shot with developing range. Good vision. Should get steals. Good rebounder for his position. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: Pretty ball-dominant, so he is going to turn it over. Positional defense is so-so.
Scout's Take: Following a strong marketing campaign from his camp, Ball exploded up the draft boards. Couple that with legit play and talent, and you've got a guy vying for the #1 pick. Teams love his all-around contributions on the court and feel he can really elevate his game further in the right situation. There is some concern surrounding his agency, led by his father, who has raised some eyebrows recently with major foreign and pharmaceuticals investments...
Ratings: LaMelo Ball PG 6'7'' 180 19 C+ B- B+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: BBB
Despite the controversy surrounding his father and the fact the Nuggets were forced to select him No. 1, LaMelo has turned into one of the best point guards in SLN, with no real holes in his game and a title under his belt at age 27. How exactly he went from 4.2 turnovers as a rookie to where he is now is extremely mysterious, as was his BBB stip, as was the fact he got unceremoniously shipped out of Denver after two seasons before making positive strides throughout his 20s. LaMelo is a good scorer whose best skills are arguably his rebounding, defense and turnover control — he developed quite well on all fronts and would be a standout SLN player in any era.
Whether there are more titles in store, we'll find out — but he was clearly the right pick at No. 1 anyway, with Anthony Edwards not turning into a transcendent FBB player (at least not yet)
9. Kawhi Leonard - 2011, Nuggets (traded to Spurs)
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Developing scorer. Good finisher with a solid jump shot. Excellent defender. Can comfortably defend multiple positions. Will get steals and might block a shot. Good strength, quickness, handles. On the cusp of pretty good rebounding.
Weaknesses: Range still needs some work.
Scout's Take: Kawhi has teams frothing at the mouth. His offense still needs some polishing at the next level, but the tools he has right now has teams wondering not if but when he will become a superstar.
Ratings: Kawhi Leonard SF 6'7'' 225 20 B- C+ C B+ C A
Stipulations: None.
Kawhi is a memorable player in SLN history on a few levels — he was selected by the Spurs who got extraordinarily lucky after the pick they acquired from the Nuggets jumped to No. 1, he was also viewed as the safe choice and selected ahead of Kyrie Irving. He kind of struggled for four or five seasons offensively, but played a role on a title team in San Antonio before eventually getting some freebies and turning into one of the best two-way wings SLN has seen during a dominant peak. Kinda mirrors real life minus the tree planting! As is the case for many of these guys, ultimately Kawhi could have been even better, but he was generally awesome and had a few insanely good years.
8. Victor Wembanyama - 2023, Raptors
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Generational, game-changing talent. Scores easily in the paint. Very good jump shot. Decent range. Block monster. Will probably get a steal. Good positional defense. Pretty good rebounder. Good quickness.
Weaknesses: Will turn the ball over. Needs to bulk up.
Scout's Take: The league may not be ready for this French kid. He has GOAT written all over him. He might even still be growing! Will undoubtedly be the #1 pick. Word is there is a hefty buyout attached to his name currently, but he is very interested in coming to SLN. He has yet to declare for the 2022 Draft.
Ratings: Victor Wembanyama C 7'3'' 225 20 B B+ C- B+ B- A
Stipulations: Currently under contract in France.
I'm biased here but factually Wemby is one the most decorated age-25 players in league history, having developed into the league's best big man rather quickly, winning three-straight all-league first team selections and two straight first-team all defense, a DPOY and with his entire prime still ahead of him. Need to go wipe down my keyboard brb. The funny thing about Wemby is that IRL he blocks even more shots per game than he does in SLN (had I camped blocks early maybe that goes different but I felt his offense required the most attention which has more or less born out to be true, I'm hoping he has another good TC or two in the tank because most of the stuff that matters is already over 85 and can't get freebie'd.
Anyway — based on notes and current development I think he's pretty clearly on a trajectory that would put him ahead of most of the guys on the list, and I justified this by how good he became as fast as he did. He did have that mildly annoying stip, but it was still very worth it. In an era where there just aren't that many elite bigs, he kind of stands alone right now as a game-breaking player and the best big man of this current era - hopefully can get him some hardware, which he deserves.
7. Darryn Peterson - 2026, Clippers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Deceptive, controlled drives to the basket. Finishes well. Good shooter. Makes good decisions with the ball and gets his team involved. Decent man defender. Good stock potential. Rebounds very well for his size and position. Very good quickness.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Peterson has been making a strong case for the #1 pick. His game is polished, and he excels just about everywhere on the court. He might not be the flashiest of players, but scouts feel he is a winning one. Teams like his chances to lead a team and become a franchise player at the next level.
Ratings: Darryn Peterson SG 6'5'' 195 20 B B B C+ C+ B
Stipulations: Can be moved to PG with a -10 hit to Handles. Will still be subject to FBB rebounding limitations.
Honestly think Peterson deserves this placement considering he's the best point guard in SLN at age 22. Remember when there was debate in league circles about whether to take Nate Ament over this guy? I think what Ashes did with him was pretty clear — he expected someone to exercise the stip and then camp his handles, and the B potential was simply designed to curb him from having batshit crazy point guard TCs. Essentially he ensured the crazy high floor by giving Peterson broken inside scoring and everything else has already panned out well. This guy just averaged 33.6 points per game while anchoring a 1 seed!
Who knows where it goes from here - maybe the lower starting potential will shorten his peak - but Peterson is on a trajectory to be the best guard of his generation. This might be way too high but he appears to already be better than the majority of guys on the list!
6. Yao Ming - 2002, Hornets
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Excellent scorer on the inside. Great with his back to the basket or can step out and hit the midrange. Money from the free throw line. Very strong. Good defender down low and will block shots.
Weaknesses: Might cough up the ball a bit to tiny, pesky guards bothering him in the paint. Very slow. While a decent rebounder, will probably need work there.
Scout's Take: Yao Ming is the greatest export of China. He has all the tools to be a prolific scoring big man that provides good stocks. He has a few aspects of his game that need work to reach full elite status, but there's no doubt in my mind that he will get there. Don't get cute with it, he's the #1 pick.
Ratings: Yao Ming C 7'6'' 310 22 B C D+ B C+ A
Stipulations: None
Yao led the Hornets to back to back titles and also had an insanely long run of relevance, I put him a hair behind Manu just because the overall team success factor kind of came and went, but Yao was arguably the best center in the league, was a free throw machine, and probably could have won even more with a bit more micromanagement of his peak years. What a stud.
5. Manu Ginobili -1999, Pacers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Borderline does it all. Scores inside at will. Good shooter from the line and beyond. Will get steals. Decent vision with good handling. Solid man defender. Decent strength with very good quickness. Decent rebounder.
Weaknesses: None.
Scout's Take: Ginobili is a special talent that comes at an interesting price. While he may or not be stuck in Italy for a few years, scouts are convinced he has all-time talent and should be a perennial All-Star once he arrives in the league.
Ratings: Manu Ginobili SG 6'6'' 205 21 B- B C C+ C A
Stipulations: Manu Ginobili is still committed to playing with his Italian team, Kinder Bologna, for three more seasons. He may not go to the NDL. He will be set on the IR. The team that drafts him will have the following options (Must decide BEFORE TC): 1) They may buy out his Italian contract ($12M x 3 Years) and allow him to play in SLN immediately. 2) They may opt to let him play out his Italian contract for the three years (He will remain on IR and occupy a roster spot) but when he is eligible to play in his 4th season, he will receive a 2 Year extension at 10% increases from his rookie contract 4th year salary.
If I recall Manu only won one title, but everyone remembers how insanely good he was. He was great in Indiana and got Calvin (RIP) to the Finals, then was traded and eventually got his ring in Boston. According to his Hall of Fame profile, he averaged over 30 points for his career which is legitimately crazy. He was the best two-guard in the league, and pretty clearly in league history as well, not much else to say here.
4. LeBron James - 2003, 76ers
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Amazing finisher at the rim. Will slash to the basket and finish with authority. Excellent court vision. Excellent strength and athleticism. Good quickness for his size. Will create turnovers and convert them to fast breaks. Might block a shot a game. Good rebounder.
Weaknesses: Outside game is underdeveloped. Needs to work on FTs and his 3P range. Needs the ball in his hands.
Scout's Take: Generational talent doesn't do this man enough justice. LeBron James has all the tools to be the absolute cornerstone of any franchise and a future Hall of Famer. He is the unquestioned #1 pick and the best player to enter the draft to date.
Ratings: LeBron James SF 6'9'' 250 19 A- C B+ C+ C+ A
Stipulations: Can play PG. Will play to at least age 39. Must be a starter for the duration of his career.
LeBron is going to retire as the oldest player ever and between his two FBB profiles he's the career leader in minutes, games, points, field goals attempted made and missed, free throws made and attempted, second in threes made, third in rebounds, second in assists, eighth in steals and first in turnovers. WHEW!
That type of longevity coupled with his two late-career titles has rightfully changed the discourse around LeBron's FBB career, most of which he spent in Philly, where he got abandoned by Shaun Livingston and Dwight Howard and only got the Sixers to the finals once. After leaving the Sixers he remained extremely dominant, with the Bronny stip clearly helping to prolong his insane career, and from a pure talent perspective he's probably still the single hardest player to contend with in a playoff series that I can think of. Peak LeBron singlehandedly took good teams down.
I couldn't put his career ahead of the three gentlemen beneath him on the list, but I think history will obviously smile on LeBron, whose records will probably never be broken just purely off of the number of seasons he's put in.
3. Tony Parker - 2001, Suns
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredibly quick. Excellent finisher capable of weaving through traffic and scoring on just about anyone. Good midrange game. Decent handling. Will probably get a steal a game.
Weaknesses: Sorely lacking 3P range. Not the best defender. Poor rebounder.
Scout's Take: Tony Parker is a blur on the court and a treat to watch when he gets going. A lot of aspects of his game are raw and need work, but there's no doubting his talent and potential. Scouts feel he could become one of the best PGs in the league with the right attention.
Ratings: Tony Parker PG 6'2'' 185 19 B C C+ C D+ A
Stipulations: None
Sure it took a lot of freebie shooting camps to get him to his peak, but Tony Parker became the indisputable SLN point god, winning titles with three different teams and proving mega-relevant until the very end, with his very last game (as a two-year mercenary with the Raptors lol) a Game 7 loss in the Finals (sigh). He averaged 30 points per game for eight straight seasons in his prime and was just insanely good the entire time, minus his rebounding which was more easily mitigated by the number of good rebounding bigs in that era of FBB.
This is a best-case example of why you always want high-potential teenage point guards, but also the amount of attention that needs to get paid to their weaknesses sometimes. Parker is unquestionably in the pantheon of true SLN greats.
2. Dirk Nowitzki - 1998, Sonics
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: One of the best shooting big men around. Can score from anywhere on the court. Good post-up game and great outside shooting. A dynamic scorer in every sense of the word. Pretty good at taking care of the ball. Okay rebounder.
Weaknesses: Below-average athleticism. Not a good defender. Won't block many shots. Will struggle against faster or stronger forwards. Might not get you the desired rebounds you'd get from a prototypical big man.
Scout's Take: Dirk is a rare player. Absolutely impossible to stop his jumper, Dirk should be a scary scorer in this league. Multiple All-Star Games are in his future. Will be a top 3 pick.
Ratings: Dirk Nowitzki PF 7'0'' 245 20 B B+ C- C C+ A
Stipulations: None
We all know how this went down. Nick developed Dirk with his heart and soul, and Dirk became a three-time champ and averaged 40 per game that one time. Insane! He would obviously be No. 1 if not for...
1. Kevin Durant - 2007, Bucks
WHAT THE NOTES SAID
Strengths: Incredible scorer. Can score inside and out with range well beyond the arc. Might get a solid mix of stocks. Rebounding is above average. Good quickness for his size.
Weaknesses: While he has the tools to be a good defender when he wants to, it's not the focus of his game, thus his positional defense suffers a bit. Needs the ball in his hands, so might turn it over a bit. Needs to hit the weights.
Scout's Take: The other contender for the #1 pick, Kevin Durant is a truly special offensive talent. His combination of size and talent makes him a nightmare to guard and scouts feel he has quite a few scoring titles in his future. He isn't exactly one-dimensional, but the development of his defensive side is up in the air. Either way, he is going to be an absolute terror for many seasons.
Ratings: Kevin Durant SF 6'10'' 220 19 B B C B- C+ A
Stipulations: None.
KD's four rings, three-peat with the Hawks (and one with the Bullets), and six (!) straight finals trips from 2018 to 2023 will probably never be matched. That's all there is to say about it. This man is the SLN GOAT unless you live in Seattle. Not sure if any player will ever do that again!
Going to watch football now so end of list.
free healthcare has never been more important
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SourKittles
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Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
How was Tim Duncan used? What settings? V curious
Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
Giannis getting an IRL legacy bump here imo
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SourKittles
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Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
I grew up on Jamario Moon!!! What a guy, 07 IRL Raptors were my favorites. Would’ve made noise in playoffs if not for Jorge Garbajosa injury (did he have a career here)
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SourKittles
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- Joined: May 4th, 2025, 8:02 pm
Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
Dumping age-28 Zion (and RP lol) for a backup guard is something I was extremely happy with … hard to imagine a worse 1.1 coming along in the next 32 years?!? Though I’m wondering whether chaos ensues with fake players !! Great article jwoo very informative
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SourKittles
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Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
Briefly breaking character hereSourKittles wrote: September 7th, 2025, 12:18 pm I grew up on Jamario Moon!!! What a guy, 07 IRL Raptors were my favorites. Would’ve made noise in playoffs if not for Jorge Garbajosa injury (did he have a career here)
Three Year Anniversary Special: Ranking Every No. 1 Pick Ever
George Garbage was trash in SLN fwiwSourKittles wrote: September 7th, 2025, 12:18 pm I grew up on Jamario Moon!!! What a guy, 07 IRL Raptors were my favorites. Would’ve made noise in playoffs if not for Jorge Garbajosa injury (did he have a career here)
Celtics ah the balls
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