The 2018 NBA Draft is one of the most talented drafts in recent history. Having several perennial All-Stars, MVP candidates, and plenty of helpful role-players, it is not a wonder that fans and pundits tend to turn to this team whenever they write about the best modern draft classes. With the advantage of hindsight, it is obvious that had teams been able to do that night over again, the order would have borne little resemblance.
This re-draft is not about the fit of the teams; it is about the path of the individual players who have achieved, developed, and marketed themselves into the future of the league. And at the very summit, the dispute is hot.
No. 1 The big picture: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The decision to pick one or the other between Luka Dončic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was, perhaps, the hardest decision to make in any re-draft exercise. They are both transcendent stars that characterize the present NBA era. However, Shai represents the best since he has one important aspect being his two-way dominion.
The Small-town Prodigy to the Star.
Gilgeous-Alexander was initially acquired by the Clippers at the 11 th position as a rookie but displayed some signs of potential when he was a rookie before being part of the blockbuster trade involving Paul George, where he was traded to Oklahoma City. In OKC, SGA flowered into an actual franchise.
He was well on his way to being a star by his third season. Jump to present times, and Shai has not only been a perennial All-NBA talent but also a true MVP winner in this alternate version of the re-draft. His leadership enabled him to lead Thunder to their first-ever NBA championship with a mind-blowing 68-win regular season record, which is a success story of how his skill set can be directly translated to winning.
What Sets Him Apart
- Versatility rating: The isolation master, SGA destroys the rim, fouls at the highest levels, and controls the mid-range game. With 30 points per night, he is one of the most reliable scorers in the league as a result of the consistency of his performance.
- Playmaking Skill: In addition to scoring, Shai makes other people do it as he sees and passes the ball to other teammates.
- Defensive Impact: His length and instincts have made him a disruptive perimeter defender, unlike most superstars, so that he can swing a game on each side of the floor.
Such a combination of talents makes Shai the most complete player of the 2018 group.
Luka Dončica: A worthy competition.
The selection of Shai does not make Luka Dončic any less brilliant. Luka is still an offensive savant, an unparalleled creator of shots and a playmaker in whose performance the statistical output is often bordered on by the historic. But defensive reliability versus offensive genius, the all-around appearance of Shai provides him with the slightest advantage.
In the modern NBA, where the concept of versatility and two-way influence is a requirement, the profile of Shai is much more compatible with long-term title contention.
My Take
The 2018 draft provided us with a generational dilemma between two of the most promising stars who can shoulder a franchise. The offensive wizardry of Luka is enough to remember, though the control of both ends of the floor that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander displays is what pushes the scales in his favor. The fact that he went in the middle of the lottery and became an MVP-level superstar is a statement of undying development, hard work, and versatility.
At a time when a jack of all trades was the key to success in the world of the NBA, Shai is the ideal of a modern superstar in basketball. Had the 2018 draft been revisited today, he would be the best pick at No. 1, not due to the failure of Luka, but because Shai has mastered all the means to victory.
