Looking Back: How Would the 2013 NBA Draft Redraft Shake Up Today?
I still remember that humid June evening in 2013, sitting in my Brooklyn apartment with the draft playing on my slightly-too-old television. The air conditioner was fighting a losing battle against the summer heat, much like how many of those draft picks would eventually struggle against the weight of expectations. Giannis Antetokounmpo had just been selected 15th by the Milwaukee Bucks, and I recall turning to my friend Mark and saying, "That's either going to be the steal of the decade or another international mystery." Little did I know we were witnessing what would become one of the most fascinating what-if scenarios in modern sports history - a question that still haunts NBA discussions today: Looking Back: How Would the 2013 NBA Draft Redraft Shake Up Today?
The statistical parallels between that draft and boxing's precision metrics fascinate me. When I analyze the 2013 draft class today, I can't help but draw comparisons to that fascinating boxing statistic I recently came across - in terms of power punches, the 46-year-old Filipino boxing legend was just slightly ahead at 31.3 percent (81-of-259), compared to Barrios' 31.3 percent (75-of-235). That razor-thin margin between apparent equality and actual superiority perfectly mirrors how we'd redraft 2013 today. On the surface, several players seemed equally promising, but the subtle differences in their development created massive disparities in their eventual impact.
If we could turn back time with our current knowledge, Giannis would undoubtedly be the first overall pick instead of Anthony Bennett - a selection that still baffles me years later. I've always believed Bennett had the physical tools but lacked the mental fortitude needed for the NBA grind. Meanwhile, Giannis developed from a lanky project into a two-time MVP, his growth resembling that boxing statistic's implication - sometimes what appears to be a minor advantage compounds into something monumental over time. The Greek Freak's transformation wasn't about dramatic overnight changes but consistent, incremental improvements, much like how those power punch percentages, while numerically close, represented vastly different impacts in the ring.
What fascinates me most about this redraft exercise is how it reveals the hidden gems that scouts missed. Rudy Gobert, selected 27th originally, would likely jump into the top five today. I've always been higher on defensive specialists than most analysts - there's something beautiful about a player who can single-handedly transform a team's defensive identity. CJ McCollum, another later pick who blossomed in Portland, represents the kind of offensive firepower that teams desperately needed but overlooked. I remember watching his Summer League games and thinking, "This kid has something special," yet he fell to 10th in what was considered a weak draft.
The Victor Oladipo story particularly resonates with me. Selected second originally, he'd probably still go in the lottery today despite his injury troubles. There's a lesson there about talent evaluation versus development - sometimes the initial assessment was right, but circumstances derail what could have been. It reminds me of that boxing metric's implication: the difference between perceived and actual impact. Oladipo's 31.3 percent of his potential might have been realized during his All-Star seasons, similar to how those power punches, while equal in percentage, told different stories in context.
As I sit here nearly a decade later, watching highlights from that draft class, I'm struck by how much our understanding of player development has evolved. Teams today would likely prioritize different attributes - we'd see more emphasis on wingspan, defensive versatility, and basketball IQ over pure scoring ability. Steven Adams, originally picked 12th, would probably rise in a redraft because teams now better appreciate his unique combination of physicality and screening ability. I've always argued that the most underrated skill in basketball is setting effective screens - it's the basketball equivalent of those power punches that don't always show up in basic stats but fundamentally change games.
The redraft would also expose how poorly teams evaluated international talent. Giannis wasn't the only overseas gem - Dennis Schröder (originally 17th) and Gorgui Dieng (21st) provided far more value than their draft positions suggested. I've followed international basketball for years, and the talent pool there has consistently been undervalued by NBA decision-makers. It's like that boxing statistic - sometimes we focus too much on the obvious numbers and miss the subtle qualities that determine long-term success.
What strikes me most about this mental exercise is how it highlights the NBA's inherent unpredictability. For every Giannis that exceeded expectations, there's an Anthony Bennett who fell short. For every CJ McCollum who developed beyond his draft position, there's a Nerlens Noel who never quite reached his projected ceiling. The 2013 draft teaches us that player development isn't linear, and sometimes the difference between a superstar and a role player comes down to those slight percentage points - much like how 31.3 percent of power punches can tell dramatically different stories depending on when they land and how much damage they inflict.
If I could send one message back to my 2013 self watching that draft, it would be to pay more attention to work ethic and character than pure athletic measurements. The players who succeeded from that class weren't necessarily the most physically gifted, but rather those with the determination to improve year after year. That's the real lesson of the 2013 redraft - not just which players we'd move up or down, but understanding why they developed differently. It's the same lesson embedded in that boxing statistic about precision and impact - sometimes the smallest advantages, consistently applied, create champions.
