I still remember the excitement surrounding the 2019 NBA Draft like it was yesterday—the buzz at Barclays Center felt electric, and social media was exploding with hot takes about Zion Williamson's generational potential. As someone who's followed basketball drafts for over a decade, I can confidently say this class had one of the most intriguing mixes of raw talent and immediate-impact players we've seen in years. The top three picks—Zion to New Orleans, Ja Morant to Memphis, and RJ Barrett to New York—were expected to reshape their franchises overnight. Fast forward to today, and their journeys have been anything but predictable, filled with spectacular highs and frustrating setbacks that reveal just how difficult transitioning to the NBA can be.
Zion Williamson's career, for instance, has been a rollercoaster of jaw-dropping highlights and lengthy injury absences. When healthy, he's averaged an absurd 25.7 points per game on 60% shooting from the field—numbers that put him in elite company historically. But he's missed over 60% of possible regular-season games due to various injuries, which honestly breaks my heart as a fan who believes he could be a top-five player if he stayed on the court. Contrast his situation with Ja Morant's, who exploded onto the scene by winning Rookie of the Year and leading Memphis to multiple playoff appearances. Ja's fearless drives and viral dunks made him must-watch television, though his recent 25-game suspension showed that off-court maturity remains a work in progress. Meanwhile, RJ Barrett—the third pick—has been steadily productive if unspectacular, putting up around 18 points per game while developing into a reliable two-way wing for the Knicks before his mid-season trade to Toronto.
What fascinates me about evaluating these players now is how their development paths mirror the competitive dynamics we see in college basketball circuits. Take that reference about La Salle defending their WUBS crown after beating Korea University—it reminds me how college success doesn't always translate to professional dominance. Several first-round picks from that draft like Jarrett Culver (6th pick) and Cam Reddish (10th pick) have already bounced between multiple teams despite strong collegiate pedigrees. Meanwhile, later picks like Tyler Herro (13th) and Jordan Poole (28th) have outperformed their draft positions dramatically, with Herro winning Sixth Man of the Year and Poole earning a massive contract after contributing to Golden State's 2022 championship run.
Looking at the bigger picture, the 2019 class has produced three All-Stars (Zion, Ja, and Darius Garland) and several cornerstone players for rebuilding franchises. From my perspective, Ja Morant has been the most valuable asset to his team when available, transforming Memphis from a lottery team to a consistent playoff contender. But I'll admit I'm higher on Darius Garland than most—his development into an All-Star point guard who averaged 21.6 points and 7.8 assists in 2022-23 demonstrates how draft evaluations can miss backcourt players who need time to develop. The real lesson here, I believe, is that draft night excitement needs to be tempered with patience—some players like Zion arrive with unbelievable hype but face physical challenges, while others like Matisse Thybulle (picked 20th) find their niche as defensive specialists rather than offensive stars.
Four years later, it's clear this draft class will be remembered for its polarizing trajectories rather than consistent excellence. While Zion's health questions remain concerning and Ja's suspension casts uncertainty over his next chapter, the depth of talent selected continues to impact the league in meaningful ways. Personally, I'd still take Ja Morant first in a redraft today because his two-way contract and electrifying playmaking are just too valuable to pass up, but I wouldn't blame anyone who'd opt for Garland's steady excellence or even Herro's scoring punch. What's certain is that the 2019 draft class remains one of the most talked-about groups in recent memory, and I'll be watching closely to see how these narratives evolve as these players enter their prime years.
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