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Who Was the 2013 NBA 1st Pick and Where Are They Now?
Looking back at the 2013 NBA Draft, I still vividly remember the electric atmosphere in Brooklyn's Barclays Center that night. As someone who's followed basketball religiously since the early 2000s, I've witnessed numerous draft classes come and go, but the 2013 class carried this unique blend of uncertainty and promise that fascinated me. The Cleveland Cavaliers held that coveted first overall pick, and the basketball world held its collective breath wondering who they'd choose to build their franchise around. Little did we know we were about to witness the beginning of Anthony Bennett's journey - a name that would become one of the most discussed, and frankly controversial, first picks in recent NBA history.
I've always been fascinated by how draft positions create certain expectations versus how careers actually unfold. When David Stern announced Bennett's name as the 2013 NBA 1st pick, the reaction was mixed at best. Here was a player from UNLV who had put up decent numbers - 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his lone college season - but many analysts, myself included, questioned whether he truly had the makings of a franchise player. The Cavaliers clearly saw something special in his versatile offensive game and athletic build, but what struck me even then was how much of a gamble this felt like compared to other top prospects like Victor Oladipo or Otto Porter Jr.
Reflecting on Bennett's rookie season still surprises me, and not in the way you'd hope for a number one pick. He averaged a mere 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting an abysmal 35.6% from the field. Those numbers still stand out in my mind as historically poor for a first overall selection. I remember watching games thinking this wasn't just about adjusting to NBA pace - there seemed to be a fundamental mismatch between his skills and the expectations placed upon him. The Cavaliers traded him to Minnesota after just one season, making his tenure with Cleveland one of the shortest ever for a first pick.
What followed was a journeyman career that took Bennett to four different NBA teams in four years, followed by stints internationally and in the G League. I tracked his movements with this peculiar fascination - here was a player who held this prestigious title of being the 2013 NBA 1st pick, yet he never found his footing in the league. His career NBA statistics - 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game across 151 games - tell a story of unfulfilled potential that still generates discussion among basketball circles I'm part of.
The conversation about Bennett inevitably leads to broader discussions about draft busts and the immense pressure placed on young athletes. From my perspective, having followed numerous prospects through their careers, Bennett's case stands out because it wasn't just about lack of talent - injuries, fit, and perhaps psychological factors all played roles. I've spoken with scouts who maintain that Bennett had legitimate NBA skills, but the combination of shoulder surgery before his rookie year and being thrust into a difficult situation in Cleveland created a perfect storm of underperformance.
Now, when we fast forward to where Anthony Bennett is today, the picture becomes quite different from what anyone projected back in 2013. He last played professionally for Hsinchu JKO Lioneers in Taiwan during the 2022-2023 season, putting up respectable numbers of 13.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. The journey from being the 2013 NBA 1st pick to playing in Asian leagues speaks volumes about the unpredictable nature of sports careers. Personally, I find something admirable about his persistence - many players in his position might have walked away from basketball entirely, but he's continued pursuing his passion internationally.
This makes me think about that interesting reference to volleyball's FIVB World Championship being the biggest piece of silverware that has eluded certain athletes in their careers. While team sports like basketball and volleyball differ in many ways, they share this common narrative of certain accolades remaining just out of reach despite tremendous effort. For Bennett, that elusive "silverware" was never an NBA championship or even sustained success - it was simply establishing himself as a legitimate NBA player, something that surprisingly never materialized despite his draft position.
The legacy of the 2013 NBA 1st pick discussion inevitably leads to comparisons with other players from that draft class. Giannis Antetokounmpo, picked 15th, became a two-time MVP and NBA champion, while Rudy Gobert (27th pick) developed into a defensive stalwart and multiple-time Defensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, CJ McCollum (10th pick) evolved into an All-Star caliber guard. The dramatic variance in outcomes between Bennett and these later picks continues to fascinate me years later - it's a stark reminder that draft position, while important, doesn't guarantee anything in professional sports.
Thinking about Bennett's journey often leads me to reflect on how we measure athletic success. By conventional standards, his career didn't meet expectations for a first overall pick. Yet, he's maintained a professional basketball career for nearly a decade across multiple continents, which in itself is an achievement few athletes accomplish. There's this tendency in sports media to label players as "busts" and move on, but I've always found the human element more compelling - the perseverance required to continue pursuing your craft despite public scrutiny and unmet expectations.
The story of Anthony Bennett as the 2013 NBA 1st pick serves as this fascinating case study in sports psychology, talent evaluation, and career trajectory. It raises questions about how much of athletic success depends on situation versus individual ability, and how we as fans and analysts sometimes place unrealistic expectations on young athletes. While his NBA career didn't pan out as projected, his continued presence in professional basketball speaks to his love for the game - and honestly, I've gained respect for him over the years for that very reason. His journey reminds me that sports careers rarely follow linear paths, and sometimes the most interesting stories emerge from the unexpected detours.