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A Look Back at the Top Picks From the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft
I still remember the excitement buzzing through the Philippine Basketball Association arena back in October 2017 - the air thick with anticipation as teams prepared to select the future cornerstones of their franchises. Having covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous draft classes come and go, but the 2017 batch holds a special place in my analysis. What made this particular group stand out wasn't just the raw talent on display, but something more fundamental about how these players approached their professional transition.
When I look at Christian Standhardinger going first overall to San Miguel Beermen, the numbers immediately jump out - he was coming off an impressive 26.7 points per game in the ASEAN Basketball League. But what truly fascinated me was watching his mental preparation during those early months. I recall talking to his training team and learning how he'd spend equal time in the film room as he did on the court, studying PBA defensive schemes while others were just working on their jump shots. This approach reminds me of that crucial insight from sports psychology: "But the thing that got her through such a rough stretch in her career was taking time not only to prepare her body but also to sharpen her mind." Standhardinger embodied this philosophy from day one, which explains why he managed to average 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in his rookie season despite the tremendous pressure.
Then there's Jason Perkins, who went fourth to Phoenix Fuel Masters - honestly, I had my doubts about whether his game would translate to the professional level. But boy, was I wrong. Perkins demonstrated this incredible mental resilience that you don't often see in rookies. I remember chatting with him after a tough loss where he'd missed a potential game-winner, expecting to find a discouraged young player. Instead, he was already breaking down film of his defensive rotations, talking about how he needed to "sharpen his mind" to read offensive sets better. This mental approach paid immediate dividends - he put up around 14.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 38% from three-point range, numbers that ultimately earned him Rookie of the Year honors over higher-profile picks.
What many fans don't realize is that the transition from collegiate or international basketball to the PBA involves more than physical adjustment. The mental game separates those who flourish from those who flounder. I've seen countless talented players struggle because they focused solely on physical preparation while neglecting the psychological dimension of professional sports. The successful picks from that 2017 draft class - players like Robbie Herndon and Sidney Onwubere - all shared this understanding that basketball intelligence needed equal attention to physical conditioning.
Looking back five years later, what strikes me most about that draft class isn't just the statistical achievements, but how these players have evolved mentally. The ones who've sustained their success are precisely those who continued to develop their basketball IQ alongside their physical skills. They understood early what many players learn too late - that professional basketball demands complete preparation of both body and mind. This dual approach has allowed several members of the 2017 class to become franchise cornerstones rather than flash-in-the-pan talents. As I reflect on that draft night back in 2017, I realize we weren't just watching athletes get selected - we were witnessing the emergence of players who would redefine what it means to be professionally prepared in Philippine basketball.