2018 NBA Mock

The National Basketball Association's first overall 2018 pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft. The first pick is awarded to the team that wins the NBA Draft Lottery; in most cases, that team had a losing record in the previous season. The team with the first pick attracts significant media attention, as does the player who is selected with that pick.

Eleven first picks have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award: Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (record six-time winner),Bill Walton, Magic Johnson (three-time winner), Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan(two-time winner), LeBron James (four-time winner), and Derrick Rose (youngest winner).

Since the advent of the draft lottery in 1985, only seven number one overall picks have won an NBA title. They are David Robinson,Shaquille O'Neal, Glenn Robinson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Andrew Bogut and Bill Walton

China's Yao Ming (2002) and Italy's Andrea Bargnani (2006) are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Ten other international players with U.S. college experience have been drafted first overall—Mychal Thompson (Bahamas) in 1978, Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) in 1984, Patrick Ewing (Jamaica) in 1985, Tim Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands) in 1997, Michael Olowokandi (Nigeria) in 1998, Andrew Bogut (Australia) in 2005, Kyrie Irving (Australia) in 2011, Anthony Bennett (Canada) in 2013, Andrew Wiggins (Canada) in 2014, and Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic) in 2016. Duncan is an American citizen, but is considered an "international" player by the NBA because he was not born in one of the fifty states or the District of Columbia.

Note that the drafts between 1947 and 1949 were held by the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The Basketball Association of America became the National Basketball Association after absorbing teams from the National Basketball League in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBA's draft history.

2018 NBA Draft Scout

After seeing players like Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and Kristaps Porzingis improve their stocks over the course of the past year in various ways, it's important to remember nothing is set in stone this early. That said, you can be certain NBA teams of all levels already have their sights on a few top-level prospects.

Here is a look at the next set of possible stars ready to make an impact in the NBA, as soon as many of them first start their college careers.

Note: Draft order based on predictions for upcoming season. Trades information courtesy of Pro Sports Transactions.

 

2018 NBA Mock Draft
Pos.
Team
Selection
1
Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons, SF, LSU
2
Denver Nuggets (via Knicks)
Skal Labissiere, C, Kentucky
3
Orlando Magic
Jaylen Brown, SF, Cal
4
Minnesota Timberwolves
Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
5
Toronto Raptors (via Nuggets)
Dragan Bender, PF, Bosnia
6
Sacramento Kings
Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
7
Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Malik Newman, SG, Mississippi St.
8
Detroit Pistons
Diamond Stone, C, Maryland
9
Charlotte Hornets
Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah
10
Indiana Pacers
Jamal Murray, PG, Kentucky
11
Boston Celtics (via Nets)
Nigel Hayes, SF, Wisconsin
12
Utah Jazz
Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey
13
Phoenix Suns
Caris LeVert, SF, Michigan
14
Portland Trail Blazers
Zhou Qi, C, China
15
Philadelphia 76ers (via Heat)
Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland
16
Boston Celtics
Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
17
Milwaukee Bucks
Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame
18
Toronto Raptors
Justin Jackson, SG, North Carolina
19
Philadelphia 76ers (via Thunder)
Troy Williams, SF, Indiana
20
New Orleans Pelicans
Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette
21
Boston Celtics (via Mavericks)
Dwayne Bacon, SG, Florida State
22
Atlanta Hawks
Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga
23
Memphis Grizzlies
Isaiah Briscoe, PG, Kentucky
24
Chicago Bulls
Ron Baker, SG, Wichita State
25
Washington Wizards
Damian Jones, PF, Vanderbilt
26
Los Angeles Clippers
Malik Pope, PF, UNLV
27
San Antonio Spurs
Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina
28
Phoenix Suns (via Cavaliers)
Jake Layman, SF, Maryland
29
Houston Rockets
A.J. Hammons, C, Purdue
30
Golden State Warriors
Alex Poythress, SF, Kentucky