The 5 Best NBA Draft Picks of 2014

We take a look at the 5 best NBA draft picks of 2014. These are the players that have the potential to make the biggest impact in the league.

Andrew Wiggins

With the first pick in the 2014 NBA Draft the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Andrew Wiggins a 6’8″ small forward from Kansas. Wiggins was widely considered to be the best prospect in the draft, and he did not disappoint during his one year in college. He averaged 17.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Jabari Parker

The Bucks selected Jabari Parker with the second overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and so far he’s lived up to the hype. The former Duke standout is averaging 19 points and nearly nine rebounds per game and he’s been especially impressive lately, averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds over his last five games. He’s already one of the best players on a young Bucks team that is loaded with potential, and he has a chance to be a leader for years to come.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid the Philadelphia 76ers’ center, was the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft He is originally from Cameroon and played collegiate basketball at the University of Kansas

During his first two years in the NBA, Embiid averaged 20.2 points per game 7.8 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot during his rookie season and missed significant playing time due to injury during his first two seasons.

Embiid is widely considered to be one of the best players in the NBA when healthy and has been selected for the All-Star team twice (2017, 2018).

Aaron Gordon

As the 2014 NBA draft came to a close, the Orlando Magic ended up with one of the most versatile and athletic big men in the country. With their fourth overall selection, the Magic took Arizona Power Forward Aaron Gordon.

At 6’9″ and 220 pounds, Gordon has the size and strength to battle down low with the best of them. He also has the leaping ability and explosiveness to finish above the rim with ease. But what sets Gordon apart from other big men is his speed and quickness. He has the lateral quickness to stay in front of smaller, quicker players on defense, and he has the speed to run the floor and finish in transition on offense.

Perhaps Gordon’s most impressive attribute is his versatility. He has the ability to play and defend multiple positions on both ends of the floor. On offense, he can score inside with his back to the basket or facing up from mid-range. He can also put the ball on the floor and get to the basket or pull up for a jumper. And he’s an excellent passer for a big man, often finding cutters or open shooters when he’s double-teamed in the post.

On defense, Gordon is equally as versatile. He has the strength to body up bigger players in the post, but he also has the quickness to defend smaller players on the perimeter. And he’s an excellent rebounder, using his athleticism and length to grab boards at both ends of the floor.

In short, Aaron Gordon is one of those rare players who can impact a game on both ends of the court like few others can. And that’s why he’s one of 2014 NBA Draft’s best picks.

Dante Exum

Dante Exum was born in Australia to American parents, and he didn’t start playing organized basketball until he was 15 years old. He played one year of college ball at the University of Utah before declaring for the NBA Draft Exum was drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2014.

He has been compared to Penny Hardaway and Magic Johnson and at 6’6” tall, he has the size to play either point guard or shooting guard Exum is an excellent shooter with a quick first step that allows him to get by defenders. He is a strong finisher at the rim and has the potential to be a very good playmaker in the NBA.

Exum missed most of his rookie season with a torn ACL, but he came back strong in 2015-16 and averaged 14.0 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He was limited to just 24 games in 2016-17 due to injury, but he is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2017-18 Season Exum is still just 22 years old and has a lot of potential. He could develop into one of the best players from this Draft Class