Who Has the Number One Pick in the NBA Draft?

We’re just a week away from the NBA Draft, and the race for the number one pick is heating up. Who has the inside track?

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson is an American professional basketball player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest prospects in the history of the sport. He is projected to be the number one pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Why Zion Williamson is the number one pick

Zion Williamson is the projected number one pick in the 2019 NBA draft. He is a 6’7″ forward from Duke University. Williamson is considered one of the best players in college basketball history. He is a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year and won the John R. Wooden Award as a freshman.

Zion Williamson’s stats

In his one and only season at Duke, Zion Williamson was named the AP College Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, and the USA Today Sportsmen of the Year. He is also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award.

* Stats: Williamson averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 68.0 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range in 31 games (all starts) as a freshman during the 2018-19 season.

Ja Morant

The 2019 NBA Draft is complete, and the Memphis Grizzlies are on the clock with the number one overall pick. It’s been reported that they intend to select Murray State point guard Ja Morant with the top pick.

Why Ja Morant is the number two pick

Ja Morant is an electrifying point guard out of Murray State. He’s known for his high-flying dunks, creative passes, and game-changing ability on both ends of the floor.

At 6’3″, Morant has good size for a point guard. He’s also an explosive athlete with the speed and quickness to blow by defenders. Combine that with his advanced ball-handling skills and you have a player who is impossible to stay in front of.

Morant is more than just a scorer, though. He’s an outstanding passer with great vision and the ability to find teammates in all kinds of situations. He’s also a willing defender who takes pride in stopping his man.

There are some concerns about Morant’s shooting, but he proved during his Junior season that he can be an effective scorer from all three levels. He shot 36% from three-point range and 72% from the foul line.

The biggest knock on Morant is his age – he won’t turn 20 until mid-August. Some scouts feel he should have stayed in school for another year to continue developing his game.

At the end of the day, though, Morant is one of the most talented and exciting players in the draft. He has the potential to be a franchise-changing player and should be taken with the second overall pick.

Ja Morant’s stats

In his sophomore season, Ja Morant averaged 24.5 points per game, 10.0 assists per game, and 5.7 rebounds per game. He was the first player in NCAA Division I history to average at least 20 points and 10 assists per game in multiple seasons. Morant was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to win both awards in the same season. He was a consensus first-team All-American and won the John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s top player.

RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks have the number one pick in the NBA Draft, and they are expected to choose RJ Barrett from Duke University. Barrett is a 6’7″ shooting guard who is known for his scoring ability. He averaged 22.6 points per game during his freshman year at Duke.

Why RJ Barrett is the number three pick

RJ Barrett is the number three pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Barrett is a 6’7” shooting guard from Mississauga, Ontario who played one year of college basketball at Duke University. He was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year.

Barrett is considered one of the best pure scorers in the draft. He has a very strong wingspan (7’0”) and is an excellent athlete. He has a quick first step and can finish above the rim with ease. Barrett is also an excellent shooter, especially from three-point range. He shot 37% from three-point range during his lone season at Duke.

One area of concern for Barrett is his defense. He has the physical tools to be a good defender, but he struggles with focus and effort on that end of the floor. If he can improve his defense, he has the potential to be a very good player at the next level.

RJ Barrett’s stats

In his lone season at Duke, RJ Barrett averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press.