Ranking every first overall pick in NBA history

6. 2012: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets

If I were to write this, say, five years, down the line, Anthony Davis would probably be two or three spots higher on this list. At only 25, it seems almost inevitable that Davis will become one of the two best players in the NBA — he’s already one of the top five.

After spending a year at John Calipari’s NBA prep school, also known as the University of Kentucky, Davis entered the league as a player who at the very least projected to be one of the best defensive big men in the game due to his athletic ability and stretchy frame. He has more than lived up to that end of the scouting report; as of Dec. 22, 2018, 24.2 of his 68 win shares are defensive.

Over the last couple of years, the offense has caught up to the springiness and the defensive prowess. There is almost nothing Davis can’t do — he can put the ball on the floor like a guard, beat his man with a bevy of post moves, and he can stretch the defense with his 3-point shooting.

A soon-to-be- six-time All-Star once the fans vote him in in January 2018, Davis’ last three season have been phenomenal: 27.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 58.5 TS%. He is a transcendent star that can turn any team he plays for into a playoff contender at the very least.

Whether Davis stays with the New Orleans Pelicans, goes to the Boston Celtics, or joins LeBron in L.A., it seems fairly certain that Davis will be one of the all-time great players as long as he stays healthy.