NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2008 NBA Draft’s first round
By Zach Wilson
#24 Pick – Seattle SuperSonics: J.J. Hickson (Originally: Serge Ibaka)
J.J. Hickson, like many other players in this draft, had solid years while in the league. Those years were cut short and he was out of the NBA by 2016.
His best seasons came as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, with multiple solid years in Cleveland as well. His two seasons in Portland saw him put up 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The next season he averaged 12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting above 54 percent on both seasons from the field.
His first season with the Denver Nuggets in 2013-2014 was solid as well, but it was a slow decline from there. Hickson was eventually waived by the Nuggets, signed to the Wizards, and played 15 games there to finish off his career in 2015-16.
Hickson fits into a common theme in this draft of guys who played minimal yet productive years in the NBA. He still had the 24th best career in this draft, but once again, a career cut short that included a rapid decline.