Ranking Banchero’s rookie season among the five most recent No. 1 picks

4. Deandre Ayton, 2018 Phoenix Suns

No, this won’t be about the fact that the Suns should have taken Luka Doncic; that’s ripe material for a different article. The focus is on Ayton, who had a fairly above-average season as a rookie and might be a bit better than most remember.

Ayton started 70 games for Phoenix in his rookie year, led the team in rebounding, and finished the year averaging a 16/10 double-double. He held down the middle on both ends of the floor, shot well inside of the arc, and had the 13th-most double-doubles in a player’s rookie year.

That interior dominance on the offensive end is something that Ayton has continued in his career, even if he hasn’t become a star just yet. There were flashes in his first campaign, however, that hint at an ever higher level that he could one day reach as an NBA scorer:

Even though Ayton has been a quality center his entire career, that doesn’t mean he’s been a great #1 overall pick. He’s done little to suggest he could be an All-Star soon, although that’s a function of his role as the fourth-best player on a title contender. It is notable as well that as a rookie, Ayton was clearly not the best in his own class.

In many ways, Ayton has improved from his rookie year by becoming a solid defender, improving his shooting, and playing his role excellently for the Suns. Still, he leaves a bit to be desired from a #1 pick and had a good, not great season as a rookie.