National Basketball Association

Top 5 Players From 2012 NBA Draft

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In a draft class loaded with talent and headlined by a transcendent star-caliber player, here’s a look at the top 5 players from the 2012 NBA Draft.

Mar 14, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Trail Blazers defeated the Pelicans 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

There was no question who the top pick would be in the 2012 NBA Draft. After all, players like Kentucky center Anthony Davis don’t come along that often.

Davis had as fantastic of a season as one could hope for from a one-and-done, posting a stat line of 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and an astonishing 4.7 blocks a game while sweeping conference and national awards and leading the Wildcats to a 38-2 record and a national championship.

The then-New Orleans Hornets essentially had their choice made for them, and Davis has more than validated his number one overall selection in his short career.

However, he has not been the only All-Star caliber player to emerge from this draft class.

In just four short years, four players from the 2012 NBA Draft have earned All-Star and All-NBA honors while one has even captured an NBA championship. What makes this class even more special is that its best players weren’t the heralded stars on Final Four teams.

They were prospects who were either written off as ones who were too raw or whose skills didn’t translate to the pros while others flew under the radar altogether.

Here are five players who have risen above the rest in the class of 2012.

Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives the lane for a basket past Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions

Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks (Round 1, Pick 7): Harrison Barnes was arguably one of the 2012 draft’s most recognizable prospects as the star of the North Carolina Tar Heels, averaging 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds a night while leading the Heels to the Elite Eight.

His star power has yet to translate to the NBA, however, and that’s largely due to a lack of opportunity playing behind All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and another player on this list on a championship team in the Golden State Warriors.

Barnes will finally get the chance to prove his mettle as a go-to guy with the Dallas Mavericks, and it will be interesting to see if he can channel the scoring prowess that made him the top recruit coming out of high school and a highly coveted player coming out of college.

Jae Crowder, Boston Celtics (Round 2, Pick 34): After being sparingly used as a spot-up shooter with the Dallas Mavericks, Jae Crowder has emerged as a crucial player on a competitive Boston Celtics team.

That stat line doesn’t speak to his impact as one of the most versatile defenders in the league, ranking seventh among small forwards in defensive real plus-minus last season.

Statistically, one could argue that his well-rounded play makes him the Celtics’ most valuable player — a statement backed by his 9.28 win shares, a mark that was the highest on the team and bested the likes of star players Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis and All-Star teammate Isaiah Thomas.

Whatever happens for the Celtics going forward, Crowder will be an essential part of it.

Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic (Round 1, Pick 20): French guard Evan Fournier didn’t give fans much to pay attention to in his first two seasons as a fringe reserve with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 6.9 points per game in 15.6 minutes a night.

However, Fournier has emerged as a solid offensive threat on the perimeter since being traded to the Orlando Magic.

In his first full season as a starter for the Magic, Fournier looked like a young Manu Ginobili, showing off immense offensive IQ on top of the silky shooting touch he possesses while putting career-highs across the board with 15.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals a contest on an efficient shooting split of .462/.400/.832.

Fournier’s ability to affect every column of the stat sheet offensively with craftiness and wit as well as his tenacious ball-hounding on the defensive end are very reminiscent of the feisty Argentine star, and are a major part of the reason the Magic gave him a five-year, $85 million contract to be their go-to perimeter scorer for the foreseeable future.

With Oladipo gone, Fournier will be called upon even more heavily to provide offense for the Magic next season and he will undoubtedly continue to improve in 2016-17.

Apr 6, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) looks up at the scoreboard against the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 121-103. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

5. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

2012 Draft Selection: Round 1, Pick 3 (WAS)
2015-16 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.0 SPG
Accolades: All-Rookie First Team (2013)

You know it’s a pretty good list when a dynamic scorer like Bradley Beal is only fifth.

The St. Louis product has been electric in the backcourt alongside John Wall, providing the outside shooting threat to combat the All-Star point guard’s elite penetration skills.

He’s established himself as one of the better isolation scorers the NBA has to offer, averaging 16.0 points per game for his career on a shooting split of .426/.397/.781.

Despite his obvious talent, the majority of the talk surrounding Beal continues to be negative.

Injuries have been a concern for the young 2-guard throughout his career with Beal missing an entire season’s worth of games in four seasons.

There’s also the controversy caused by recent comments from Wall about the duo’s lack of on-court chemistry, which could be a major problem as the team’s success relies heavily on the relationship between the two alpha dogs.

However, for all of that criticism, Beal’s on-court performance continues to dispel any notion of either issues having any real weight.

In the 55 games he did play last season, he was extremely effective, averaging career-highs in points per game (17.4) and field goal percentage (.449).

Despite the isolation tendencies of both players, the Wizards actually saw their field goal percentage increase, albeit by a measly .007 percent, and had 2.1 more assists when Wall and Beal were in the game together.

Beal has proved his mettle as a formidable scorer and the Wizards have seen enough over the course of his short career to believe in him — a belief that was made public when they agreed to give him a whopping five-year, $128 million deal.

With both talented guards being a part of the Wizards’ long-term plans, the duo will have to figure things out on the floor to ensure that the team returns to the success it’s enjoyed for the majority of their tenure together.

But for now, even with his struggles, Beal is too talented a player to pass up on this list.

Nov 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) gets defended by Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario (42) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Wizards win 97-95. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

4. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

2012 Draft Selection: Round 1, Pick 9 (DET)
2015-16 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 1.5 SPG
Accolades: All-Rookie Second Team (2013), Rising Stars Challenge MVP (2014), NBA All-Star (2016), NBA rebounding leader (2016), All-NBA Third Team (2016)

It took awhile, but Andre Drummond has finally realized the immense potential he displayed in his lone season at the University of Connecticut, where he averaged 10.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

Drummond came into the 2012 NBA Draft as a very raw prospect, not having the stats to match the unique athleticism and build that endeared him to scouts. Nevertheless, the Detroit Pistons were willing to take a chance on the then-18 year old and it has paid off immensely.

After a rookie year where he was treated as a project and only started 10 games, Drummond began to develop into a consistent double-double threat in his sophomore effort, averaging 13.5 points and 13.2 rebounds a game as the Pistons’ starting center and putting on a foreshadowing 30-point, 25-rebound performance in the 2014 Rising Stars Challenge on his way to MVP honors.

Since the arrival of head coach Stan Van Gundy prior to the 2014-15 season, Drummond has emerged as an absolute monster on the block reminiscent of another center of Van Gundy’s in Dwight Howard.

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Drummond broke out as a top-five center and an All-Star caliber player in 2015-16, averaging 16.2 points and a league-leading 14.8 rebounds a night while collecting 66 double-doubles, good for the top spot in the league.

Of those 66 double-doubles, six were games where Drummond brought down 20 or more rebounds.

Drummond’s dominance earned him his first All-Star and All-NBA nods and also led the Pistons to their first playoff appearance in seven years.

Like Beal, Drummond’s phenomenal play was rewarded with phenomenal pay this offseason as he signed a five-year, $130 million contract to stay on as the anchor of a young Pistons team on the rise.

The future is very bright for Drummond, and the Pistons will continue to grow behind the leadership of their dominant big.

May 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates after making a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in game one of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

2012 Draft Selection: Round 2, Pick 35 (GSW)
2015-16 Stats: 14.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.5 SPG
Accolades: NBA Champion (2015), 2X All Defensive First Team (2015-16), NBA All-Star (2016), All-NBA Second Team (2016)

Draymond Green remembers the 2012 NBA Draft. In fact, he remembers all 34 players that were selected before him and the order in which they were picked.

As he should — he was a solid collegiate player who put up 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals a game as a senior at Michigan State but was written off by critics for being too small to play the power forward position and not athletic enough to play the small forward position.

Boy, were they wrong.

Green has emerged as one of the elite defenders in the NBA, a consistent triple-double threat and the emotional leader of the greatest basketball team on planet Earth.

His positional versatility has been essential in the Warriors’ success on both ends as his combination of size, speed and all-around scoring ability creates matchup problems for opponents while his unique build allows him to defend multiple positions with ease.

Green can affect every area of the stat sheet, as his line of 14.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game and 13 triple-doubles in 2015-16 indicate.

He’s arguably the best defender the league has to offer, ranking fourth in defensive plus-minus, sixth in defensive win shares and 12th in defensive rating.

In just four years, Green is only surpassed by two other players on this list in overall talent and accolades and has accomplished something only one other player the others haven’t: winning an NBA championship.

As much as Green’s fiery competitive spirit gets him into trouble, it’s still a driving motivational factor for the Warriors and the team has taken on Green’s mean-spirited swagger.

With the Warriors adding Kevin Durant to the mix, Green’s scoring may take a hit but the rest of his game should continue to prove essential to the team’s monumental success.

Love him or hate him, Draymond Green is one of the elite all-around players in this league and one of the best players from the 2012 draft.

Nov 20, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point shot against the Los Angeles Clippers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

2. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

2012 Draft Selection: Round 1, Pick 6 (POR)
2015-16 Stats: 25.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.8 APG, 0.9 SPG
Accolades: NBA Rookie of the Year (2013), All-Rookie First Team (2013), All-NBA Third Team (2014), 2X NBA All-Star (2014-15), All-NBA Second Team (2016)

I’ll admit, I had to think about who to put over who between Draymond Green and Damian Lillard.

But that’s the story of Damian Lillard’s NBA career: making people who doubt his talent look stupid.

Since entering the league out of mid-major Weber State in 2012, Lillard has consistently been the most underrated superstar in the league.

He’s been a scoring juggernaut since his rookie year with a career average of 21.4 points a game and is a solid three-point shooter with a career percentage of .370.

However, Lillard’s most distinguishable trait by far is his cold-blooded clutch capabilities, most notably displayed in one of the best game-winners ever in Game 6 of the Blazers’ 2014 first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

Yet, as talented as Lillard is, those in positions of basketball power seem to have made it a point not to give him his due.

Prior to last season, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone outside of Portland willing to bet on the Trail Blazers making the playoffs.

But Lillard was the driving force in proving them wrong, becoming only the third Blazer ever to average 25 points a game while leading the team to not just make the playoffs, but earn the fifth seed and upset the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.

Even in a year where he averaged 25.1 points and 6.8 assists a night, he still somehow didn’t make the All-Star team in what was one of the most notable snubs ever.

It’s time for Lillard to come out from under the radar and receive his just due, and he’s certainly not underrated when it comes to his place in the 2012 NBA Draft class.

Jan 15, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates after a dunk against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hornets 109-107 Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

2012 Draft Selection: Round 1, Pick 1 (NOP)
2015-16 Stats: 24.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.3 SPG
Accolades: All-Rookie First Team (2013), 2X NBA blocks leader (2014-15), All-Defensive Second Team (2015), All-NBA First Team (2015), 3X NBA All-Star (2014-16)

Even though he lost the Rookie of the Year race to Damian Lillard in 2013 due to several injuries that caused him to miss significant time throughout his rookie season, make no mistake: Anthony Davis is still the No. 1 player in the 2012 draft class.

Davis’ skills haven’t just transferred to the pros; he’s developed some new ones that have made him an even more dynamic two-way superstar.

The Brow’s most revered and coveted skill has always been his shot-blocking and that hasn’t changed, as he’s averaged a phenomenal 2.4 blocks a game for his career.

He’s also continued to dominate on the boards, as evidenced by three straight seasons of averaging at least 10 rebounds a night.

However, what has evolved in Davis’ game is his offense as he has become one of the most versatile scoring weapons the league has to offer.

He’s too quick, agile and athletic for big men to stay in front of and has developed more muscle to bully smaller players who have the misfortune of being switched on him.

He’s got the ballhandling skills to take it to the basket and the bounce to finish with authority, but he’s also got a silky jump shot to scorch opponents from the post and midrange while even draining a few from deep as his .324 clip in 2015-16 indicates.

This nightmarish offensive game has catapulted the 22-year-old into superstardom earlier than most, and he brought it all together for a fantastic MVP-caliber season in 2014-15.