The #2 picks in the NBA draft that were better than #1.

Expectations are high, comparisons are immediate and the market for players is moving at a rapid pace at a time when the Association’s 30 franchises are betting on their future.

The last five classes or categories of the NBA Draft have made it clear that it is not always the top-rated prospects who will shine in their first years as professionals or have a promising future as stars of the league or later as All-Stars.

There are several examples that can be listed to demonstrate that being Pick 1 is not always synonymous with success on the court and, on the contrary, selections such as 2 or 3 have had a greater impact on the league in recent years.

The most significant case right now is the 2019 Draft.

Zion Williamson appeared to great fanfare as the top-rated prospect in his class, with some even daring to point to him as the successor to LeBron James and understanding that in his third year in the NBA he has spent more time injured than on the court. On the contrary, Pick 2, Ja Morant, has become the sensation of the league during the current season leading the Memphis Grizzlies who occupied the second place in the Western Conference, giving and performing performances that every night border on the sublime, breaking records and franchise documents.

At this moment the point guard, a Murray State graduate, can sit at the same table as Stephen Curry and LeBron James to integrate the ‘Big Three’ that gives more spectacle in the best basketball in the world.

Morant’s great playing time with the Memphis Grizzlies and his blossoming romance with NBA fans led him to set an appearance record after his performance against the San Antonio Spurs on March 2.

Zion, on the other hand, has been unable to make his debut this season. On March 5, ESPN’s Andrew Lopez revealed that the former Duke forward would be joining the New Orleans Pelicans this week after spending nearly two months in Portland rehabbing from his right foot injury.

Talk of numbers between Morant and Williamson would be necessary and while one is charting his path as an NBA present and future, the other is closer to becoming part of one of those ‘divorce’ novels between player and franchise, which will likely result in a jersey change.

Another case similar to Morant-Williamson is the 2017 Draft.

Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum were, in that order, the first three picks and so far only Lonzo and Jayson have established themselves as benchmarks for their teams.

The eldest of LaVar Ball’s sons had a discreet passage in his rookie year for the Los Angeles Lakers in which he was one of the ‘victims’ of the transition that led him to the bubble championship. He shared the court with Zion Williamson in the New Orleans Pelicans where he began to show what he is capable of and now in his first season with the Chicago Bulls is an important part of the Big Three that forms along with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

For his part, Jayson Tatum is the pillar of the Boston Celtics’ future, a fan favorite and a two-time All-Star during his three years in the league.

For Fultz, things have been diametrically opposed. The Washington-trained point guard and No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, reappeared after a one-year injury absence with the Orlando Magic on Monday, Feb. 28 in a 119-103 win over the Indiana Pacers. He played 16 munidos coming off the bench and contributed 10 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds.

Fultz’s career, like Williamson’s, ended with a lot of expectations and has not lived up to what is expected of a Pick 1.

However, aside from this pair of cases, there are also more evenly matched classes where the top three picks are of a similar level. The Class of 2021 has shown signs that Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley are the future of the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively.

Likewise, the top three picks of 2018, DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Luka Doncic are already in their fourth year as bench players for their teams, have been All-Stars or made the Finals and have proven that their selection in the top 3 was justified.

And while Zion still has time to prove his potential and justify his No. 1 selection, Morant’s lead in the race to be the brightest star of 2019 is already unreachable.