5 Best NBA Draft Prospects Since LeBron James: From Wembanyama to Rose

The NBA has witnessed some great prospects over the years. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is considered the best draft prospect ever, and LeBron James followed him closely.

This year, Victor Wembanyama is considered one of the greatest prospects ever. The young Frenchman has been tipped to dominate the NBA for years. Wembanyama is not the only prospect that has been hyped since LeBron.

James, Giannis Antetokounmpoo, and Kevin Durant have lauded the young Frenchman who has been dominating in the French league. Few players live up to these lofty expectations, as we have seen in recent NBA Draft history.

Others like James have surpassed those expectations. Sports Brief looks at 5 of the most hyped prospects since James.

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5 most-hyped prospects since James

5. Derrick Rose

Rose was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and was selected by the Chicago Bulls. His athleticism, which was rare for a point guard, made many people take notice. Others were impressed by his ability to create a dribble-drive offense. The Chicago kid immediately became one of the top players in the league. He won Rookie of the Year, the MVP award, and led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals in his third season.

Rose's pre-draft concerns were shooting and passing vision. However, his career in the NBA was severely hampered by long-term injuries. He suffered an ACL injury in the opening game of the 2011/12 playoffs and has never been the same since, per Bleacher Report.

4. Greg Oden

Oden was considered the best defensive prospect since Tim Duncan. The 7-footer averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and a ridiculous 3.3 blocks per game in his only campaign with Ohio State. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him No. 1 over Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft, per CBS Sports.

Oden suffered constant knee injuries, which prevented him from fulfilling his true potential. He played only 82 games in six years for the Blazers.

3. Zion Williamson

In his lone season at Duke, Williamson displayed positional versatility, explosiveness, and elite defensive traits, and no one could stop him from getting to the rim with his 6'7", 285-pound frame. Some were concerned about whether he could stay healthy. He didn't.

The New Orleans Pelicans picked him No. 1 in the 2019 draft. He's played only 114 games and has averaged 25.8 points per game on 60.5 percent shooting in four seasons. However, injuries have hindered him. He played only 29 games in the 2022/23 season and missed the entire 2021/22 season. Can he overcome these injuries?

2. Anthony Davis

Before he got to Kentucky for the 2011/12 season, Davis was hyped. He could handle the ball like a guard and dominate the paint like a center. AD was the Naismith College Player of the Year and put up 186 blocks, an NCAA record, as he led Kentucky to the NCAA championship. The New Orleans Hornets selected him as the No. 1 pick in 2012, per Audacy.

Davis has been a consistent performer in his 11 seasons in the NBA. However, his last few years have been hindered by niggling injuries. He has averaged 24.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game and won the NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

1. Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama has been compared to Kevin Durant, and that reveals a lot. The young Frenchman can create off the dribble and can shoot threes, and his 7'4" frame gives him elite defensive ability. Many expect him to become the best player in the NBA. However, his slender frame could be a weak point when he comes up against stronger centers like Joel Embiid.

Honorable mentions: Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, John Wall, Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving.

Best No. 1 NBA picks

LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are probably the best No.1 picks in NBA history. No player has scored more points than those two.

They have won a combined 10 NBA titles and have numerous individual accolades. They are definitely on any top 5 list.