Jdub is the best player from the 2022 draft

Richardbroraps · Post #1 » by **Richardbroraps** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 4:36 am

1 1 Paolo Banchero~+PF United States Orlando Magic Duke (Fr.)
1 2 Chet Holmgren PF/C United States Oklahoma City Thunder Gonzaga (Fr.)
1 3 Jabari Smith Jr. PF United States Houston Rockets Auburn (Fr.)
1 4 Keegan Murray PF United States Sacramento Kings Iowa (So.)
1 5 Jaden Ivey PG/SG United States Detroit Pistons Purdue (So.)
1 6 Bennedict Mathurin SG/SF Canada Indiana Pacers Arizona (So.)
1 7 Shaedon Sharpe SG Canada Portland Trail Blazers Kentucky (Fr.)
1 8 Dyson Daniels PG/SG Australia New Orleans Pelicans (from L.A. Lakers)[A] NBA G League Ignite (NBA G League)
1 9 Jeremy Sochan PF Poland[n 2] San Antonio Spurs Baylor (Fr.)
1 10 Johnny Davis SG United States Washington Wizards Wisconsin (So.)
1 11 Ousmane Dieng SF France New York Knicks (traded to Oklahoma City)[a] New Zealand Breakers (New Zealand)
1 12 Jalen Williams+SG United States Oklahoma City Thunder (from L.A. Clippers)[B] Santa Clara (Jr.)
1 13 Jalen Duren C United States Charlotte Hornets (traded to Detroit via New York)[b] Memphis (Fr.)
1 14 Ochai Agbaji SG United States Cleveland Cavaliers Kansas (Sr.)
1 15 Mark Williams C United States Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans)[C] Duke (So.)
1 16 AJ Griffin SF United States Atlanta Hawks Duke (Fr.)
1 17 Tari Eason PF United States Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)[D] LSU (So.)
1 18 Dalen Terry SG United States Chicago Bulls Arizona (So.)
1 19 Jake LaRavia SF United States Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Memphis)[c] Wake Forest (Jr.)
1 20 Malaki Branham SG United States San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)[E] Ohio State (Fr.)
1 21 Christian Braun SG United States Denver Nuggets Kansas (Jr.)
1 22 Walker Kessler C United States Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah,[F] traded to Utah via Minnesota[c][d]) Auburn (So.)

It was a great draft, lots of solid NBA players, but Jdub has the highest win share of his draft class and is a very underrated 2 way beast.

Chuck Everett · Post #2 » by **Chuck Everett** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 4:49 am

Paolo, but Jalen has All-NBA potential. As does Chet.

Post #3 » by **Duke4life831** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:09 am

This is 100% box score watching from this season, so anyone feel free to add more nuance to this. I get Paolo got hurt and struggled that first month back from the injury.

The last 29 games of the season he averaged 28/7/5 on 58 TS%.

We saw him excel in the playoffs last year and today he dropped 36/11/4 on 60 TS%.

And there are 2 big things to factor into this.

1. ORL has the worst spacing in the NBA. They make the least amount of 3s and have the worst 3pt% in the league. Paolo probably had better spacing in college than he’s had in the NBA. The fact he’s able to do what he does with the worst spacing in the league is very impressive.

2. There is a massive difference between being the true and obvious #1 on a team vs not being that. Jalen gets to play off of the probable MVP. That makes his life on offense drastically easier.

I get the two way stuff with Jalen. I just think a 6’10 260+ pound point forward, who is a true #1 is just something that is harder to come by.

To be clear, this is no shot at Jalen. It’s more to the fact that Paolo was in the class and he’s showing that he is already a high level #1 option. Just imagine what he will look like when he gets to drive into a paint without having multiple help defenders help on him. And being able to kick out to multiple high level shooters. Looking at the stats, ORL only had 1 rotation player who shot better than 36% from 3. And that’s Caleb Houstan who was 11th in minutes and made just 64 3s on the season. The 2 guys on the team that made at least 100 3s on the season shot 34% and 29%. Not too impressive haha

The Real Dalic · Post #4 » by **The Real Dalic** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 7:12 am

It's easily Paolo and this is the type of crap most number 1 picks that actually show up and show out don't have to deal with.

JDub isn't even the second best. His teammate Chet Holmgren is also a lot better.

lethalizer · Post #5 » by **lethalizer** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 7:23 am

As a fan, I'm fine with getting two of the three best players from a draft, even if they are #2 and #3, and it looks like the Thunder did just that.

So, no complaints from me.

KillMonger · Post #6 » by **KillMonger** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:04 am

no shot at j dub, really good player no question....it's paolo

Mr Peanut · Post #7 » by **Mr Peanut** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:37 am

JDub is great, but for the majority of fans Paolo is still at the top.

Post #8 » by **MoneyTalks41890** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:55 am

His defense is still underrated and it’s closer than I think some folks want to admit

Post #9 » by **Dadouv47** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 11:00 am

I think it's very close between Banchero, Chet and JDub but as of today I would still rank JDub 3rd. Chet unique skillset makes him more valuable than JDub and Banchero is really elite. That being said it's pretty close from that top 3 and I think there's a decent chance JDub ends up being the best player of that draft.

AddiFB · Post #10 » by **AddiFB** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 11:01 am

Here we go again, again.

Johnny Tomala · Post #11 » by **Johnny Tomala** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 11:24 am

Banchero. J-Dub just plays on great team.

The Master · Post #12 » by **The Master** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 11:34 am

Last two regular seasons, J-Dub without SGA on a court averaged (per36) 27-7 on 58TS% with elite defense, so yeah, so far it's unproven, but he may be the best player of this class right now, and he's clearly the best player this year. SGA and depth aren't the only reasons OKC had one of the most dominant regular seasons ever.

Easily the most underrated player of OKC team, borderline All-NBA player already. Put Williams on a weaker team, and he'll give you 26-6-6 with two-way impact.

PhilBlackson · Post #13 » by **PhilBlackson** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 11:54 am

Lol no.

Much love to JDub, he’s a stud and you can check receipts that I was praying that my Raps would stop chasing a pointless Playoff appearance so we might be in position to draft him. But he’s simply not better than Paolo and it won’t surprise me if his teammate Chet ends up better as well.

brackdan70 · Post #14 » by **brackdan70** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:15 pm

Too early to tell. This past season he was the best player from his draft due to Injuries with Chet and Paolo, but I think in a re-draft you still take Banchero number one.
Williams has outplayed his draft position for sure and it’s a credit to him that we are having this conversation.

BadWolf · Post #15 » by **BadWolf** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:20 pm

Let's see how he performs in these playoffs, when it matter. He was quite disappointing last year in big games.

bbms · Post #16 » by **bbms** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:21 pm

so far yes, and there shouldn't really be a question if you consider the aggregated delivery to respective franchises.

the two best prospects from the class, one has box score stats but didn't achieve a single significantly positive impact metric season (banchero), and the other is also a two way player and another impact metric beast but missed more games than played since he was drafted (chet).

in this time frame jdub solidified himself as all-nba and dpoy level worthy player.

CobraCommander · Post #17 » by **CobraCommander** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:44 pm

I’m going with Jonny Davis of the wiz - that TACo bell commercial was clutch

Post #18 » by **Mavrelous** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:50 pm

Chet is better, but he's #2.

The Master · Post #19 » by **The Master** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 1:00 pm

Mavrelous wrote:Chet is better, but he's #2.

Chet can be better if he stays healthy, his defensive splits in these 30 games were ridiculous, the best stats as a rim protector since we have a data access for rim protection %s. Crazy to think considering his offensive upside as well.

brackdan70 wrote:Too early to tell. This past season he was the best player from his draft due to Injuries with Chet and Paolo, but I think in a re-draft you still take Banchero number one.
Williams has outplayed his draft position for sure and it’s a credit to him that we are having this conversation.

Yeah, you're right, I think I'd go:

1. Chet
2. Banchero
3. Williams

in re-draft, upside-considered only, but at some point you have to give flowers for the players based on what they actually deliver on daily basis.

J-Dub is having the best career among any of these 2022 class players so far. He's older tho than both Chet and Paolo, so long-term they still have a year or two of development more.

bbms · Post #20 » by **bbms** » Mon Apr 21, 2025 1:21 pm

The Master wrote:
Mavrelous wrote:Chet is better, but he's #2.

Chet can be better if he stays healthy, his defensive splits in these 30 games were ridiculous, the best stats as a rim protector since we have a data access for rim protection %s. Crazy to think considering his offensive upside as well.
brackdan70 wrote:Too early to tell. This past season he was the best player from his draft due to Injuries with Chet and Paolo, but I think in a re-draft you still take Banchero number one.
Williams has outplayed his draft position for sure and it’s a credit to him that we are having this conversation.
Yeah, you're right, I think I'd go:

1. Chet
2. Banchero
3. Williams

in re-draft, upside-considered only, but at some point you have to give flowers for the players based on what they actually deliver on daily basis.

J-Dub is having the best career among any of these 2022 class players so far. He's older tho than both Chet and Paolo, so long-term they still have a year or two of development more.

a redraft is a different question. chet and banchero's higher upsides becoe more relevant in a redraft than a "best player so far".

jdub has been the best from the three, but would be only 3rd pick in a redraft.

Jdub is the best player from the 2022 draft?