Looking Back at the 2013 NBA Draft: The 14 Players Picked Before Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA today. A two-time MVP, NBA champion, and Finals MVP, he has dominated the league with his incredible athleticism and all-around skillset. However, if you rewind to the 2013 NBA Draft, predicting his meteoric rise would have been nearly impossible. Taken with the 15th overall pick, Giannis was a raw prospect with potential, but many teams overlooked him in favor of players who have since struggled to make an impact. In this article, we’ll revisit the 14 players who were selected before Giannis and see where they are now.

The 2013 NBA Draft: A Historically Weak Class

The 2013 draft was infamously known for its lack of star power. Unlike most years, where there is a clear-cut No. 1 pick, this draft had multiple players being considered for the top spot, none of whom stood out as future superstars. The Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately selected Anthony Bennett with the first pick, a decision that would go down as one of the worst in NBA history.

1. Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Bennett was an intriguing prospect coming out of UNLV, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds on 53% shooting. However, he was completely unprepared for the NBA, struggling with his weight and conditioning. He lasted only one season in Cleveland before being traded. After brief stints with Minnesota, Toronto, and Brooklyn, he fell out of the league and has since played in the G-League and overseas.

2. Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic)

Oladipo showed early promise in Orlando, averaging 14 points per game as a rookie. However, the Magic made a questionable decision by trading him to Oklahoma City for Serge Ibaka. He later found success in Indiana, where he won the Most Improved Player award in 2018. Injuries have since derailed his career, but he remains a solid contributor.

3. Otto Porter Jr. (Washington Wizards)

Porter was a decent 3-and-D wing for the Wizards, averaging 13 points per game while shooting over 40% from three. He earned a $106 million contract but failed to develop into a star. He has since played for Chicago, Orlando, Golden State (winning a title in 2022), and Toronto.

4. Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats)

Zeller was an unathletic seven-footer who never became more than a role player. He spent eight seasons in Charlotte, averaging 9 points and 6 rebounds per game. He later played for Portland and remains a backup big in the league.

5. Alex Len (Phoenix Suns)

Len was one of the favorites to be taken No. 1 overall but never lived up to expectations. The 7-foot-1 center averaged just 8 points and 6 rebounds per game and has bounced around the league since leaving Phoenix.

6. Nerlens Noel (New Orleans Pelicans, traded to 76ers)

Noel was projected to go No. 1 before tearing his ACL. A strong shot-blocker, he never developed offensively and turned down an $80 million contract in hopes of a bigger payday—only to end up signing for far less. He has since played for several teams but remains a solid defensive big.

7. Ben McLemore (Sacramento Kings)

McLemore was a highly-touted prospect compared to Ray Allen due to his shooting ability. However, he never became more than a spot-up shooter, averaging 10 points per game. He has bounced around the league and played for the Blazers most recently.

8. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit Pistons)

KCP has been a reliable 3-and-D player, winning a championship with the Lakers in 2020. He was traded to Denver in 2022 and remains a valuable role player.

9. Trey Burke (Utah Jazz)

Burke was a star in college but struggled with efficiency in the NBA. He has played for multiple teams, most recently Dallas, and never found consistent success.

10. CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers)

McCollum is one of the few players from this draft to reach stardom. After a slow start, he developed into a dynamic scorer alongside Damian Lillard in Portland. Traded to New Orleans in 2022, he remains a key part of the Pelicans’ success.

11. Michael Carter-Williams (Philadelphia 76ers)

Carter-Williams won Rookie of the Year but never lived up to the hype due to his poor shooting. He has since bounced around the league and was waived by Orlando in 2022.

12. Steven Adams (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Adams has been a solid defensive center and elite rebounder. He played for OKC for years before being traded to the Pelicans and later the Grizzlies.

13. Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics)

Olynyk has had a respectable NBA career as a floor-spacing big, playing for multiple teams and averaging around 10 points per game.

14. Shabazz Muhammad (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Muhammad showed early promise, averaging 14 points in his second season. However, he quickly faded out of the league and has played overseas since.

15. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

And finally, we arrive at Giannis. When the Bucks took him at No. 15, he was a raw 6’9” forward with a seven-foot-three wingspan. Scouts saw potential but had no idea he would transform into a dominant two-way force. After years of development, he bulked up and refined his game, becoming one of the most physically imposing players in history.

Giannis has since won two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, an NBA championship, and a Finals MVP. In the 2021 Finals, he delivered an all-time great performance, scoring 50 points in the title-clinching game.

Conclusion: The Draft That Let Giannis Slip Away

Looking back, it’s astonishing that Giannis was drafted 15th. While he was raw, his size and skill set should have made him a top-five pick at the very least. Instead, many teams took players who would either struggle or fade out of the league.

The 2013 draft is a perfect reminder that scouting is an inexact science. It also serves as a testament to Giannis’s work ethic—he took his raw talent and turned himself into one of the best players the game has ever seen. While many teams regret passing on him, the Milwaukee Bucks will forever be grateful for taking a chance on the Greek Freak.