A Complete Guide to the 2018 NBA Draft Order and Team Selections
I still remember sitting in my living room on June 21, 2018, watching the Barclays Center light up with anticipation. As someone who's followed the NBA draft for over a decade, there's something uniquely thrilling about draft night—the hopes of franchises and young athletes converging in one electrifying moment. The 2018 draft class was particularly fascinating because it came at a time when the league's landscape was shifting dramatically, with superteams dominating but fresh talent threatening to disrupt the established order.
The Phoenix Suns held that coveted first pick, and honestly, I had been tracking Deandre Ayton since his freshman year at Arizona. Standing at 7'1" with incredible athleticism, he seemed like the obvious choice for a team desperately needing a franchise center. When Adam Silver announced his name first, it felt both predictable and right—the kind of pick that makes you nod and think "of course." What surprised me more was Sacramento going with Marvin Bagley III at number two, bypassing Luka Dončić who many experts (myself included) considered the most talented player in the draft. I remember texting my fellow basketball junkies that night: "Sacramento just made a huge mistake." We'd see how that played out over the coming years.
Atlanta's selection at third overall began one of the most interesting maneuvers of the night—they grabbed Dončić, only to trade him to Dallas for Trae Young and a future first-round pick. This trade would become one of those franchise-defining moments people analyze for decades. I've always been fascinated by these draft-night trades—the way front offices gamble on their evaluations, sometimes hitting jackpots, other times regretting decisions for years. Memphis took Jaren Jackson Jr. at four, Dallas grabbed Trae Young at five (before the trade), Orlando selected Mo Bamba at six, Chicago took Wendell Carter Jr. at seven, Cleveland grabbed Collin Sexton at eight, New York picked Kevin Knox at nine, and Philadelphia rounded out the top ten with Mikal Bridges (who was later traded to Phoenix).
Looking back, what made this draft particularly compelling was how it reflected different team-building philosophies. Some teams prioritized positional needs, others simply took the best available talent. The Clippers, picking 12th and 13th, demonstrated a clear strategy by selecting two perimeter players—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. I've always admired when teams have a coherent plan rather than just reacting to who's available. Denver at 14th took Michael Porter Jr., a calculated risk given his injury history but one that's paid off handsomely.
The later first round contained several gems that have significantly outperformed their draft positions. Miami grabbing Bam Adebayo at 14 proved to be one of the steals of the draft—I'd watched him at Kentucky and knew his defensive versatility would translate well to the modern NBA. Utah's selection of Grayson Allen at 21 felt like a perfect fit for their culture, while Portland taking Anfernee Simons at 24 demonstrated their eye for developing guards.
What struck me most about analyzing this draft class was how quickly some players transformed their teams. Luka Dončić became the centerpiece in Dallas faster than anyone anticipated, while Trae Young evolved into Atlanta's franchise player. Meanwhile, some highly-touted picks like Mo Bamba have taken longer to find their footing. This variability is what makes draft analysis so challenging yet fascinating—we're essentially predicting human development, which is never linear.
The second round contained its usual share of surprises and overlooked talent. Jalen Brunson going 33rd to Dallas now looks ridiculous in hindsight—the guy would be a top-ten pick in a redraft. Gary Trent Jr. at 37th to Sacramento (later traded to Portland) developed into a lethal shooter, while Mitchell Robinson at 36th to New York provided immediate defensive impact. I've always loved second-round success stories—they remind us that talent evaluation is an imperfect science.
Reflecting on this draft several years later, what stands out is how it shaped the league's future trajectory. The 2018 class produced multiple franchise players and all-stars who are now defining the NBA's next era. The draft order itself told a story of teams at different stages—some rebuilding, others adding final pieces, all hoping they'd found their missing component. As I look at current NBA standings and see players from this draft class leading their teams, I'm reminded why I find the draft process so compelling—it's where futures are built, one selection at a time.