NBA 2011 Draft Review: A Look Back at the Top Picks

As the NBA season approaches its midpoint mark, it''s a great time to look back at the 2011 NBA draft and see how the top picks have fared. The 2011 draft was a highly anticipated one, with many experts predicting a deep and talented class.

The number one pick in the draft was Cleveland Cavaliers'' kyrie.html">Kyrie irving.html">Irving, who has since become one of the most dominant point guards in the league. Irving''s rookie season saw him average 18.5 points, 5.4 assists.html">assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game, earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

The second overall pick was Brandon Knight, a shooting guard from Kentucky. Knight has bounced around between several teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. While he''s never quite lived up to expectations, he remains a serviceable role player in the NBA.

The third overall pick was Enes Kanter, a Turkish center who has become a reliable starter for the Utah Jazz. Kanter''s rookie season saw him average 15.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and he''s since developed into one of the top centers in the league.

Other notable picks from the 2011 draft include Jonas Valančiūnas (14th overall), who has become a dominant center for the Memphis Grizzlies; Alec Burks (12th overall), who has become a reliable scorer off the bench for the Denver Nuggets; and Klay Thompson (11th overall), who has become one of the top shooting guards in the league with the Golden State Warriors.

In conclusion, the 2011 NBA draft was marked by some excellent picks that have gone on to have successful careers in the league. From Kyrie Irving''s dominance at point guard to Enes Kanter''s reliability as a center, this draft class has produced many talented players who continue to make an impact in the NBA.