NBA 2012 Draft Order: A Look Back at the Top Picks

The 2012 NBA draft was a highly anticipated event, with many expecting top prospects to make an immediate impact in the league. Now, five years later, we take a look back at the top picks from that year''s draft and see how they''ve fared.

With the first overall pick, the Orlando Magic selected forward Andrew Nicholson. Nicholson showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie season, but ultimately struggled to find consistent playing time and has since bounced around the league, playing for teams like the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz.

The Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) took center Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick. Gilchrist had a strong rookie campaign, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. He''s since become a reliable contributor off the bench for the Hornets, averaging around 6 points and 5 rebounds per game.

The Washington Wizards selected Bradley Beal with the third overall pick. Beal has been a bright spot in an otherwise struggling franchise, developing into one of the league''s top shooting guards. He''s averaged over 15 points per game and made his first All-Star appearance last season.

With the fourth overall pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers took point guard Dion Waiters. Waiters had a solid rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to the Detroit Pistons. He''s since become a key contributor off the bench, averaging around 9 points and 3 assists.html">assists per game.

The New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) selected anthony.html">Anthony Davis with the fifth overall pick. Davis has been an absolute steal for the Pelicans, developing into one of the league''s top players.html">players. He''s averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game and made his first All-Star appearance in just his second season.

The Phoenix Suns took center Andre Drummond with the ninth overall pick. Drummond has become a dominant force in the paint, earning NBA All-defensive.html">Defensive First Team honors last season. He''s averaged over 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game and is considered one of the top young big men in the league.

As we look back on the 2012 NBA draft, it''s clear that some teams got it right, while others didn''t quite hit the mark. But for those who did, they''ve been rewarded with talented players who have become key contributors to their respective franchises.