The Scenario
Anthony Bennett went #1 — widely considered the worst first pick ever. Meanwhile, a skinny 18-year-old from Greece named Giannis Antetokounmpo went #15. A decade later: Bennett is out of basketball. Giannis is a 2x MVP, DPOY, and NBA champion.
Anthony Bennett
#1 • Cavaliers
Victor Oladipo
#2 • Magic
Giannis
#15 • Bucks
CJ McCollum
#10 • Blazers
Giannis Antetokounmpo → Milwaukee Bucks (#15)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Kidd → Bud) | 80/100 | 15% | 12.0 |
| Development Patience | 98/100 | 20% | 19.6 |
| Roster Building Around Him | 90/100 | 15% | 13.5 |
| Market (Small, patient) | 95/100 | 10% | 9.5 |
| No Pressure (#15) | 95/100 | 15% | 14.3 |
| Ownership Commitment | 95/100 | 15% | 14.3 |
| Family Support System | 90/100 | 10% | 9.0 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 91.8 | ||
What Happened
Milwaukee bet on a raw 18-year-old from Greece who averaged 6.8 PPG in year 1. They let him develop at his own pace, added pieces around him (Middleton, Holiday), and trusted the process. By year 6: back-to-back MVP. Year 8: NBA champion and Finals MVP.The most physically dominant player since Shaq, developed the right way.
Giannis → Cleveland Cavaliers (#1)
The Alternate Timeline
Cleveland in 2013 was a mess. They'd already given up on Kyrie trade rumors. The following year, LeBron returned and the team became win-now. Would Giannis have gotten the 4 years of development time he needed? More likely: traded for "win-now" pieces, or buried behind LeBron's return. The patience Milwaukee showed wouldn't exist in Cleveland.
Anthony Bennett → Cleveland Cavaliers (#1)
| Factor | Rating | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC (Mike Brown) | 30/100 | 15% | 4.5 |
| Development Plan | 20/100 | 20% | 4.0 |
| Physical Conditioning | 15/100 | 15% | 2.3 |
| Roster Fit | 25/100 | 15% | 3.8 |
| Draft Evaluation | 10/100 | 20% | 2.0 |
| Confidence/Mental | 20/100 | 10% | 2.0 |
| Organization Direction | 25/100 | 5% | 1.3 |
| TOTAL FIT SCORE | 18.2 | ||
What Happened
Bennett averaged 4.2 PPG as a rookie on 35% shooting. Overweight, out of shape, and overwhelmed. Cleveland traded him after 1 year. He bounced around 5 teams in 4 years, then was out of basketball entirely. He was a reach at #1 — the evaluation was bad. But Cleveland's dysfunction made it worse.
Victor Oladipo → Orlando Magic (#2)
What Happened
Oladipo was solid in Orlando, then exploded in Indiana — All-NBA, Steals leader, MIP. Then tore his quad and was never the same. Bounced around, now a journeyman.The Magic years were fine. The injury erased his ceiling.
The Draft Class Comparison
Giannis (MIL)
2x MVP, Champion
Oladipo (ORL)
Injuries derailed
Bennett (CLE)
Worst #1 ever
Giannis (CLE)
Hypothetical: stunted
Point swing: Giannis (#15 MIL) vs. Bennett (#1 CLE)
The Verdict
Traditional Re-Draft Says:
"Giannis #1, then a massive gap, then everyone else"
Contextual Re-Draft Says:
"Giannis at #1 to Cleveland = probably traded for win-now pieces when LeBron returns. Milwaukee's patience was the key. Context created the Greek Freak."
The worst #1 pick ever and the best player of a generation came from the same draft.Cleveland took Bennett because he was "ready." Milwaukee took Giannis because they saw potential. Development context is everything.