(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The 2020 NBA Draft class has turned out to be a very good one.
There were plenty of doubts about some prospects, given the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it tough for scouts.
At one point, there was even a debate about whether Anthony Edwards should’ve gone ahead of LaMelo Ball and/or James Wiseman.
In hindsight, the answer is pretty clear.
Notably, that also made Tyrese Haliburton, one of the rising stars of the game, slip all the way to the No. 12 spot.
Recently, the Indiana Pacers star claimed that he was okay with being drafted by almost every team except for the Atlanta Hawks or Cleveland Cavaliers (Via AZ Sports & NBA Central).
Tyrese Haliburton says he was open to being drafted by Phoenix and nearly any team except Atlanta and Cleveland
“I was open to going anywhere that wasn’t those two teams. And any team that didn’t pick me, I don’t know.”
(Via @AZSports ) pic.twitter.com/YkKMn48JLb
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 9, 2024
He didn’t elaborate or reveal why, but that most likely had to do with the fact that those teams were already set with young point guards like Trae Young and Darius Garland.
Ironically, that was also the case with the Sacramento Kings, and they had him share the backcourt with De’Aaron Fox before the Domantas Sabonis trade.
He also questioned some of the teams who passed on him, and truth be told, there’s a big chance he would’ve gone as high as No. 2 in a re-draft.
That class featured the likes of the aforementioned Edwards, Ball, and Haliburton, as well as Tyrese Maxey, Jaden McDaniels, and Immanuel Quickley, not to mention some solid role players such as Precious Achiuwa, Payton Pritchard, Josh Green, and Devin Vassell, so against all odds, it didn’t turn out to be as bad as expected.
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