Looking Back at the NBA Draft Class of 2016: Where Are They Now?

I remember sitting in my living room back in June 2016, watching the NBA Draft unfold with that particular excitement reserved for what many were calling one of the deepest classes in recent memory. The air was thick with anticipation - analysts were comparing this group to the legendary 2003 class featuring LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Eight years later, I find myself reflecting on how these projections have aged, while simultaneously following the fascinating developments in international basketball where teams like Korabelka, Chinese Taipei, and the under-21 national teams of Vietnam and Thailand are creating their own narratives in tournaments across Asia. There's something compelling about tracking careers from their very inception, watching the divergence between expectation and reality that makes sports so endlessly fascinating.

When Ben Simmons was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, the consensus was that Philadelphia had secured their franchise cornerstone. I recall thinking he had all the tools to revolutionize the point guard position with his unique combination of size and court vision. His rookie season, delayed by injury until 2017-18, seemed to validate the hype when he averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists - numbers that earned him Rookie of the Year honors. Yet here we are in 2024, and Simmons' career has taken such an unexpected trajectory. The shooting limitations that critics worried about never materially improved, and his confidence appears significantly diminished after various injuries and playoff struggles. He's playing for Brooklyn now, averaging just 6.9 points last season - a far cry from those early Philadelphia days when he seemed destined for superstardom.

Brandon Ingram went second to the Lakers, and I've always had a soft spot for his game. There's a smoothness to his offensive repertoire that you just can't teach, that natural scoring instinct that makes basketball look effortless. His time in Los Angeles was complicated by the arrival of LeBron James, but his trade to New Orleans ultimately provided the opportunity he needed to blossom into an All-Star in 2020. He's averaged over 23 points per game for four consecutive seasons now, developing into that reliable scoring wing every team covets. What fascinates me about Ingram's development is how he's managed to thrive despite not becoming the primary superstar many projected - he's found his niche as an elite secondary option, and there's genuine value in that.

Then there's Jaylen Brown, selected third by Boston, who represents perhaps the greatest success story of this draft class. I'll admit I had reservations about his handle and playmaking early on, but his work ethic has been nothing short of remarkable. He's improved his scoring average every single season, culminating in that supermax extension last summer and now an NBA championship. Watching him develop from an athletic prospect with questionable shooting into an All-NBA caliber player averaging 26.7 points on 49% shooting has been one of the genuine pleasures of covering the league these past eight years. His partnership with Jayson Tatum has propelled Boston back to championship contention year after year, finally breaking through this season.

The international flavor of this draft class deserves special mention, particularly when we consider how global basketball continues to evolve. Domantas Sabonis went 11th to Orlando before being traded to Oklahoma City, and he's developed into a three-time All-Star whose rebounding and playmaking from the center position have been revolutionary for Sacramento. Meanwhile, players like Pascal Siakam (27th pick) and Malcolm Brogdon (36th pick) have far exceeded their draft positions, with Siakam winning a championship in Toronto and Brogdon capturing Rookie of the Year honors. What strikes me about this international contingent is how their development pathways often differ from American players - many spent additional time overseas or in the G-League before breaking out, demonstrating the value of alternative development models.

This brings me to the parallel basketball universe where teams like Russian club and defending champion Korabelka operate, along with the rising programs from Chinese Taipei and the under-21 national teams of Vietnam and Thailand. While covering the NBA remains my primary focus, I've developed a growing appreciation for these international ecosystems where player development follows different rhythms and timelines. The under-21 teams from Vietnam and Thailand particularly interest me - they represent basketball's continued globalization and the emergence of new talent pipelines that could eventually feed into future NBA drafts. I've watched enough international basketball to know that today's developing program can become tomorrow's talent factory, much like how Australia and Canada have emerged as consistent producers of NBA talent over the past decade.

As I reflect on the 2016 draft class today, what stands out isn't just the individual successes and disappointments, but the varied pathways careers can take. Simmons' early stardom giving way to uncertainty, Brown's gradual ascent to champion, Ingram finding his place as an elite scorer rather than a franchise centerpiece - these narratives remind me that player development is anything but linear. The 2016 class has produced 12 players who have made at least one All-Star appearance, with combined career earnings exceeding $1.8 billion according to my calculations. Yet for every success story, there are players like Dragan Bender (4th pick) or Kris Dunn (5th pick) who never quite found their footing in the league despite their high draft positions.

What I've come to appreciate over years of covering basketball is that evaluating talent requires acknowledging both the measurable and the intangible. The 2016 draft class taught me to value continued development over initial hype, to recognize that a player's journey doesn't end on draft night but rather begins there. As I watch the next generation of talent emerge from places like Vietnam, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei, I'm reminded that basketball's future stars are developing in gyms and leagues around the world, each with their own unique path ahead. The class of 2016 may not have quite lived up to those initial comparisons to 2003, but it produced its share of stars, role players, and cautionary tales - the full spectrum of what makes following the NBA draft such a compelling annual tradition.