Beware of the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft.
With mere days separating the association from its annual selection process, the official NBA Instagram account recapped one of the most important picks of all: No. 2. It showed each and every one of the players selected at that position of the draft dating back to 2005.
After 2007, you’re looking at a slippery slope.
2006 featured All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge ultimately ending up with the Portland Trail Blazers, while 2007 resulted in reigning MVP Kevin Durant going to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Take those names off of the list, however, and No. 2 isn’t a spot of glory.
It’s a spot of concern.
This likely isn’t the news that the Milwaukee Bucks, which hold the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, want to hear. The trio of Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins are close to unanimously projected to be the Top 3 picks, but history says at least one will falter.
If recent history tells us anything, it’s that Milwaukee is in the line for an underwhelming return. Fortunately, history doesn’t determine the future. Does it?
Should Milwaukee be concerned? Or is this just another coincidence?