7. Paul George, 2010, 10th overall
Paul George has had a polarizing career in the NBA thus far, but if there’s one certainty it’s that he’s one of the most talented players to come out of the NBA Draft in the last decade. He can do it all and is both an offensive and defensive monster. He’s generally not the talent that you expect to find at No. 10 overall, which the Pacers got in 2010.
Even though he eventually found his way out of Indiana, what he did with the Pacers can’t be overlooked. He helped carry them to the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back years and came within one win of the NBA Finals in 2013.
Now with the LA Clippers, George has helped create a second contender in Los Angeles. Averaging 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists, George and Kawhi Leonard were seen as the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers and, by some, the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Championship.