Lamelo Ball vs Anthony Edwards: Who deserves the #1 pick?

With the NBA season postponed, and NBA fans stuck watching old highlights on YouTube, what better time for fans to think about the NBA draft: the source of new talent for the league, and something for NBA bloggers and you tubers to make posts on.

This years draft has some very high quality prospects, such as James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, Onyeka Okongwu, Killian Hayes, Cole Anthony, Tre Jones, Vernon Carey Jr, and Lamelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.

While all the prospects I mentioned could have very solid and long NBA careers, it’s Lamelo Ball and Anthony Edwards who could be future league MVPs fighting to be drafted 1st. Which one makes a more compelling case? That’s what we’re looking at today.

Anthony Edwards played college ball at Georgia for 1 season as a 6’5” 225 pound shooting guard. He averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on 40.2% from the field. Before playing basketball, he played football, which gave us a basketball player with a football mentality, a dangerous combination. Anthony Edwards plays for his mom and grandma, who passed away within 8 months of each other. He was the SEC freshmen of the year, was a McDonalds All-American and Ballislife All American as well as making the SEC second team in college.

Lamelo Ball, on the other hand, played professional basketball for Australia’s NBL. He played for one year and was the rookie of the year while putting up averages of 17 points, 7 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game.

While Anthony Edwards is putting up great averages, Lamelo Ball is averaging 3 times the assists of Edwards and more rebounds; against GROWN MEN. Anthony Edwards is playing against 18-22 year olds. Lamelo Ball is playing against grown men and holding his own. He may not have the accolades that Anthony Edwards have, but there aren’t as many awards in the NBL. Lamelo Ball was also an MVP candidate for the NBL, but may have been discriminated against because of his age.

So who deserves the #1 pick in 2020? The answer? Both of them deserve the #1 pick. Who will actually be the #1 pick in the draft? It depends on the team that lands the #1 pick.

The top 5 teams that have the best odds for the #1 pick in the draft this year are the Warriors, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Hawks, and Pistons, in that order.

If the Warriors, Timberwolves, or Hawks get the #1 pick, then they will most likely take Anthony Edwards, as they all already have all star point guards in Steph Curry, D’Angelo Russell, and Trae Young.

The Cavaliers and Pistons, however, would most likely take Lamelo Ball with the #1 pick. Though you can be quite certain Lamelo’s dad, Lavar Ball won’t want him playing in a small market. Fun fact, did you know Lamelo’s middle name is Lafrance?

So personally, I think Lamelo Ball is more deserving of the #1 pick, but Anthony Edwards has a better chance of having a team that needs a star shooting guard. So take a look at who gets the #1 pick this year, and let me know in the comments who you think the #1 pick will be.