While the top picks in the 2017 NBA Draft garnered early headlines last June, the rookie class wound up proving to be much deeper than most anticipated. That held particularly true for the Los Angeles Lakers and their selections of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart and Thomas Bryant.
Ball, taken with the No. 2 overall pick, was expected to make an immediate impact for the Lakers. But it was Kuzma who quickly shined and stole the spotlight from his rookie point guard. And by the end of the season, Hart showing flashes of his potential.
Outside of the Lakers, Donovan Mitchell is another first-year player who impressed.