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The NBA broke its record for the most freshman selected in the first round on Thursday. Duke’s Harry Giles became the 14th one-and-done player taken in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft when the Sacramento Kings picked him No. 20. That broke the 2015 record of 13 freshmen picked in the first round.
The 2017 draft also marked the first time in league history in which the top five picks (Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Josh Jackson, and De’Aaron Fox) were all freshman. Nine of the first 10 picks were freshmen — the only exception was French guard Frank Ntilikina, chosen No. 8 by the New York Knicks.
The one-and-done era may be coming to an end, however. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently said he feels the league’s age minimum is no longer working for prospects, college basketball, or NBA teams. The players’ union has rejected overtures to increase the age minimum to 20 — requiring two years of post-high school time — so the NBA may leverage its developmental league to work out a compromise.