Looking back at the 2020 NBA Draft, I can't help but feel it was one of those special classes that quietly reshaped the league's landscape. I remember watching that virtual draft night thinking how surreal it felt - no roaring crowds, just prospects sitting at home with their families waiting for their basketball futures to be decided. Four years later, I'm struck by how many of these players have already become franchise cornerstones, with several facing off in matchups that feel like they've been brewing for years. That brings me to Anthony Edwards' recent comment about facing Devin Booker: "He's facing a longtime rival, and I know how much this means to him." That statement perfectly captures how these draft classmates have developed genuine rivalries that already feel like they have years of history behind them.
When Minnesota selected Anthony Edwards first overall, I'll admit I had my doubts about whether a kid who famously loved football more than basketball would develop the necessary dedication. Boy, was I wrong about that. Edwards has not only become the face of the Timberwolves franchise but has emerged as arguably the most electrifying two-way guard in the league. His playoff performances against Phoenix last season were nothing short of legendary - averaging 31.6 points per game while completely shutting down Booker defensively in their first-round series. Watching him drain contested threes and throw down those explosive dunks while talking trash to Booker the entire time, you could see this wasn't just another playoff matchup - this was personal. The way Edwards has embraced these competitive rivalries reminds me of the greats who always needed that extra motivation to reach another level.
Then there's LaMelo Ball, who went third to Charlotte after Golden State surprisingly selected James Wiseman second. I've followed the Ball family since Lonzo's UCLA days, and what's fascinated me most about LaMelo's development is how he's completely shattered the perception that he was just a flashy passer without substance. In his third season, he averaged 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from three-point range - numbers that put him in elite company historically for players his age. What gets lost in those statistics though is the sheer joy he plays with - the no-look passes from half-court, the deep logo threes he takes without hesitation, the way he's brought excitement back to a Hornets franchise that desperately needed it.
The real steals of this draft emerged in the middle and late first round. Tyrese Haliburton at pick 12 has become the engine of the Pacers' explosive offense, leading the league in assists with 10.9 per game while maintaining incredible efficiency. Desmond Bane at 30 developed from a 3-and-D specialist into a legitimate All-Star caliber player, averaging over 23 points per game before his injury. And Patrick Williams at 4, while slower to develop, has shown flashes of becoming the versatile two-way forward Chicago envisioned when they surprisingly took him ahead of several more hyped prospects.
What makes evaluating this draft class so fascinating from my perspective is seeing how these players have grown together and against each other. When Edwards faces Haliburton or Ball matches up with Tyrese Maxey (pick 21), there's an added intensity that comes from sharing that draft night experience. They've been measured against each other since entering the league, and now they're defining their careers through these emerging rivalries. The 2020 class might not have had the immediate hype of Zion Williamson's draft year, but I'd argue it has produced more high-level starters and All-Stars than any class since 2018. Four years in, with several players signing max extensions and others leading their teams deep into the playoffs, this group has proven to be the foundation upon which the next decade of NBA basketball will be built.