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The 2011 NBA draft class is recognized as one of the most talented in league history, with Kyrie Irving being picked first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now entering their 14th season, several players from this class have not only established themselves as stars but also future Hall-of-Famers.
With that in mind, here are the top five players from the 2011 draft class as they head into the 2024-25 NBA season.
Top 5 players from 2011 draft class in NBA 2024-25 season ft. Kyrie Irving
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#5. Nikola Vucevic
Selected16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2011 NBA draft, Nikola Vucevic has become a two-time NBA All-Star and a consistent contributor as a center.
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As he enters his fifth season with the Chicago Bulls, he has maintained career averages of 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his career while shooting 49.5% from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc.
#4. Klay Thompson
To have a four-time NBA champion listed fourth on this list shows the elite talent of the 2011 draft class. Klay Thompson was picked 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors and will likely go down in league history as the second-best shooter of all time following his former teammate Steph Curry.
Thompson embarks on a new chapter this season as he left the Warriors after 13 years with the team and joined the Dallas Mavericks during the offseason. The five-time NBA All-Star averaged 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his time with the Warriors while shooting 45.3% from the field including 41.3% from deep.
#3. Jimmy Butler
Since being selected 30th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Jimmy Butler has slowly ascended to become one of the most impactful players from the draft class. Following his Most Improved Player win in the 2014-15 season, Butler has cemented himself as one of the best two-way wings of all time, an elite scorer on one end and a high-level defender on the other.
While the six-time NBA All-Star has yet to win a championship, he led the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals appearances, including once as the lowest seed in the 2023 playoffs.
Butler can be one of the league's most lethal players when he's locked in and has averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.0% from the field in his career.
#2. Kyrie Irving
The top pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Kyrie Irving, is set to go down in NBA history as one of the best scoring guards and arguably the flashiest ball-handler. The former NBA champion and eight-time NBA All-Star has also proved to be an elite clutch player, delivering for his teams during crucial moments.
Heading into his second full season with the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving has averaged 23.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals in his career while shooting 47.4% from the field including 39.3% from deep.
#1. Kawhi Leonard
Picked 15th overall in the 2011 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi Leonard has cemented himself as one of the best two-way players in NBA history, along with being an elite clutch player.
Leonard has led the Spurs and the Toronto Raptors to championship wins over LeBron James' Miami Heat in 2014 and Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors in 2019, winning the Finals MVP award both times. The Klaw has also won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and is a six-time NBA All-Star.
Ahead of his fifth season with the LA Clippers, Leonard has averaged 20.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals in his NBA career while shooting 49.9% from the field including 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Health issues have hampered his career, but when healthy, he has proved to be one of the best forwards in the league. His health remains an asterisk for the Clippers this season, but with him healthy, any team he's on becomes an instant contender.
