One season was all they needed. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin proved they were NBA-ready almost immediately, and their careers show exactly why they're among the greatest one-and-done prospects ever.
The one-and-done rule has produced hundreds of NBA players over the past two decades, but only a select few have gone on to become all-time greats. In Bleacher Report's recent ranking of the 15 best one-and-done NBA draft prospects of all time, three former Brooklyn Nets made the cut: Kevin Durant at No. 1, Kyrie Irving at No. 9 and Blake Griffin at No. 10.
Each player's path looked a little different, but they all had one thing in common: one college season was all they needed before leaping to the NBA.
Durant sits atop the list for good reason. After one dominant season at Texas, the 6-foot-11 forward entered the 2007 NBA Draft and immediately established himself as one of basketball's most unstoppable scorers. Bleacher Report called him the "gold standard" for one-and-done prospects, pointing to a career that already includes an MVP award, two Finals MVPs, four scoring titles and a place among the greatest scorers the game has ever seen.
In hindsight, it never felt like Durant needed another year at Texas. His combination of size, shooting touch and shot creation was already unlike anything scouts had seen. Even as a teenager, he had an offensive game that translated almost seamlessly to the NBA. Some prospects spend their freshman year proving they're ready for the next level. Durant spent his freshman year proving he was already there.
Irving's college career couldn't have been more different. A toe injury limited him to just 11 games at Duke, leaving evaluators with a much smaller sample size than most top prospects. Even so, the Cleveland Cavaliers still selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011.
That decision paid off almost immediately.
Irving captured Rookie of the Year after averaging 18.5 points and 5.4 assists per game while showcasing the dazzling ball-handling and shot-making ability that would eventually make him one of the league's most skilled guards. From there, he built a résumé highlighted by nine All-Star selections and one of the biggest shots in NBA history, knocking down the go-ahead three-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals to help deliver Cleveland its first championship.
His brief stay at Duke never defined his legacy. Instead, it served as a reminder that elite talent doesn't always require years of college experience. When Irving was healthy, it was clear he was ready for the NBA from the moment he stepped on the floor.
Griffin's path was slightly different because NBA fans had to wait an extra year to see him play. After being selected first overall in 2009 following a dominant season at Oklahoma, a preseason knee injury forced him to miss what would have been his rookie campaign.
Once he finally made his regular-season debut, there was no adjustment period.
Griffin averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds, won Rookie of the Year unanimously and instantly became one of the NBA's biggest attractions. His elite athleticism produced nightly highlight reels, while his continued growth as a passer and later as a shooter helped him remain one of the league's top forwards throughout his prime.
Like Durant and Irving, Griffin never looked overwhelmed by the jump from college to the NBA. His freshman season at Oklahoma proved he was physically ready, and everything that followed only reinforced that belief.
The one-and-done rule has always fueled debate over whether elite prospects should spend more time in college before entering the NBA. Durant, Irving and Griffin are reminders that some players simply don't need it. All three arrived looking ready from Day 1, and each rewarded the team that trusted his talent. Their careers are proof that for truly special prospects, one year can be all it takes.
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