I still remember sitting in my living room during the 2021 NBA Draft, notebook in hand, tracking every selection with the intensity of a scout. That night felt particularly special because we were witnessing the first post-pandemic draft class, a group of players who had navigated unprecedented challenges to reach this moment. The energy was electric, both in Brooklyn and in living rooms across the basketball world. Looking back now, three years later, I can confidently say this draft class has proven to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory, with several players already establishing themselves as franchise cornerstones while others continue searching for their footing in the league.

When the Detroit Pistons selected Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick, I immediately thought it was the safest choice possible. Having watched him dominate at Oklahoma State with his 6'8" frame and elite playmaking, he seemed destined for stardom. Through his first three seasons, he's shown flashes of that potential, averaging around 20 points and 6 assists when healthy, though the Pistons' continued struggles make me wonder if he'll ever have the supporting cast to truly flourish. The real steal of the draft, in my opinion, came at pick number four when the Toronto Raptors selected Scottie Barnes. I'll admit I was skeptical at first—I thought they should have taken Jalen Suggs—but Barnes proved me wrong immediately, winning Rookie of the Year and developing into one of the most versatile defenders in the league. His ability to guard positions 1 through 5 while contributing significantly on offense makes him exactly the kind of modern NBA player every team covets.

The middle of the lottery produced what I consider the draft's biggest surprise success story. When the Golden State Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga at number seven, many analysts (myself included) questioned the fit. Golden State's system is notoriously difficult for young players to learn, and Kuminga seemed raw offensively. But watching his development over the past three seasons has been a masterclass in player development. Steve Kerr and his staff patiently brought him along, and now he's become an essential part of their rotation, averaging nearly 15 points per game last season while providing explosive athleticism that complements their veteran core perfectly. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic's selection of Franz Wagner at number eight looks increasingly brilliant. At 6'10" with guard skills and a developing three-point shot (he hit 36% last season), he's exactly the kind of versatile wing that dominates today's NBA.

As we moved into the late lottery and mid-first round, several teams found incredible value. The Charlotte Hornets selecting James Bouknight at 11 hasn't worked out as hoped—he's struggled to find consistent minutes and was recently traded—but the Indiana Pacers hitting on Chris Duarte at 13 before trading him for additional assets was sharp team building. The Oklahoma City Thunder's selection of Josh Giddey at 6 was controversial at the time due to his limited shooting, but his unique playmaking vision immediately translated to the NBA level before they eventually flipped him for Alex Caruso this past season. What fascinates me about evaluating drafts years later is seeing how organizational development systems impact player trajectories. The San Antonio Spurs developing Josh Primo at 12 seemed promising until off-court issues derailed his career, reminding us that talent evaluation extends beyond physical skills.

The second round, as always, contained several gems that have outperformed their draft positions. The Denver Nuggets selecting Bones Hyland at 26 provided them with explosive scoring off the bench during their 2023 championship run, though his subsequent trade shows how difficult fit can be in the NBA. Herbert Jones going undrafted before signing with New Orleans might be the biggest oversight of the entire process—he's developed into one of the league's premier perimeter defenders. As someone who's followed the draft for over fifteen years, I've learned that identifying second-round talent requires projecting development in ways that aren't necessary with lottery picks. Teams must envision how players will grow rather than simply evaluating what they are at that moment.

Thinking about team building through the draft inevitably brings me to considering how sports organizations develop talent across different contexts. Just yesterday, I was watching Petro Gazz's dominant performance in the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League, where they joined the rest of the three-team Philippine contingent in the quarterfinals with a quick 25-8, 25-12, 25-12 sweep of Hong Kong's Hip Hing at the Philsports Arena. The systematic way they dismantled their opponent reminded me of how NBA teams develop draft picks—identifying strengths, creating systems that maximize those strengths, and building toward sustainable success. Both contexts require careful talent evaluation, patient development, and creating environments where young players can flourish.

Three years removed from the 2021 NBA Draft, we can start to draw meaningful conclusions about its legacy. This class produced at least five potential All-Stars in Cunningham, Green, Mobley, Barnes, and Wagner, along with several high-level starters like Giddey, Kuminga, and Sengun. The depth of talent, particularly in the wing positions, reflects the modern NBA's prioritization of versatility and two-way play. While we haven't seen a true MVP candidate emerge yet—unlike the 2018 class that produced Luka Doncic and Trae Young—the overall quality throughout the first round is impressive. As these players enter their prime years, I'm particularly excited to see how players like Evan Mobley develop offensively. If he can expand his scoring beyond 15 points per game while maintaining his elite defense, he could anchor Cleveland's frontcourt for the next decade. The 2021 draft may not have had the hype of some previous classes, but its impact on the league continues to grow with each passing season.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.