2012 NBA Mock Draft: Best Pro Comparison for Every Projected 1st-Round Pick

To whom in the pros do the first-round prospects of the 2012 NBA draft likely compare? That's the question this mock draft seeks to answer.

Starting with the Charlotte Bobcats' inevitable selection of a unibrowed big man from Kentucky and finishing after five more Wildcats are drafted, let's take a journey through the 30 picks of the first round and compare each one to a current or recently retired NBA player.

As always, feel free to leave comments and criticisms as the need arises. In this case, they can relate either to the order of the selections or to the comparisons themselves.

Enjoy!

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis

School: Kentucky

Position: PF/C

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'10", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists

Thanks to his length, defensive nose (particularly when blocking shots), passion and diverse, yet still improving, offensive game...

Best Pro Comparison: A unibrowed form of Kevin Garnett/Marcus Camby

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

School: Kentucky

Position: SF

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'7", 232 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists

MKG's all-around game on both ends of the court, crazy athleticism and devastating ability to finish in transition remind me of...

Best Pro Comparison: Gerald Wallace/Andre Iguodala

3. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson

School: Kansas

Position: PF

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'10", 237 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

With his intensity, knack for cleaning the glass after missed shots, lack of elite-level upside and jump-shooting ability from just outside the paint, Robinson is most like...

Best Pro Comparison: Udonis Haslem

4. Sacramento Kings: Andre Drummond

School: Connecticut

Position: PF/C

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'10", 270 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists

Drummond has ridiculous upside that will only be realized if he devotes himself to the game of basketball. Together with his defensive game that is drastically superior to his offensive game, plus his lack of experience against high-level competition, he is similar to...

Best Pro Comparison: Kwame Brown 

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bradley Beal

School: Florida

Position: SG

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'3", 207 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists

Beal had the ability to score on offense in any way, shape or form. With his command of an offense and ability to assert himself in the right situations...

Best Pro Comparison: Eric Gordon (also known as "Not Ray Allen," so please stop making that ridiculous comparison)

6. Toronto Raptors: Harrison Barnes

School: North Carolina

Position: SF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'8", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists

Barnes has the ability to light up the scoreboard with his silky-smooth jump shot (even if he isn't quite as good at creating his own shot). Together with his occasional lack of focus on the defensive end of the court, body type and overflowing potential...

Best Pro Comparison: Danny Granger

7. Portland Trail Blazers (from New Jersey Nets): John Henson

School: North Carolina

Position: PF/C

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'11", 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Henson has the ability to be a glass-cleaner without elite strength. When considering his shot-blocking prowess, his overall defensive presence and his lack of polish on the offensive end of the court...

Best Pro Comparison: Samuel Dalembert

8. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors): Jeremy Lamb

School: Connecticut

Position: SG/SF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'5", 180 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Thanks to his ability to score from all areas of the court—particularly when he pulls up and shoots a jumper over the outstretched arms of a defender—and his need to get bigger and stronger...

Best Pro Comparison: Reggie Miller 

9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger

School: Ohio State

Position: PF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'9", 265 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Sullinger has the ability to overcome his small stature and use his physical prowess to bang around down low to both score and rebound against larger players, which reminds me of...

Best Pro Comparison: Paul Millsap

10. New Orleans Hornets (from Minnesota Timberwolves): Tyler Zeller

School: North Carolina

Position: PF/C

Year: Senior

Vitals: 7'0", 250 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists

Thanks to his modest defensive presence and the versatility of his offensive game—a versatility that allows him to both use an arsenal of post moves and shoot jump shots over smaller defenders...

Best Pro Comparison: Very poor man's Pau Gasol

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard

School: Weber State

Position: PG/SG

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'3", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists

Lillard has a shooting guard's body and a point guard's handles. His deadliness from both downtown and the charity stripe, his hidden athleticism—really just his overall offensive game—and finally his lack of defensive effort are reminiscent of...

Best Pro Comparison: Stephen Curry

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones III

School: Baylor

Position: PF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'11", 235 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Thanks to his ridiculous athletic upside and his tendency to disappear for prolonged stretches during the game...

Best Pro Comparison: Anthony Randolph

13. Utah Jazz: Kendall Marshall

School: North Carolina

Position: PG

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists

Marshall has the ability to put up a well-rounded statistical line without his scoring being a major factor in the game. Paired with his ridiculous court vision and limited athleticism...

Best Pro Comparison: Older Jason Kidd

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones

School: Kentucky

Position: SF/PF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'9", 252 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Thanks to Jones' athleticism, ability to defend multiple positions while racking up blocks and steals galore, his left-handedness and sneaky offensive ability—even if he isn't quite as athletic...

Best Pro Comparison: Josh Smith

15. Houston Rockets (from New York Knicks): Meyers Leonard

School: Illinois

Position: C

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 7'1", 245 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists

Thanks to Leonard's 7'1" frame, his defensive ability at the present, his tremendous upside mixed with his bust potential and his unpolished offensive game...

Best Pro Comparison: Rich man's Darko Milicic

16. Philadelphia 76ers: Marquis Teague

School: Kentucky

Position: PG

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'2", 189 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists

Just look at his last name and similar playing style...

Best Pro Comparison: Jeff Teague

17. Phoenix Suns: Terrence Ross

School: Washington

Position: SG/SF

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'6", 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Thanks to his well-roundedness, his terrific athleticism, his knack for the SportsCenter highlights, his shooting ability and his NBA readiness...

Best Pro Comparison: Rudy Gay

18. Dallas Mavericks: Moe Harkless

School: St. John's

Position: SG/SF

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'8", 208 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists 

Harkless' crazy hops, defensive prowess on the perimeter and sickening ability to play in transition—not to mention his untapped potential thanks to his young age and lack of opportunity—remind me of...

Best Pro Comparison: Paul George

19. Denver Nuggets: Austin Rivers

School: Duke

Position: PG/SG

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'4", 200 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Rivers has the tendency to jack up shot after shot, even if it's not always in his team's best interest. Combine that with his ability to create his own shot, to drive into the lane without regard for his own safety and his potential to become an overvalued volume scorer...

Best Pro Comparison: Monta Ellis

20. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten

School: Washington

Position: PG/SG

Year: Freshman

Vitals: 6'5", 205 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists

Wroten has slashing tendencies and ease of getting to the rim. With his ability to play either guard position while creating both shots for himself and his teammates, plus his inconsistency when shooting the ball from long-range...

Best Pro Comparison: Defense-less Dwyane Wade

21. Orlando Magic: Dion Waiters

School: Syracuse

Position: PG/SG

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists

Thanks to Waiters' positional possibilities, strength, finishing ability around the rim and his inevitable role as an offensive spark plug at guard...

Best Pro Comparison: Rodney Stuckey

22. Atlanta Hawks: Jeffery Taylor

School: Vanderbilt

Position: SF

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'7", 225 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists

Taylor has the ability to jump through the roof and let his athleticism completely hide whatever basketball skills he may be lacking. Combine that with his ineffectiveness from behind the three-point line and his defensive game...

Best Pro Comparison: Wilson Chandler

23. Boston Celtics: Evan Fournier

Team: Poitiers

Position: SG/SF

Age: 19

Vitals: 6'7", 206 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists (In Pro A France)

Thanks to his advantage in the size department, developing outside shot, impressive athleticism and body that can translate into a defensive stud—not to mention the obvious French link...

Best Pro Comparison: Nicolas Batum

24. Boston Celtics (From Los Angeles Clippers): Royce White

School: Iowa State

Position: F

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'8", 270 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists

White's anxiety problems, versatility on the court, lack of a true position (which in this case is more of a positive than a negative), tantalizing upside and terrifying downside remind me of...

Best Pro Comparison: No one

25. Indiana Pacers: Arnett Moultrie

School: Mississippi State

Position: PF/C

Year: Junior

Vitals: 6'11", 230 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists

With position duality, offensive moves, constant play-your-heart-out effort, defensive effort without shot-blocking skills and tendency to settle for outside jumpers instead of attacking the rim aggressively, Moultrie is most like...

Best Pro Comparison: Al Horford

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Festus Ezeli

School: Vanderbilt

Position: C

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'11", 255 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists

Thanks to his size, cleverness around the basket and absolute lack of anything resembling passing ability...

Best Pro Comparison: Nazr Mohammed

27. Miami Heat: Fab Melo

School: Syracuse

Position: C

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 7'0", 255 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists

Melo has the ability to turn into a fantastic defensive player who fails to make any sort of impact on the offensive side of the court. Add in his status as one of the few true seven-footers, and you get...

Best Pro Comparison: DeSagana Diop

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Draymond Green

School: Michigan State

Position: SF/PF

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'7", 230 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 16.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists

Green's ability to handle the ball at the top of the key, play in the post or line up anywhere else in the offensive setting make him...

Best Pro Comparison: Pre-Dallas, smaller Lamar Odom

29. Golden State Warriors (from San Antonio Spurs): Darius Miller

School: Kentucky

Position: SF

Year: Senior

Vitals: 6'8", 225 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Miller has the tendency to fade into the background, yet he can still make a significant contribution; he did it with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, then with Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the rest of the gang.

Pair this with his potential status as a lockdown perimeter defender, and you get...

Best Pro Comparison: Shane Battier

30. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb

School: Kentucky

Position: SG

Year: Sophomore

Vitals: 6'4", 210 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists

Lamb has lights-out shooting ability and a knack for lighting up the scoreboard while playing under the radar and well within the flow of the offense. Take into consideration his natural swagger and his ability to play either guard position if the need should arise...

Best Pro Comparison: Jason Terry