Here are the highlights from Thursday’s NBA draft at Barclays Center:
Keyontae Johnson’s determination paid off as he found a home with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was selected in the second round as the 50th overall pick. While his standout performance at Kansas State was noteworthy, it’s only a small part of his remarkable journey.
In a game against Florida State on December 12, 2020, representing his former school, Johnson tragically collapsed and was immediately rushed to the hospital. He spent three days in a medically induced coma, putting his basketball career on hold. Undeterred, he sat out the following season and made the decision to transfer to Kansas State. There, he made a triumphant return to the court and played a vital role in guiding his team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite having the option to accept a lucrative insurance settlement, which would have rendered him ineligible for professional basketball, Johnson chose to believe in himself. He declined the money and took a gamble on his abilities. The Thunder recognized his unwavering perseverance and rewarded him accordingly.
Being drafted doesn’t guarantee anything, but it gives Keyontae Johnson a chance to prove himself. The NBA draft concluded at approximately 12:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the final pick, the 58th overall, went to Chris Livingston from Kentucky, who was selected by the Milwaukee team.
Key points to note:
- Victor Wembanyama, who had an emotional moment, was selected as the No. 1 pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA draft.
- The Charlotte Hornets, led by Michael Jordan, chose Brandon Miller as the second overall pick.
- Scoot Henderson rounded out the top three selections, as he was drafted by the Portland team.
Completion of the First Round:
The first round of the NBA draft concluded after a duration of just over three hours. Towards the end, the pace picked up, providing a faster selection process. The Los Angeles Clippers made the final pick of the first round by choosing Kobe Brown from Missouri, which occurred at around 11:15 p.m. Eastern time.
Speedier Second Round:
The second round of the draft proceeds at a much faster pace. Unlike the five-minute intervals between picks in the first round, there are only two minutes between selections in the second round. Additionally, since most players in the second round are not physically present at the draft, there are no prolonged family hugging sessions. The second round comprises 28 picks, as two teams forfeited their second-round selections.
Sanctions on Philadelphia and Chicago:
Philadelphia and Chicago teams faced consequences for violating league rules last summer by engaging in premature discussions with free agents. As a result, both teams had their second-round picks for this year’s draft stripped. Furthermore, the 76ers also had their second-round pick for next year revoked due to the same violation.
Whitmore’s Patient Wait Ends:
Cam Whitmore experienced a prolonged wait during the NBA draft. After more than two hours since the start of the draft, he finally heard his name called. Whitmore was selected by the Houston team as the No. 20 pick on Thursday night. Interestingly, he was initially projected to be a lottery pick and even considered a potential top 10 selection throughout the pre-draft evaluation process. During his sole college season at Villanova, he showcased his skills by averaging 12.5 points and earning the title of Big East’s freshman of the year.
Following His Father’s Path:
Jett Howard has officially chosen to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the 11th overall pick on Thursday night. Jett Howard is the son of Juwan Howard, an NBA champion and current head coach of the Michigan Wolverines basketball team. In the previous season, Jett had the opportunity to play under his father’s guidance at Michigan.
Correction:
Juwan Howard was actually the No. 5 pick in the 1994 NBA draft.
WEMBY WAS RIGHT
Victor Wembanyama’s prediction came true as Bilal Coulibaly became a top-10 pick in the NBA draft. Coulibaly was selected as the No. 7 pick on Thursday night, initially by the Indiana team, but there are reports that he will be traded to the Washington Wizards. Coulibaly played for Boulogne-Levallois in the French league this past season, alongside Wembanyama.
Wembanyama, who was chosen as the No. 1 pick by the San Antonio Spurs, had advocated for Coulibaly to be recognized as a top-5 pick.
TWINNING
In a unique occurrence, the NBA draft witnessed back-to-back selections of twins.
Correction:
Amen Thompson went No. 4 to Houston, and his twin brother Ausar Thompson went No. 5 to Detroit. This marks the first time that twins have been selected in the top 10 of the same NBA draft. Both brothers played for the Overtime Elite program during the past season. With their drafting, the NBA now has nearly enough twins to form a complete roster, joining the likes of Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, Caleb Martin and Cody Martin, as well as Julian Champagnie and Justin Champagnie. Additionally, Kris Murray, the twin of Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, is also expected to be drafted on Thursday.
HENDERSON TO PORTLAND
Despite believing he should have been the No. 1 pick, Scoot Henderson was selected as the No. 3 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA draft. He was chosen after Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio) and Brandon Miller (Alabama). Now, the focus shifts to Damian Lillard, the longtime star of the Portland Trail Blazers, to see how the selection of another point guard might impact his perspective on staying with the team or considering a change of scenery.
Henderson’s Path to the NBA:
Scoot Henderson took a non-traditional route to the NBA, foregoing college and spending the last two seasons with the G League Ignite. He utilized this developmental program as preparation for his professional career in the league.
Miller’s Selection and Charlotte Intrigue:
The Charlotte Hornets made an intriguing choice in the NBA draft by selecting Brandon Miller at No. 2 over Scoot Henderson. Miller is widely regarded as the top wing player in the draft and achieved recognition as the SEC Player of the Year during his lone college season at Alabama. However, Miller sparked some attention during the draft when he expressed his opinion that Michael Jordan, the Hornets’ owner (who is selling the majority stake), is not the greatest player of all time. He mentioned holding Paul George in higher regard. Additionally, Miller’s involvement in an off-court issue related to a murder case drew attention. Former Alabama player Darius Miles and another individual were indicted on capital murder charges, and it was revealed in February that Miller received a text message from Miles requesting him to bring a gun. Miller has not faced any charges in relation to the incident.
Wembanyama Becomes No. 1 Pick:
Victor Wembanyama’s status as the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft has been officially confirmed. As anticipated for several months, the San Antonio Spurs selected the 7-foot-4 French teenager with the top overall selection. Wembanyama joins the esteemed company of previous top picks for the Spurs, such as David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan in 1997, both of whom became NBA champions and were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. With Wembanyama now on their roster, the Spurs aim to return to the playoffs and contend for championships. Under the guidance of coach Gregg Popovich, the Spurs have secured five championships, with their most recent title coming in 2014.
THE ODDS
There is no doubt that Victor Wembanyama will be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The battle for the No. 2 pick remains uncertain. As of 7:40 p.m. Eastern time, just 30 minutes before the selection, Brandon Miller was the favored choice according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with Scoot Henderson being the second choice in the odds.
FASHION SHOW
The NBA draft players have arrived at Barclays Center, and as customary, a fashion show ensued.
Victor Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 pick, donned a green suit and a unique necklace. In an interview with ESPN, he explained that the stone appealed to him not because of its value but because of its rarity. Wembanyama emphasized that he doesn’t prioritize wearing expensive attire, stating, “I don’t care about wearing expensive stuff.”
Taylor Hendricks from UCF sported a pinkish suit, with the jacket lined with photos symbolizing his journey to the NBA and the significant people in his life.
Glittering fashion choices were also prominent. Kansas’ Gradey Dick arrived in a dazzling red jacket, while Scoot Henderson from the G League Ignite opted for a black suit adorned with accent stones, specifically chosen by his family.
Players arrived at Barclays Center several hours before the draft’s 8 p.m. start time, having been transported by bus from their hotel. The draft can be watched on ABC or ESPN, with streaming available on ESPN’s website and app.
