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Every year, 60 youngsters hear their name being called out from the stage, and get a chance to fulfil their childhood dream of getting to play in the NBA. The recently held NBA Draft for the class of 2019-20 left us with ample memories- some pleasant, but others not quite.
In what looks like an uber-talented and athletic group of young men, all 60 picks(first and second round combined) from this year show great promise to turn into high-calibre personnel in the years to come. Most of the players were picked as projected by the experts while a few saw their names shuffling up and down the draft board in what was a night stacked with trades. One of the highlights came in the form of Gonzaga's Rui Hachimura, who became the first player born in Japan to be drafted in the first round.
Let's dive in to take a quick look at what that the most recent draft night of the NBA had in store.
#1 Zion, Morant and Barrett outlined the latest young brass about to set foot in the league
After Pelicans picked the teenage phenom in Zion Williamson first up, he became the first No. 1 overall pick from Duke since Kyrie Irving in 2011. Moreover, the 18-year-old is now just the second freshman ever after Anthony Davis, to win the Naismith Award and become the No. 1 pick as well.
"I don't know what to say," an emotional Williamson said on ESPN. "I didn't think I'd be in this position. My mom sacrificed a lot for me. I wouldn't be here without my mom. She did everything for me. I just want to thank her."
His teammate and best friend, RJ Barrett, was picked by the Knicks as the third overall pick, and received a huge ovation from the crowd. Clearly, the fans in New York got what they wanted and so did RJ - considering how badly he wanted to play for this city.
"I’m so happy to be a Knick and I just can’t wait to play in Madison Square Garden," Barrett said.
The 6' 4" point guard from Murray State, Ja Morant, was picked No. 2 by the Grizzlies to take charge of the post-Conley era down in Memphis. Despite recently undergoing minor knee surgery, Morant looks set to play the role of the floor general for a franchise in the middle of a much-needed rebuild.
"It means a lot," Morant said. "Obviously, it means that Memphis sees a lot in me. I'm grateful and thankful to them for drafting me. I'm very excited to play in Memphis."
#2 The quality players who didn't attract the spotlight; Bol Bol slides to an abysmal 44th pick
When the confetti settled, elite talents like De'Andre Hunter, Darius Garland, Jarrett Culver, Coby White followed. The athleticism and flair that ran amongst the top 10 picks was awe-inspiring. When the Hawks picked Cam Reddish as the 10th overall pick, him, RJ and Zion became the first Blue Devils trio with top-10 picks in the same draft. This was only second time - after Florida's Horford, Brewer and Noah were all top-10 selections in 2007 - in the last five decades that any college had achieved such a feat.
One of the glaring anomalies came in the form of Oregon's Bol Bol, son of legendary Manute Bol. Projected to be a top 15 pick, the 7-foot-2 center couldn't even make it to the first round, eventually getting picked by the Heat as the 44th pick(and subsequently traded to the Nuggets).
"I just want to prove everyone wrong and come out and be the best player I can be," he added.
He played just nine games at Oregon last year citing a stress fracture in his foot, which then coupled with his questionable work ethic meant him slipping down the draft boards drastically.
#3 Draft trades aplenty throughout the course of both rounds
Picks were scattered all over the place during the 2019 draft night, meaning wrong caps for a large majority of the newly drafted players.
The Pelicans traded the No.4 pick to Atalanta in return for 8th, 17th and 35th picks. They also handed the 57th pick and Solomon Hill back to Atlanta, as well as future picks. The Phoenix Suns sent the No. 6 pick to the Timberwolves for the 11th pick and Dario Saric, while in a separate deal, they traded TJ Warren and the 32nd pick to the Indiana Pacers.
The Boston Celtics gave away their 20th pick to Philly in turn for selections at 24 and 33, but then turned around and traded the No. 24 pick to the Phoenix Suns. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies traded their 23rd pick(received from Utah in Conley trade) to OKC for No. 21 and a future pick. LA Clippers traded for center Mfiondu Kabengele, who was selected at No. 27 overall by Brooklyn.
Finally, Bol Bol's draft rights were acquired by the Nuggets in exchange for future second-round pick and cash considerations.
Guess the Lakers players!
