The Results of the Number 1 NBA draft pick

Greg Oden was taken number 1 in this years NBA draft. I think he is going to be an awesome player for years to come. I thought I would look back and see how the other number 1 draft picks are doing. Here is the history of the number 1 pick:



2007-- Greg Oden, C, Portland, Ohio State
2006-- Andrea Bargnani, F, Toronto, Benetton Treviso (Italy)
2005-- Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, C, Utah
2004-- Dwight Howard, Orlando, F, Southwest Atlantic Christian Academy (Atlanta)
2003-- LeBron James, Cleveland, G, St. Vincent-St. Mary HS
2002-- Yao Ming, Houston, C, China
2001-- Kwame Brown, Washington, F-C, Glynn Academy HS
2000-- Kenyon Martin, New Jersey, F, Cincinnati
1999-- Elton Brand, Chicago, F, Duke
1998-- Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers, C, Pacific
1997-- Tim Duncan, San Antonio, C, Wake Forest
1996-- Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, G, Georgetown
1995-- Joe Smith, Golden State, C, Maryland
1994-- Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee, F, Purdue
1993-- Chris Webber, Orlando, F, Michigan
1992-- Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando, C, Louisiana State
1991-- Larry Johnson, Charlotte, F, UNLV
1990-- Derrick Coleman, New Jersey, F, Syracuse
1989-- Pervis Ellison, Sacramento, C, Louisville
1988-- Danny Manning, Los Angeles Clippers, F, Kansas
1987-- David Robinson, San Antonio, C, Navy
1986-- Brad Daugherty, Cleveland, C, North Carolina
1985-- Patrick Ewing, New York, C, Georgetown
1984-- Akeem Olajuwon, Houston, C, Houston
1983-- Ralph Sampson, Houston, C, Virginia
1982-- James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers, F, North Carolina
1981-- Mark Aguirre, Dallas, F, DePaul
1980-- Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State, C, Purdue
1979-- Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers, G, Michigan St.
1978-- Mychal Thompson, Portland, C, Minnesota
1977-- Kent Benson, Milwaukee, C, Indiana
1976-- John Lucas, Houston, G, Maryland
1975-- David Thompson, Atlanta, G, North Carolina St.
1974-- Bill Walton, Portland, C, UCLA
1973-- Doug Collins, Philadelphia, G, Illinois St.
1972-- LaRue Martin, Portland, C, Loyola-Chicago
1971-- Austin Carr, Cleveland, G, Notre Dame
1970-- Bob Lanier, Detroit, C, St. Bonaventure
1969-- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee, C, UCLA
1968-- Elvin Hayes, Houston, C, Houston
1967-- Jimmy Walker, Detroit, G, Providence
1966-- Cazzie Russell, New York, F, Michigan


Just looking at over the past 20 years a couple names stand out as superstars. A couple I thought "thats right, I had forgotten they were taken #1." And some I said that was a mistake.

Kwame, and Olowokandi were mistakes. Kenyon, Joe Smith, and Glenn Robinson didn't turn out as good as promised and probably weren't worth the #1 (KMart does still have a chance to come around if he is ever healthy). Bogut and Bargnani are still young and need to show they can become a star or they may fall into the bad pick category. Shaq, Iverson, Duncan, Brand, Yao, LeBron, and Howard are all superstars and excellent picks.

Yi JianLian

In the NBA draft last week, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Yi JianLian with the 6th pick. Yi has not reported to Milwaukee and has had no communication with them. He did not attend the typical post draft welcoming meetings in Milwaukee but decided to work out with his Chinese national team in Dallas instead.

Yi JianLian and his agents do not feel Milwaukee is a good fit for Yi. Why? Because they reportedly want a city with a large Chinese heritage. Again I ask why? That might have a small affect on the situation, but that should not matter. That is a long way from home, and has anybody in China ever heard of Milwaukee? Probably only a few. Because how many of us has ever heard of He Shan where Yi is from?

Anyway, I think Yi needs to look at the situation he is going to play in, not the city itself. The Bucks have got Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, hopefully can resign Mo Williams, Charlie Villanueva, Bobby Simmons and a nice looking core. They definitely are not a contender and have a long ways to go. But with Yi they start to look quite a bit better.

Yi's agents want a trade. I agree with Milwaukee, Yi entered the draft, the Bucks picked him. He belongs to them.

The Excitement of the 2007 NBA Draft

Why do I like the NBA draft so much? I thought about this last night as my wife was mad that I sat there and watched all 5 hours of it. "Can't you just read about tomorrow or see the highlights on the news?" she would say. Are you kidding me? That's why people don't watch it and don't think it is interesting - because they read about it the next day and watch the highlights on the news. The news destroys the atmosphere, destroys the excitement of the draft.

I love the draft because it is all about the future. The futures of these young players is partially laid out in front of us. The future of the teams, future of the NBA and it's stars are right before me and I am watching it happen. That's why I like it. I get to see and imagine what the NBA could be like in the upcoming years. Lame? maybe. but I find it exciting.

The draft victory last night went the Trail Blazers. They continue to stock up on young talent and drop Zach Randolph to New York. I like the trade. Channing Frye is young and improving. I like the Blazers future.

Here were the results from the draft last night:

1st Round
1. Portland Trail Blazers -Greg Oden 7-0 257 C Ohio St. Fr.
2. Seattle SuperSonics - Kevin Durant 6-10 215 SF Texas Fr.
3. Atlanta Hawks - Al Horford 6-10 244 PF Florida Jr.
4. Memphis Grizzlies - Mike Conley 6-1 175 PG Ohio St. Fr.
5. Boston Celtics (traded to Seattle) - Jeff Green 6-9 228 SF Georgetown Jr.
6. Milwaukee Bucks - Yi Jianlian 7-0 242 PF China 1984
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Corey Brewer 6-8 185 SF Florida Jr.
8. Charlotte Bobcats (traded to Golden St.)- Brandan Wright 6-10 200 PF UNC Fr.
9. Chicago Bulls - Joakim Noah 6-11 230 PF Florida Jr.
10. Sacramento Kings - Spencer Hawes 7-0 244 C Wash. Fr.
11. Atlanta Hawks -Acie Law 6-3 186 PG Texas A&M Sr.
12. Philadelphia 76ers - Thaddeus Young 6-7 210 SF GT Fr.
13. NewOrleans - Julian Wright 6-8 211 SF Kansas So.
14. LA Clippers - Al Thornton 6-7 221 SF/PF Florida St. Sr.
15. Detroit Pistons - Rodney Stuckey 6-5 207 SG E. Wash. So.
16. Washington - Nick Young 6-6 206 SG USC Jr.
17. New Jersey Nets - Sean Williams 6-10 235 PF BC Jr.
18. Golden St. Warriors - Marco Belinelli 6-6 200 SG Italy 1986
19. LA Lakers - Javaris Crittenton 6-4 194 PG G.Tech Fr.
20. Miami Heat (traded to Philadelphia) - Jason Smith 7-0 233 PF Colorado St. Jr.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Miami) - Daequan Cook 6-5 210 SG Ohio St. Fr.
22. Charlotte Bobcats - Jared Dudley 6-7 225 SF Boston Celtics Col. Sr.
23. New York Knicks - Wilson Chandler 6-7 230 SF DePaul So.
24. Phoenix Suns (traded to Portland) -Rudy Fernandez 6-6 172 SG Spain 1985
25. Utah Jazz - Morris Almond 6-6 214 SG Rice Sr.
26. Houston Rockets - Aaron Brooks 6-0 160 PG Oregon Sr.
27. Detroit Pistons - Arron Afflalo 6-5 215 SG UCLA Jr.
28. San Antonio Spurs - Tiago Splitter 6-11 240 PF Brazil 1985
29. Phoenix Suns - Alando Tucker 6-5 210 SF Wisconsin Sr.
30. Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Portand) - Petteri Koponen 6-4 195 PG Fin.1988

2nd Round
31. Seattle SuperSonics - Carl Landry 6-9 235 PF Purdue Sr.
32. Boston Celtics - Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 PG USC Jr.
33. San Antonio Spurs - Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SG Arizona So.
34. Dallas Mavericks - Nick Fazekas 6-11 240 PF Nevada Sr.
35. Seattle SuperSonics (traded to Boston) - Glen Davis 6-8 280 PF LSU Jr.
36. Golden St. Warriors (traded to Charlotte) - Jermareo Davidson 6-10 220 PF Ala. Sr.
37. Portland Trail Blazers - Josh McRoberts 6-10 240 PF Duke So.
38. Philadelphia 76ers - Kyrylo Fesenko 7-0 240 PF/C Ukr. 1986
39. Miami Heat - Stanko Barac 7-1 220 C Bosnia 1986
40. LA Lakers - Sun Yue 6-9 205 SG China 1985
41. Minnesota Timberwolves - Chris Richard 6-8 255 PF Florida Sr.
42. Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Philadelphia) - Derrick Byars 6-7 225 SG/SF Vand. Sr.
43. NewOrleans - Adam Haluska 6-5 210 SG Iowa Sr.
44. Orlando Magic - Reyshawn Terry 6-7 232 SF UNC Sr.
45. LA Clippers - Jared Jordan 6-2 190 PG Marist Sr.
46. Golden St. Warriors - Stephane Lasme 6-8 225 PF Mass Sr.
47. Washington Wizards - Dominic McGuire 6-8 210 SF Fres.St. Jr.
48. LA Lakers - Marc Gasol 7-0 270 C Spain 1985
49. Chicago Bulls - Aaron Gray 7-1 280 C Pittsburgh Sr.
50. Dallas Mavericks - Renaldas Seibutis 6-6 180 SG Lith. 1985
51. Chicago Bulls -JamesOn Curry 6-3 171 SG Okla.St. Jr.
52. Portland Trail Blazers - Taurean Green 6-0 177 PG Florida Jr.
53. Portland Trail Blazers - Demetris Nichols 6-7 205 SF Syracuse Sr.
54. Orlando - Brad Newley 6-6 198 SG Australia 1985
55. Utah Jazz - Herbert Hill 6-10 240 PF Providence Sr.
56. Milwaukee Bucks - Ramon Sessions 6-3 190 PG Nevada Jr.
57. Detroit Pistons - Sammy Mejia 6-6 200 PG/SG DePaul Sr.
58. San Antonio Spurs - Giorgos Printezis 6-8 205 SF Greece 1985
59. Phoenix Suns - DJ Strawberry 6-5 201 SG Maryland Sr.
60. Dallas Mavericks - Milovan Rakovic 6-10 240 PF Serbia 1985

Greg Oden going #1

Greg Oden will be picked number one tonight. Oden Dominated the middle at Ohio St. this last year. Did you see him throw it down in the NCAA championship game? Talk about shock and awe. He will be a huge piece to a very young a talented team next year.

I love watching Kevin Durant play and he will be number 2. He wasn't able to bench press 185 pounds, but does anyone care? Well, yes but that isn't important. This kid can play. Give him a few years to beef up and he will be a dominating player in the NBA for years to come.

This should be a exciting draft (if you are a sports junkie like me). Otherwise keep watching So You Think You Can Dance.

Check out my last version of my mock draft.

Jason Smith

I like to watch the Mountain West conference. This last year I watched a couple Colorado St. games in which I saw Jason Smith play. I was very impressed at how athletic he was. At 7-0 tall he played and acted like a 6-7 small forward. He was good inside, very quick and has a decent jumper. At times he dominated. However, when he had a physical defender on him he struggled. He did not like being pushed around and it took him out of the game. He tends to be foul prone as well. If he can find a good situation with a run and gun offensive team he would fit in the best.

NBA draft thoughts

This weeks NBA's draft should be a good one. A couple of things to watch.

• The number 3 pick by Atlanta Hawks is the swing vote. There are many players and teams awaiting this pick. It should tell the direction of the rest of the lottery. They can go with another young athletic forward which they have plenty of or they can surprise everyone and pick a point guard much higher than expected. This pick might change many draft projections and make teams go with plan B.
• Trades. There has been many talks of superstars being traded. Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal and more have all been rumored with trades. The draft might bring these trades to light
• The number one pick. Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. Have we heard anything else over the past few months?
• International players. Over the past few seasons international players we taking over the draft. This year only 2-3 projected in the first round. Will there be surprises we don't know about?
• Will the Hawks blow another good pick?
• Second round steals? Who will fall into the second round and be a steal. Paul Millsap and Daniel Gibson showed this is very possible
• No high schoolers. For the second year in a row no high school kids entering the draft. I like the rule change.
• Draft attire. What crazy suits and crazy fashions will be on display?

NBA draft predictions

With the NBA draft quickly approaching I have made a few changes to my draft order. I think Yi Jian Lian is going to go higher than most people think. Point Guards are another hot commodity. I think Mike Conley and Acie Law will go higher than expected. Why isn't any one thinking Aaron Afflalo will go high? I think he will be an excellent pro.

2007 NBA Draft

2007 NBA Draft

2007 NBA Draft Lottery - May 22, 2007
2007 NBA Draft - June 28, 2007

NBA Draft 2007 Predictions:

updated 6/28/07

1. Portland TrailBlazers - Greg Oden 7-0 Ohio State
A coveted athletic big man that looks like he is 28 years old. Have you see him dunk? He will be a dominant player in the NBA. Excellent defender. Needs to work on offensive moves and jump shot.

2. Seattle SuperSonics - Kevin Durant 6-10 Texas
Tracy McGrady but better... we will see. He is smooth and does it all. He will definitely be an excellent player with huge potential. Needs to work on his strength.

3. Atlanta Hawks - Yi Jian Lian 7-0 China
He continues to impress and move up in the draft. I don't think the Hawks can afford to take another decent small forward. They need a game changer and Yi might be the man.

4. Memphis Grizzlies - Al Horford 6-10 Florida
Athletic power forward. Plays alot like Elton Brand. Quick for a big man. Needs to work on offensive moves.

5. Boston Celtics - Brandan Wright 6-9 North Carolina
Extremely athletic big man with huge wingspan. Not a great shooter, but excellent on the break and around the basket. 7-4 wingspan.

6. Milwaukee Bucks- Mike Conley Jr. 6-1 Ohio State
Lightning quick point guard that can shoot. The best point guard in the draft.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Corey Brewer 6-9 Florida
Plays hard nose in your face defense. Good offensive player.

8. Charlotte Bobcats - Joakim Noah 6-11 Florida
A difference maker. Passion and energy but wheres the jump shot?

9. Chicago Bulls - Jeff Green 6-9 Georgetown

10. Sacramento Kings - Julian Wright 6-8 Kansas

11. Atlanta Hawks - Acie Law 6-3 Texas A&M
The Playoffs have shown how important a point guard is and he has the basketball IQ and desire to potentially be a good one. Atlanta may settle for the second best point and hope he is still around.

12. Philadelphia 76ers - Spencer Hawes 7-0 Washington

13. New Orleans Hornets - Al Thornton 6-7 Florida St

14. Los Angeles Clippers - Nick Young 6-6 USC

15. Detroit Pistons - Rodney Stuckey 6-4 Eastern Washington

A relatively unknown point guard. Could be dynamite.

16. Washington Wizards - Josh McRoberts 6-11 Duke
He needs to show some emotion and toughness. He keeps dropping.

17. New Jersey Nets - Jason Smith 7-0 Colorado St

Very athletic big man. Good shooter. Needs to work on toughness because he tends to get taken out of his game by physical defenders.

18. Golden State Warriors - Javaris Crittenton 6-5 Georgia Tech

19. Los Angeles Lakers - Daequan Cook 6-5 Ohio State

20. Miami Heat - Thaddeus Young 6-8 Georgia Tech

21. Philadelphia 76ers - Rudy Fernandez 6-6 Spain

22. Charlotte Bobcats - Nick Fazekas 6-11 Nevada

Solid big man. Can shoot outside. Might not be athletic enough

23. New York Knicks - Derrick Byars 6-7 Vanderbilt

24. Phoenix Suns - Aaron Afflalo 6-5 UCLA
He reminds me of Brandon Roy, why isn't he getting mentioned higher?

25. Utah Jazz - Marco Belinelli 6-5 Italy
The Jazz need a shooter and he is a bomber.

26. Houston Rockets - Tiago Splitter 6-11 Spain

Is he ever going to enter the draft. He has been on this list all of the last 5 years.

27. Detroit Pistons - Marcus Williams 6-7 Arizona

28. San Antonio Spurs -Jared Dudley 6-7 Boston College

29. Phoenix Suns - Aaron Gray 7-1 Pittsburgh
A decent big man. Nice moves, but a little slow.

30. Philadelphia 76ers - Morris Almond 6-6 Rice

31. Seattle SuperSonics - Taurean Green 6-0 Florida

32. Boston Celtics - DeVon Hardin 6-11 California

33. San Antonio Spurs - Dominic McGuire 6-9 Fresno State

more to come...