NBA Draft 2002
Rundown | | By Class: |
| | Senior's 1st RD: |
7 | | Senior's 2nd RD: |
15 | | Junior's 1st RD: |
9 | | Junior's 2nd RD: |
4 | | Sophomore's 1st RD: |
4 |
| Sophomore's 2nd RD: |
1 |
| Freshmen 1st RD: |
1 | | Freshmen 2nd RD: |
1 | | International 1st RD: |
6 | | International 2nd RD: |
8 | | H.S. Seniors 1st RD: |
1 |
| Total Selected: |
57 |
| By Position: |
| | Centers: |
5 |
| Power Forwards: |
17 |
| Small Forwards: |
15 |
| Shooting Guards: |
11 |
| Point Guards: |
9 |
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| 2002 NBA Draft Review |
DATE: June 26, 2002
Site: Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York |
| DRAFT OBSERVATIONS |
Jay Williams was everybody’s All American, virtually labeled by all as the undisputable number one pick and a lock as the NBA’S Rookie of the Year. ESPN commentator Dick Vitale called him the second best point guard in the NBA behind Jason Kidd. The hype approaching the draft was incredible and unheard of for a point guard. Then everything changed on May 2nd when the 7-6 heralded big man Yao Ming went to a Chicago gym to workout for NBA execs. Although Ming had been known a few years for his play in some of the American prep events, no one had really been able to get a full glimpse. To make matters difficult for NBA teams wanting the big man, China’s Basketball Association had to agree with the selection. If they didn’t feel the team selecting Yao was a good fit, China wouldn’t allow him to play for that team. But in the midst of this distraction, the Houston Rockets successfully selected Ming. It’s not every day a mobile, gifted shooter of this size is available. Jay Williams was selected next by Chicago and many already penciled him in as a rookie all-star. But few, if any, failed to see that Williams wasn’t a point guard, a gifted passer, or the kind of player who makes those around him better. He wasn’t very prepared for the NBA, resulting in a poor rookie season in the eyes of many league observers. Then tragically on June 19, 2003, Williams was involved in a very damaging accident with his motorcycle. The injuries were so severe that many labeled it career ending. He is currently working on his rehabilitation.
Amare Stoudemire went into the NBA out of high school. He was selected 9th by Phoenix amidst many questions regarding his rough upbringing and rocky family life. By the end of the season all those questions were put to rest. Upon winning the Rookie of the Year award, many were left with visions of Moses Malone. Stoudemire’s dominance was unprecedented for someone coming out of high school. Caron Butler’s stock took a hit despite being projected as a top five pick. Butler found himself in the same position as 1998 draftee Paul Pierce. Many labeled Butler as one of the draft’s biggest talents, but his play in the NBA has yet to reflect those praises. Kareem Rush, hailed a year before as the top player at his position, quickly saw how fast things could change. The same goes for Qyntel Woods, who was pegged as the next Tracy McGrady and a top 5 pick. He didn’t see his name on the board until the Portland Trailblazers drafted him with the 21st pick. Woods off court behavior and admitted guilt of marijuana smoking probably hampered his draft status. Another underclassman also learned the important lesson that past acclaim sometimes means little to NBA execs. Despite being a former Mr. Everything during his prep high school days, Marcus Taylor came out against better judgment, disregarding good advice to stay in school. He later went 52nd in the draft.
A couple of great steals in the draft were Carlos Boozer and Ronald Murray. Boozer was a dominant player at Duke but many still believed his ability and growth were limited as a pro. Instead Boozer has been able to steadily improve each year and is viewed as one of the NBA’s bright young players. Murray went to the pre-draft camps with one thing on his mind - show people the he can play with the big guys. Coming out of Shaw University, many questioned his level of competition, but after leaving the pre-draft camps, few still had that question on their minds. The drafts biggest "deer in headlights" award goes to Seattle, as no one knew anything about Peter Fehse. He was drafted after playing in a second division of ball in Germany. Seattle later confessed that most of their personnel never even saw him play in person.
There were a number of records that went down on draft day. Yao Ming became the first and highest international player drafted in NBA history, surpassing Spain’s Paul Gasol's record mark (third overall in the 2000 draft). Duke’s Mike Dunleavy and Jay Williams became the highest set of teammates to go back to back in the draft. The record previously belonged to North Carolina’s Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins who went 3rd and 4th in the 1984 NBA Draft. Gonzaga returned to the NBA draft after Dan Dickau went 29th to the Sacramento Kings. Future hall of famer and Gonzaga alumni John Stockton was the last Zag to get drafted after he was selected by Utah, 16th in the 1984 NBA Draft.
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| DRAFT DETAILS |
Automatically Eligible for Draft: All NCAA seniors, International players born in the year 1980 or players that transferred from a college team to a professional team in the same calendar year are automatically entered.Draft
Order: 14-29 Order is determined by season records and tiebreakers per team.
Early Entry: High school seniors and International draftees are eligible for the draft if they are in the same year in which they turn 18. All other candidates 18 and over such as H.S. Seniors, Freshmen, Sophomore, Juniors, Seniors and Internationals prospects born 1981-1984 can apply. Irregularities: The Minnesota Timberwolves have forfeited there first round draft pick. Would have been the 24th overall selection.Lottery Picks: 1-13 Order is detremined by ping pong balls with the team with the worst record getting the most chances. Each team in the lottery is assigned a certain number of combinations, such that teams with worse records are assigned more combinations increasing their odds of landing a top-3 pick. There are a total of 1,000 combinations that are assigned, one of the combinations does not belong to any team and the 4 balls are redrawn if it is encountered. Having 1,000 combinations makes it easier to calculate the probability of receiving the first pick in the draft. Total Rounds: Two
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| DRAFT SNIPPETS |
First Pick: Yao Ming (1st overall)
Naismith Player Of the Year: Jay Williams (2nd overall)
Last Man Standing: Corsley Edwards (58th Overall)
First Point Guard: Jay Williams (2nd overall)
First Shooting Guard: Dajuan Wagner (6th overall)
First Small Forward: Mike Dunleavy (3rd overall)
First Power Forward: Drew Gooden (4th overall)
First Center: Yao Ming (1st overall)
Dominant Alumni: Foreign Leagues (15)
Yao Ming (1st overall)
Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5th overall)
Maybyner "Nene" Hilario (7th overall)
Bostjan Nachbar (15th overall)
Jiri Welsch (16th overall)
Nenad Krstic (25th overall)
Milos Vujanic (36th overall)
David Andersen (37th overall)
Juan Carlos Navarro (40th overall)
Mario Kasun (41st overall)
Peter Fehse (49th overall)
Federico Kammerichs (51st overall)
Mladen Sekularac (55th overall)
Luis Scola (56th overall)
Final Four:
Maryland: Chris Wilcox (8th overall), Juan Dixon (17th overall), Lonny Baxter (44th overall)
Indiana: Jared Jeffries (11th overall)
Kansas: Drew Gooden (4th overall)
Oklahoma: None
Total Underclassmen Declared: 70
Oldest Player Drafted:Dan Gadzuric (24)
Yougest Player Drafted:Nenad Krstic (19) |
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Copyright © 2004 The Draft Review. All rights reserved.
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