LaRue Martin was chosen in the first position of the 1972 Draft. His end was not as expected. Photo: Twitter.
This Thursday, the 2022 NBA Draft will take placewhere the franchises of the best basketball league in the world have the right to choose future promises. It is a great attraction. Because being among the first is a privilege, but also a great responsibility that will have to be fulfilled later on the parquet.
Fans and critics place a lot of expectations on the players, to whom that pressure sometimes can play against. There have been many cases where teams have wasted the opportunity to choose promises that then fell short.
But the reverse also happened. The great players in NBA history weren’t considered the big bet in a draft, nor were they picked in the top spots, and then showed the whole world what they were made of. This exciting event produced curious stories, which are worth remembering.
Sam Bowie (left) and Akeem Olajuwon (right) were both chosen before Michael Jordan in 1984.
The 1984 Draft case is one of the brightest. The first pick was held by the Houston Rockets who selected the Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon, who was a two-time NBA champion, MVP and twelve-time All Star. It could be said that the pivot has more than respected.
Instead, the second pick was the Portland Trail Blazers, who signed Sam Bowie, obsessed with his height. The player has had several injuries that have played against him in his career. He had already introduced them in his undergraduate stage, although it seems they didn’t pay attention to him in Portland. Leaving aside a certain Michael Jordan, who was chosen third by the Chicago Bulls.
Interestingly, in that event it was drawn up carlo lewis. The son of the wind was drafted 208th overall by the Bulls despite never officially playing basketball. He was recommended by Ron Weiss and Ken Passon to be the best athlete available at that time.
Kwame Brown, Michael Jordan’s choice that disappointed everyone. Photo: AP
If we talk about mistakes in the choice, in the first place, we must not forget Kwame Brown. For many the worst number 1 in history. Michael Jordan set his sights on him during his time as president of the Washington Wizards and took pride of place with this young man who hadn’t even played college-level basketball. It was a bad bet.
In 1998 the Clippers had the right to be first in the Draft and signed Hakeem Olajuwon, who had a modest career in the NBA. But beware: they have left aside the future All Stars Dirk Nowitzky, Paolo Pierce, carter wins or Antawn Jamison.
In 1987, the Nets squandered the third pick of the Draft Dennis Hopson and lost the opportunity to sign future basketball stars. Players of the stature of Scottie Pippen, Kevin Johnson, Horace Grant, Reggie Miller and Mark Jacksonamong others.
In 1985 the Dallas Mavericks had three places (8th, 16th and 17th) and wasted their picks on Detlef Schrempf, Bill Wennington Y we babble. Which players have they overlooked? Nothing more and nothing less than Carlo Malone (NBA third top scorer, Hall of Famer and 14-time All Star), Joe Dumars (six-time All Star and two-time champion with Detroit) e AC Green (triple champion with the Lakers).
Karl Malone was chosen in 15th place and became the third best scorer in NBA history. Photo: AP
A separate paragraph for Malone, the striker was selected by the Utah Jazz in 15th position. With Jazz he managed to play twice the NBA Finals and then fell to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, one of the best teams in history. The postman also collected two gold medals at the Olympics.
LaRue Martin, the big disappointment.
in 1972 Portland track blazerthe same franchise that years later would have lost the chance to choose Jordan, had the first choice in the Draft and wasted it with The Rue Martin. The pivot averaged 5 points, 5 rebounds and 14 minutes per game. After four seasons the team decided not to renew the contract and nobody cared about him. Retired at 25.
Martin was chosen Bob McAdoo, future MVP, three-time NBA top scorer and double champion with the Lakers. They also lost the chance to hire Giulio Ervinfuture MVP, fifth top scorer in the history of professional basketball, member of the Hall of Fame and champion with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Julius Erving with the ABA Virginia Squires shirt. (Photo: NBA)
Jokic, Parker and Ginobili, the surprises.
Nikola Jockic he was one of those who surprised everyone. In 2014 he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 41st place. So far, he has been a two-time regular season MVP and played in the conference finals in 2021. A good decision for Colorado and a lousy eye for the rest of the recruiters.
Along the same lines, the French point guard born in Belgium Tony Parker, He was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2001 Draft in 28th place in the first round. He was a four-time NBA champion, the best assistant for the Texas team and MVP of the finals against the Detroit Cavaliers and LeBron James.
Manu Ginóbili also did not occupy the top places in the 1999 Draft. Photo: Twitter
Kobe Bryant It is another case that has generated surprises. Black Mamba He was selected in 13th place in the 1996 Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Nobody would have thought at that moment that he would later be one of the ten best players in NBA history. During his time with the Los Angeles Lakers he won five NBA Finals, a regular season MVP and was featured at 18 All Stars.
Finally, we can cite the case of Emanuele Ginobili. Manu She participated in the 1999 Draft and was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs in 57th place. Bahiense won four NBA rings, was featured in two All Star Games, was chosen as Best Sixth Man and twice was part of the ‘NBA Best Quintet. Furthermore, he was considered, by many specialists, to be like the best Argentine basketball player in history, even before its induction into the Sports Hall of Fame.
Source: Clarin
