Kentucky duo created a history recently in the NBA (National Basketball Association) draft. New Orleans Hornets chose Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the number 1 pick on Thursday, and Charlotte followed by selecting fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
The Wildcats turned out to be the first school to go 1-2 in the NBA draft. The Wildcats carved a niche out for itself by becoming the first school to achieve the top two picks. The school had expressed hopes that they would get five or even six players chosen during the first round.
It has really been a long time since a school succeeded in making such a great impact at the top of the NBA draft. UCLA had enjoyed the number 1 and 3 picks in the year of 1969, when Milwaukee selected Lew Alcindor and Lucius Allen went third to Seattle SuperSonics.
John Calipari, who has long been facing criticism for picking “one-&-done” basketball players, was looking excited hugging his two star picks.
Speaking about Michael’s selection, Davis said, “It’s crazy. Michael is a great player. We have two down and four more to go. Hopefully all of them will go in the first round.”
Davis is going to start his pro career in the same city where he had ended it with a national title. The college basketball player of the year as a freshman had emerged as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, despite the fact that he could shoot just 1 for 10, grab 16 rebounds and block 6 shots in the triumph over Kansas.
The 6-foot-10-inch Davis became a dominant defender, with average 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks.
Playing for the Wildcats means Davis is already accustomed to plenty of attention, thus he is ready to be their centerpiece. Davis himself said that at Kentucky they had the spotlight all the time.
Charlotte, which comes off 7-59 seasons and the worst winning percentage in history of NBA, had been open to moving the number two pick in case it found the perfect deal. In its place, Michael Jordan’s team went with Kidd-Gilchrist.
The Wildcats were actually being outpaced by North Carolina in the first 20 picks, with Harrison Barnes of Golden State at number 7, Kendall Marshall of Phoenix at number 13, John Henson of Milwaukee at number 14, and Tyler Zeller of Dallas at number 17 going between Kidd-Gilchrist and the following Kentucky player Terrence Jones at number 18 to Houston.
The two schools withdrew even when the Bulls chosen Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague at number 29. Teague is expected to help pick up the slack as previous MVP Derrick Rose rehabs from an injury.
Jared Sullinger, Former Ohio State basketball star, was once considered a top-10 pick, but he ended up in a draft free-fall due to concerns over problem in his back. But, he was eventually selected by Boston at number 21.
The NBA is the most excellent men’s professional basketball league in North America. The league adopted the NBA name in the year of 1949 following the Basketball Association of America’s merger with rival league National Basketball League.
