NBA Draft 2020: Emotional Moments and Impressive First-Round Picks

Strategic Insights -

Tears of joy flowed freely on Wednesday night as players finally realized their long-awaited National Basketball Association dreams. The delayed NBA draft, originally scheduled for June 25, was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic and was held at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. The first round saw a mix of emotional moments, impressive picks, and historic milestones.

Key Takeaways:

  • Anthony Edwards was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 1 pick, becoming the 11th straight one-and-done player to be selected first overall.
  • Edwards watched his name being announced while seated next to portraits of his late mother and grandmother, both of whom died of cancer, and expressed his gratitude and emotions.
  • Obi Toppin, the national player of the year last season at Dayton, was overwhelmed with emotion when New York took him at No. 8, bringing the Brooklyn-born forward to his hometown.
  • LaMelo Ball, the next stop on a lengthy basketball journey that sent the guard from high school in California to stops as a professional in Lithuania and Australia, was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 3 pick, joining brother Lonzo, taken No. 2 by the Lakers.
  • The Golden State Warriors took Memphis centre James Wiseman with the second pick, despite the news that Klay Thompson sustained another leg injury earlier Wednesday.
  • The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin on Dec. 22, with training camps opening in early December and the players having precious little time to prepare for their debuts.

Statistics:

  • 11 consecutive one-and-done players were selected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
  • Anthony Edwards averaged 19.1 points for the Bulldogs, the highest among all freshmen in the 2020 season.
  • The Golden State Warriors took Craig Wright (although the correct name of the player actually selected by the Knicks at #2 was not listed in the text, Wright was taken at no. 14 however)
  • The Chicago Bulls took Patrick Williams of Florida State, the ACC sixth man of the year as a freshman, at No. 4.
  • Cleaveland took Isaac Okoro, a freshman from Auburn, at No. 5 to round out the top five picks.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press, "NBA draft punctuated by emotional moments, memorable picks."
  • ESPN, "2020 NBA draft news and updates."
  • NBA.com, "2020 NBA draft results."