Review of the 2008 NBA Draft

The National Basketball Association held its 2008 NBA draft at the Madison Square Garden in New York on Thursday, June 26. In the first round of the draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Derrick Rose of the University of Memphis as the number one overall pick. Rose is a 6-3, 190 pound guard who orchestrated the Tiger's NCAA championship earlier in the year.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the second pick went to the Miami Heat, who selected forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State as their first pick.

The widely publicized 6-foot-4 guard O.J Mayo of USC was picked third by the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Russell Westbrook and Kevin love, both of UCLA, were picked fourth and fifth respectively to round up the top five of the first round. Westbrook was captured by the Seattle Supersonic while Love was taken by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Rounding up the top ten of the first round pick are at number six Danilo Gallinari, the forward from Italy who went to the New York Knicks, number 7 Eric Gordon, the Indiana guard who was selected by the los Angeles Clippers.

At number 8 is forward Joe Alexander of West Virginia picked by the Milwaukee Bucks, at number 9 is D.J. Augustin, a guard from Texas selected by the Charlotte Bobcats, and at number 10 the New Jersey Nets selected Brook Lopez, the center from Stanford university.

I must say it was a pretty big day for all the draft picks, but especially for O.J Mayo who apparently had dreamt of this day, of playing in the NBA since he was a toddler. Although it had been clear all along that he will be a very top pick, it was still a special moment to finally hear his name called as an NBA prospect and a player to watch. Mayo is the first USC player ever to be among the top pick at number three. With the two UCLA Bruins coming right after him at fourth and fifth, it was a great day for college basketball fans in southern California. Too bad none of those top seeds will head to the Los Angeles Lakers, who did not make a first round pick due to trade arrangements made with the Memphis Grizzlies when they acquired Pau Gasol in February. The Lakers got in the action with the 58^th pick while the Boston Celtics got the 6oth and final pick.

Sources:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/21835799.html
www.nba.com