2006: In 4th grade, my classmates and I were required to complete a writing assignment on a subject of our choice. With my Duke basketball fandom at an all-time high, my selection was obvious. As you’ll find in the image below, I opted to write about the best college basketball player I had ever seen, JJ Redick.
Though my diction and grammar could be deemed as subpar, my level of appreciation for the chosen hooper was anything but deficient. In the brief write-up, I ranted and raved about how awesome of a basketball player he was, and how his outlandish production at Duke had made an impact on me from afar.
Near the end of the piece, I added a nice, wishful touch, writing, “In the 2006 NBA draft I hope he gets drafted by the Boston Celtics.” Being an MA native who lived about 40 minutes away from the TD Banknorth Garden, the home of the Celtics, I was hoping that publishing my wish for my favorite player to come play for the home team would increase the odds of it coming true. Especially since it was a desire made for a school project.
Though my wish did not come true, I happily watched ESPNs coverage of the 2006 NBA Draft, and was ecstatic when my cherished baller was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic. Due to my appreciation for players like JJ, and his teammate, Shelden Williams, 06 was the first time I viewed the draft in its entirety.
From that point on, I didn’t miss the annual event. Even though Redick had moved on, I continued to support the Blue Devils, and all things college hoops. The next year, I was pumped to see Ohio State star, Greg Oden, get selected number overall, as I had become quite a fan of his. So much so, that I ended up purchasing his Portland Trail Blazers jersey (See Below), right after the 2007 NBA Draft.
In 2008, I was shocked to see a player get chosen (albeit Derrick Rose) ahead of Michael Beasley. To my 12-year-old eyes, as a freshman, Beasley was one of the greatest bucket-getters I had ever seen. Even when his career didn’t pan out as expected in the NBA, I continued to perceive him as one of the best. To express my support, I wrote a blog in college in defense of his greatness.
In ’09, I was super stoked to see Davidson’s Steph Curry go in the top-10. Prior to excelling in the NCAA Tournament on a national stage, Curry played my Duke Blue Devils and almost single-handedly defeated them. He finished with 29 points, and his shot was off that day, which proved to me just how lethal of a player he was. The way he shot threes at a high clip reminded me of Redick, so I flocked to his game with fascination.
I could go on and on about the ensuing NBA Drafts and what they meant to me, but I told myself that these blogs would be brief, and right to the point. Bottom line is, ever since 06, my appreciation for the coverage of the event has never wavered. And it’s the little things about the production that I love. Like the ticker at the bottom of the screen that tells the viewer whose turn it is to pick, how much time they have, and who the top available players are. I love when they pan to the commissioner when the pick is in and he struts onto to the stage to announce it. Also, while this is existent across drafts in all sports, giving the players their new team hat right after getting drafted is an incredible touch. The whole vibe is sweet.
When I got to ESPN, I never thought about the possibility of contributing to the NBA Draft. Being based out of Charlotte, I just assumed that the content for the special event was reserved to a select group of people who were assigned to it, and the rest of the employees just watched like everyone else. However, because I was primarily in charge of covering the SEC, when we were inching closer to Draft Day, I was asked to provide various SEC-based tidbits that would play well during the coverage. On cloud nine, I began digging into the internal resources to see if I could pull something juicy. Since the bulk of the material would be centered around the players who were getting picked, I knew I had take a unique approach if I wanted an idea of mine to make it in the show.
My first thought was Kentucky. That season was no different than the years prior, as the 2018-19 Wildcats team was littered with NBA talent. Though they fell to SEC-fellow Auburn in the Elite 8, it was obvious that their star players, Tyler Herro, PJ Washington, and Keldon Johnson (Though less obvious than Herro and Washington) would be first rounders in the coming draft. Like many of the past greats at the university, Herro and Johnson were one-and-done players, which meant they would join the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, Jamal Murray, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, John Wall, and Demarcus Cousins, and others, as 2010s UK freshman players to go in the NBA Draft. Coach Cal had created a NBA-prospect machine, and they were churning out young talent like no other. Knowing this, I wanted to evaluate this span, and put Kentucky up against entire conferences to see how they stacked up when it came to breeding freshman who wound up getting picked. Turns out, they were in a league of their own during this stretch. As you’ll find in the clip, my contribution to the NBA Draft was informing the audience that, since 2010, Kentucky had more freshman hear their name called at the NBA Draft than the ENTIRE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE (ACC). As luck would have it, my stat was used while my hometown Celtics were on the clock.
A full circle moment.
Shoutout to KAT, Boogie, John Wall, Book, SGA, and BAM for being incredible at ball at such a young age. Their greatness granted me the chance to participate in an event that I’ve loved since ’06.
LIFE LESSON: Enjoy watching other individual’s dream’s come true. It’ll enhance the odds of your own aspirations coming to fruition.
Jeremy’s Journal is Jeremy’s way of expressing his gratitude to the world. At the end of each 500-1,000 word post, he will include a ‘Life Lesson’ of some kind. His goal is to remind himself, and his readers, how awesome everyone’s journey can be when perceived through the proper lens.