The Los Angeles Clippers selected forward Blake Griffin with the top overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Griffin joined the Clippers after spending two seasons at the University of Oklahoma. Griffin didn’t play at all in what would have been his rookie season after suffering a broken left kneecap during the preseason. He came back and won Rookie of the Year honors for the 2010-11 season.
Top Ten Picks in the 2009 NBA Draft
With the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies selected UConn center Hasheem Thabeet. At number three, the Houston Rockets selected future All-Star and Arizona State guard James Harden. With the fourth pick, the Sacramento Kings chose Memphis guard Tyreke Evans. The Minnesota Timberwolves rounded out the top five with the selection of Spanish guard Ricky Rubio.
The top 10 picks in the 2009 NBA Draft included:
- Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonny Flynn (G, Syracuse)
- Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry (PG, Davidson)
- New York Knicks – Jordan Hill (PF, Arizona)
- Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan (SG, USC)
- Milwaukee Bucks – Brandon Jennings (PG, Italy)
Other notable players selected in the first round include Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Darren Collison and Taj Gibson. Omri Casspi became the first Israeli ever selected in round one when taken by the Sacramento Kings with the 23rd overall pick.
2009 NBA Draft Notes
Evans of the Kings was named the Rookie of the Year for the 2009-10 NBA season. Evans. Along with Jennings, Curry, Collison and Gibson were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Some notable players selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft include DeJuan Blair, Jon Brockman, Chase Budinger, Patty Mills, Danny Green and Jodie Meeks. Notable players who went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft include Dionte Christmas, Jeff Adrien, Jeremy Pargo, Garrett Temple, Luke Zeller and Marcus Landry.
Download: 2009 NBA Draft