The Orlando Magic selected center Dwight Howard with the top overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Howard came to the NBA right out of high school after being named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year. Howard went on to start all 82 games during his rookie season. He would win the first of several Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2009.

Howard was one of eight players selected directly out of high school in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Top Ten Picks of the 2004 NBA Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats selected UConn big man Emeka Okafor. The Chicago Bulls took Okafor’s UConn teammate and guard Ben Gordon at number three. The Los Angeles Clippers selected guard Shaun Livingston with the fourth overall pick, while the Washington Wizards took guard Devin Harris to round out the top five.

The rest of the top 10 picks in the 2004 NBA Draft included:

6. Atlanta Hawks – Josh Childress (G/F, Stanford)
7. Phoenix Suns – Luol Deng (SF, Duke)
8. Toronto Raptors – Rafael Araujo (C, BYU)
9. Philadelphia 76ers – Andre Iguodala (G/F, Arizona)
10. Cleveland Cavaliers – Luke Jackson (SF, Oregon)

Other notable players taken in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft include Kris Humphries, Al Jefferson, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Tony Allen and Delonte West. The Minnesota Timberwolves had to forfeit their first round pick due to salary cap violations.

Notes from the 2004 NBA Draft

Okafor took home Rookie of the Year honors for the 2004-05 NBA season. Okafor, Howard, Gordon, Iguodala and Deng were named to the league’s All-Rookie team.

Some notable players that were taken in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft include Anderson Varejao, Chris Duhon and Trevor Ariza. The most notable player that wasn’t taken in the 2004 NBA Draft was Hamed Haddadi, who is the first-ever Iranian-born player to get minutes in an NBA game.

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The Toronto Raptors selected forward Andrea Bargnani with the top overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Bargnani came to the NBA after spending time as a professional in Italy. The seven-footer appeared in 65 games in his rookie season, averaging 11 points and just under four rebounds per game. Bargnani spent the first seven years of his career in Toronto before being dealt to the New York Knicks in 2013.

Top Ten Picks in the 2005 NBA Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected North Carolina guard Marvin Williams. A pair of future All-Stars would be taken off the board next. First, the Utah Jazz chose Illinois guard Deron Williams with the third overall pick. The New Orleans Hornets then took Wake Forest guard Chris Paul fourth. The Charlotte Bobcats selected North Carolina guard Raymond Felton.

The top 10 picks in the 2005 NBA Draft included:

6. Portland Trail Blazers – Martell Webster (G/F, High School)
7. Toronto Raptors – Charlie Villanueva (F, UConn)
8. New York Knicks – Channing Frye (C, Arizona)
9. Golden State Warriors – Ike Diogu (F, Arizona State)
10. Los Angeles Lakers – Andrew Bynum (C, High School)

Another pair of future All-Stars were taken outside the top 10 in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers grabbed Danny Granger 17^th overall, while the New York Knicks selected David Lee with the final pick of the 2005 NBA Draft.

Other notable players taken in the first round include Gerald Green, Nate Robinson, Jarrett Jack and Francisco Garcia.

2005 NBA Draft Notes

Chris Paul was selected as the Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 NBA season. Paul, along with Bogut, Villanueva, Deron Williams and Frye were named to the All-Rookie First Team. Notable players who went unselected in the 2005 NBA Draft include Will Bynum, Chuck Hayes, Aaron Miles and Ronnie Price.

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The Toronto Raptors selected forward Andrea Bargnani with the top overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Bargnani came to the NBA after spending time as a professional in Italy. The seven-footer appeared in 65 games in his rookie season, averaging 11 points and just under four rebounds per game. Bargnani spent the first seven years of his career in Toronto before being dealt to the New York Knicks in 2013.

Top Ten Picks in the 2006 NBA Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected future All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was later dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers for the fourth overall pick, forward Tyrus Thomas. At number three, the Charlotte Bobcats picked Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison. The Atlanta Hawks rounded out the top five with the selection of Duke forward Shelden Williams.

The top 10 picks in the 2006 NBA Draft included:

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Brandon Roy (G, Washington)
7. Boston Celtics – Randy Foye (G, Villanova)
8. Houston Rockets – Rudy Gay (F, UConn)
9. Golden State Warriors – Patrick O’Bryant (C, Bradley)
10. Seattle SuperSonics – Mouhamed Sene (C, Belgium)

The most notable player drafted outside of the top 10 in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft is guard Rajon Rondo, who was selected by the Phoenix Suns but was later shipped to the Boston Celtics. Other notable players selected in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft include J.J. Redick, Thabo Sefolosha, Ronnie Brewer, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar and Kyle Lowry.

2006 NBA Draft Notes

Brandon Roy, who was selected by the Timberwolves but traded to the Trail Blazers, was named the Rookie of the Year for the 2006-07 season. Roy, Bargnani, Foye, Gay, Aldridge and Jorge Garbajosa were named to the leagues All-Rookie Team.

Notable players who went unselected in the 2006 NBA Draft include J.J. Barea, C.J. Watson and Lou Amudson.

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The Portland Trail Blazers selected center Greg Oden with the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden joined the Blazers after spending one season at Ohio State. Oden helped the Buckeyes reach the national championship game in his only year with the team. Oden only appeared in 82 games in the first two years of his career. He was released by Portland in 2012.

With the second pick, the then-Seattle SuperSonics chose future All-Star and league MVP Kevin Durant. It wasn’t the first time Portland missed badly on a pick, as the Blazers infamously passed on Michael Jordan to select Sam Bowie with the second pick in the 1984 draft. Jordan went third to the Chicago Bulls.

Top Ten Picks in the 2007 NBA Draft

With the third pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected future All-Star forward Al Horford. At number four, the Memphis Grizzlies took point guard Mike Conley Jr. The Boston Celtics rounded out the top five with the selection of Georgetown forward Jeff Green.

The top 10 picks in the 2007 NBA Draft included:

6. Milwaukee Bucks – Yi Jianlian (PF, China)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves – Corey Brewer (SF, Florida)
8. Charlotte Bobcats – Brandan Wright (PF, North Carolina)
9. Chicago Bulls – Joakim Noah (C, Florida)
10. Sacramento Kings – Spencer Hawes (C, Washington)

Other notable players selected in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft include Thaddeus Young, Rodney Stuckey, Nick Young, Marco Belinelli, Daequan Cook, Jared Dudley, Wilson Chandler, Rudy Fernandez, Aaron Brooks, Arron Afflalo and Tiago Splitter.

2007 NBA Draft Notes

Durant took home Rookie of the Year honors for the 2007-08 NBA season. Durant, along with Horford, Green, Al Thornton and Luis Scola were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. The most notable player selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft is center Marc Gasol. Drafted 48^th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, Marc would later be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal involving his brother, Pau.

Joel Anthony, Anthony Tolliver and Gary Neal were among those who went unselected in the 2007 NBA Draft.

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The Chicago Bulls selected guard Derrick Rose with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Rose joined the Bulls after spending one year at the University of Memphis. The Tigers reached the national championship game in Rose’s only year with the team.

Rose would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors for the 2008-09 NBA season and made the All-Star team in his second year.

Top Ten Picks in the 2008 NBA Draft

With the second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat selected Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. At number three, the Minnesota Timberwolves took USC guard O.J. Mayo. The then-Seattle SuperSonics selected UCLA guard Russell Westbrook fourth overall, while the Memphis Grizzlies rounded out the top five with the selection of UCLA forward Kevin Love.

The Grizzlies later sent the draft rights to Love to the Timberwolves in exchange for the rights to Mayo.

The top 10 picks in the 2008 NBA Draft included:

6. New York Knicks – Danilo Gallinari (SF, Italy)
7. Los Angeles Clippers – Eric Gordon (SG, Indiana)
8. Milwaukee Bucks – Joe Alexander (SF, West Virginia)
9. Charlotte Bobcats – D.J. Augustin (PG, Texas)
10. New Jersey Nets – Brook Lopez (C, Stanford)

The Phoenix Suns took Brook’s twin brother, Robin, with the 15^th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Other notable players selected in the first round include center Roy Hibbert, power forward Serge Ibaka, small forward Nicolas Batum, and point guard George Hill.

2008 NBA Draft Notes

Rose, along with Mayo, Westbrook, Brook Lopez, and Beasley were named to the 2008-09 NBA All-Rookie First Team. Notable players selected in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft include Nikola Pekovic, Mario Chalmers, DeAndre Jordan, Omer Asik and Goran Dragic.

Players who went unselected in the 2008 NBA Draft include Gary Forbes, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Morrow and Greg Stiemsma.

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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:

6. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonny Flynn (G, Syracuse)
7. Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry (PG, Davidson)
8. New York Knicks – Jordan Hill (PF, Arizona)
9. Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan (SG, USC)
10. 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 23^rd 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.

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The Washington Wizards selected point guard John Wall with the top overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Wall joined the Wizards after spending one season at the University of Kentucky. Wall, who was named SEC Player of the Year in 2010, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting for the 2010-11 NBA season.

Wall was one of a record five players selected from Kentucky in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Top Ten Picks in the 2010 NBA Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ohio State guard Evan Turner. At number three, the New Jersey Nets chose Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors. Syracuse forward Wes Johnson went to the Minnesota Timberwolves at number four, while the Sacramento Kings took Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins to round out the top five.

The top 10 picks in the 2010 NBA Draft included:

6. Golden State Warriors – Ekpe Udoh (PF, Baylor)
7. Detroit Pistons – Greg Monroe (C, Georgetown)
8. Los Angeles Clippers – Al-Farouq Aminu (SF, Wake Forest)
9. Utah Jazz – Gordon Hayward (SF, Butler)
10. Indiana Pacers – Paul George (SF, Fresno State)

The other players selected from Kentucky in the first round were Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton.

2010 NBA Draft Notes

No players selected in the 2010 NBA Draft were named to an All-Star team during their rookie season. The Rookie of the Year Award went to Blake Griffin, who was taken with the top overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft but missed all what would have been his rookie season due to injury. Griffin, Wall, Landry Fields, Demarcus Cousins and Gary Neal were all named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.

The most notable player not to be selected during the 2010 NBA Draft was point guard Jeremy Lin. Ben Uzoh, Sherron Collins and Marqus Blakely also weren’t selected.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the top overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Irving joined the Cavs after spending just one season with the Blue Devils. Cleveland, which had acquired the pick in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the season, was looking to rebuild after the departure of star LeBron James following the 2010 season. Irving would go on to win Rookie of the Year honors for the 2011-12 NBA season.

Irving was one selected with one of the two top-five picks the Cavs held in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Top Ten Picks in the 2011 NBA Draft

With the second overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Arizona forward Derrick Williams. At number three, the Utah Jazz picked Kentucky center Enes Kanter. The Cavs were on the board again at number four and selected Texas forward Tristan Thompson. The Toronto Raptors rounded out the top five by selecting Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas.

The top 10 picks in the 2011 NBA Draft included:

6. Washington Wizards – Jan Vesely (PF, Czech Republic)
7. Sacramento Kings – Bismack Biyombo (PF, DR Congo)
8. Detroit Pistons – Brandon Knight (PG, Kentucky)
9. Charlotte Bobcats – Kemba Walker (PG, UConn)
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Jimmer Fredette (PG, BYU)

Meanwhile, twins Markieff and Marcus Morris were selected with back-to-back picks in the first round. Markieff was selected 13^th overall by the Phoenix Suns, while Marcus went 14^th to the Houston Rockets. The Chicago Bulls wrapped up the first round by picking Marquette forward Jimmy Butler.

2011 NBA Draft Notes

No one from the 2011 NBA Draft class was named to the All-Star Game during their rookie season. Irving, Knight, Klay Thompson, Kenneth Faried, Ricky Rubio, Iman Shumpert and Kawhi Leonard were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The final pick of the 2011 NBA Draft was guard Isaiah Thomas, who was selected 60^th overall by the Sacramento Kings.

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The New Orleans Hornets selected Kentucky big man Anthony Davis with the top overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Davis was taken with the top pick after helping lead Kentucky to the 2012 national championship. Davis was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Final Four for his efforts.

Davis was one of four players from Kentucky selected in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

Top Ten Picks of the 2012 NBA Draft

The Charlotte Bobcats took Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. At number three, the Washington Wizards took Florida guard Bradley Beal. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the fourth overall pick, while the Sacramento Kings rounded out the top five with the selection of Kansas forward Thomas Robinson.

The top 10 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft included:

6. Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard (PG, Weber State)
7. Golden State Warriors – Harrison Barnes (SF, North Carolina)
8. Toronto Raptors – Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)
9. Detroit Pistons – Andre Drummond (C, UConn)
10. New Orleans Hornets – Austin Rivers (SG, Duke)

Lillard was named the unanimous Rookie of the Year after averaging 19 points and six assists per game during the 2012-13 NBA season. Lillard also was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month all six times during the campaign. Lillard, along with Davis, Beal, Barnes and Waiters were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

2012 NBA Draft Notes

No one selected in the 2012 NBA Draft was named an All-Star during their rookie season. Three freshmen were selected with the top three picks, but a freshman wasn’t selected again until Drummond at number nine. Notable players who went unselected in the 2012 NBA Draft include guard Kent Bazemore, guard Toure’ Murry and swingman Hollis Thompson.

The final player selected in the 2012 NBA Draft was center Robert Sacre, who was taken by the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers shocked many in the basketball world by selecting UNLV forward Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Bennett bolted for the NBA after spending one year with the Rebels. Bennett became the first-ever Canadian-born player to be selected with the first overall pick.

Bennett was one of only two players born in Canada taken in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Top Ten Picks of the 2013 NBA Draft

The Orlando Magic selected Indiana guard Victor Oladipo with the second overall pick in the in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards selected Georgetown swingman Otto Porter at number three, while the Charlotte Bobcats took Indiana big man Cody Zeller fourth overall. The Phoenix Suns rounded out the top five with the selection of Maryland center Alex Len.

The top 10 in the 2013 NBA Draft included:

6. New Orleans Pelicans – Nerlens Noel (C, Kentucky)
7. Sacramento Kings – Ben McLemore (SG, Kansas)
8. Detroit Pistons – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG, Georgia)
9. Minnesota Timberwolves – Trey Burke (PG, Michigan)
10. Portland Trail Blazers – C.J. McCollum (PG, Lehigh)

The Rookie of the Year for the draft class was selected just outside the top 10 of the 2013 NBA Draft. RoY honors went to Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams, who was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 11^th overall pick. “MCW” also earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors four times during the 2013-14 NBA season.

2013 NBA Draft Notes

The 2013 NBA Draft was the final selection meeting under the watch of NBA commissioner David Stern, who retired during the 2013-14 season. No members of the 2013 NBA Draft class were named to the All-Star team during their rookie campaign.  Notable players who were not selected in the 2013 NBA Draft include Matthew Dellavedova, Seth Curry, James Southerland and Robert Covington.

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