Rarely does the biggest storyline in the draft surround a person that wasn’t a player ready to be drafted. In 2010, John Calipari was the single biggest star of the NBA Draft. It was the start of his incredible run of having a top ten pick in the draft for seven-straight years and that night set the standard of players understanding, playing for Coach Cal at Kentucky was the best step to take towards the NBA. It wasn’t an idea that came out of nowhere once Calipari got to Lexington. Calipari recently took a Memphis team to the NCAA Tournament Championship game with Derrick Rose at the helm, who later became the top pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. When Calipari landed at Kentucky, it seemed like an earthquake shook the college recruiting world. DeMarcus Cousins committed to Memphis to play for Cal and then immediately switched once Cal flipped. After that John Wall, who was the top recruit in the country, seemed initially tempted by Kansas but then spurned the Jayhawks to play for Calipari. The recruiting class rounded out with Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton. Many wondered about whether Kentucky would dominate college basketball like the Fab Five at Michigan, if Coach Cal would be the king of the “one and done” era and what in the world Calipari was doing to get all these incredibly talented kids. That Wildcats team didn’t make it to the Final Four in 2010, but seemed to win it all on draft night with four freshman going in the first round. 2007 was the start of the “one and done” era as it was the first draft where top high schoolers had to finally wait to play one year of college ball to enter the league. 2010 was the start of the “Coach Cal” era was John Calipari made Lexington, Kentucky the ultimate destination spot for those players that wanted to go play one year of college ball to prepare themselves best for the NBA. If you wanted to be a star in the NBA, you were committing to play for Calipari. This year set the standard for almost a decade. Just think about how insane that is. This is why 2010 will always be the “John Calipari Draft”.
14. Houston Rockets
Re-Do Pick: Evan Turner, Ohio State
Actual Pick: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
Turner’s Career: 9.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 20.2 WS, 11.9 PER, 0.5 VORP
13. Toronto Raptors
Re-Do Pick: Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati
Actual Pick: Ed Davis, North Carolina
Stephenson’s Career: 8.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 16.7 WS, 12.1 PER, 2.5 VORP
12. Memphis Grizzlies
Re-Do Pick: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Xavier Henry, Kansas
Patterson’s Career: 6.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 30.2 WS, 12.6 PER, 7.1 VORP
11. New Orleans Hornets
Re-Do Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Actual Pick: Cole Aldrich, Kansas
Aminu’s Career: 7.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 27.5 WS, 12.3 PER, 6.6 VORP
10. Indiana Pacers
Re-Do Pick: Ed Davis, North Carolina
Actual Pick: Paul George, Fresno State
Davis’ Career: 6.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 41.7 WS, 16.5 PER, 6.2 VORP
9. Utah Jazz
Re-Do Pick: Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia
Actual Pick: Gordon Hayward, Butler
Bjelica’s Career: 8.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 15.4 WS, 13.6 PER, 4.2 VORP
8. Los Angeles Clippers
Re-Do Pick: Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
Actual Pick: Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
Favors’ Career: 11.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 53.3 WS, 18.9 PER, 12.7 VORP, 2010-11 All-Rookie
7. Detroit Pistons
Re-Do Pick: Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Bledsoe’s Career: 14.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 42.3 WS, 18.1 PER, 18.5 VORP, 2018-19 All-Defensive, 2010-11 All-Rookie
6. Golden State Warriors
Re-Do Pick: Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Actual Pick: Ekpe Udoh, Baylor
Monroe’s Career: 13.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 49.7 WS, 20.1 PER, 15.2 VORP, 2010-11 All-Rookie
5. Sacramento Kings
Re-Do Pick: Gordon Hayward, Butler
Actual Pick: DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
Hayward’s Career: 15.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 52.9 WS, 17.5 PER, 20.8 VORP, 2016-17 All-Star
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Re-Do Pick: Hassan Whiteside, Marshall
Actual Pick: Wes Johnson, Syracuse
Whiteside’s Career: 13.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 44.9 WS, 24.3 PER, 13.2 VORP, 2015-16 All-Defensive, 2016-17 Rebounding Leader, 2015-16 Blocking Leader
3. New Jersey Nets
Re-Do Pick: DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
Cousins’ Career: 21.1 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 44.1 WS, 22.4 PER, 21.1 VORP, 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA, 2010-11 All-Rookie
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Re-Do Pick: John Wall, Kentucky
Actual Pick: Evan Turner, Ohio State
Wall’s Career: 19.0 PPG, 4.3 APG, 9.2 APG, 44.3 WS, 19.4 PER, 23.6 VORP, 5x All-Star, 2016-17 All-NBA, 2014-15 All-Defensive, 2010-11 All-Rookie
1. Washington Wizards
Re-Do Pick: Paul George, Fresno State
Actual Pick: John Wall, Kentucky
George’s Career: 19.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 69.1 WS, 19.2 PER, 33.1 VORP, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 2012-13 Most Improved Player, 4x All-Defensive, 2010-11 All-Rookie
Marc Weber Talks Sports 