The 2009 NBA Draft was supposed to be a rough hangover after 2008. It was seen as a sort of “leftover draft” because many of the top selections were prospects that weren’t talented enough to go earlier in 2008. Players like Blake Griffin and James Harden held out in 2008 because somehow experts considered them to not be top five picks, even though they’d have better careers than most of the players in that draft.
I’ll never forget listening to WFAN the day of the 2009 NBA Draft. Summer was starting and because it was my first with a license and a car, I had to do a multitude of errands for my family. So, how does a New York sports-obsessed teenager entertain themselves on hours of driving around? Listening to WFAN. “Joe and Evan” pretty much laughed this draft off and said there’s no point for Knicks and Nets fans to be invested in this because they won’t get Griffin. Mike Francesa said this draft was “Griffin and then everyone else”, before comparing Griffin to a combination of Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. He then said players like James Harden and others in this draft would be great role players that will fill NBA rosters for years to come.
This is what makes the NBA Draft so great. The most-hyped ones could be filled with disappointing players and the ones that people laugh off may just change the entire scope of the league. Except for those obsessed with the NBA Draft year-after-year, like myself, no one was quite locked in to this draft. Common fans knew Griffin would be special, but no one except for the die-hards were thinking that maybe Steph Curry could be one of the league’s best guards and that front office execs may be sleeping on DeMar DeRozan’s athleticism. There were also many wildly incorrect takes from die hards on whether or not James Harden would be fit enough for the NBA, would Ricky Rubio change the league and whether too many people were sleeping on Brandon Jennings.
This was a draft that we all should have paid closer attention to, but didn’t appreciate until years later when players like Curry, Harden and Griffin started to dominate the league. Andy Bernard from “The Office” once said it would be great if you knew when the good times were happening, so you can appreciate them more. That’s how many look at the 2009 NBA Draft.
14. Phoenix Suns
Re-Do Pick: Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Actual Pick: Earl Clark, Louisville
Lawson’s Career: 12.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 42.1 WS, 17.2 PER, 13.6 VORP
13. Indiana Pacers
Re-Do Pick: Patty Mills, Saint Mary’s
Actual Pick: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Mills’ Career: 8.7 PPG, 38.9% 3PT FG, 56.3% TS, 30.1 WS, 14.4 PER, 8.4 VORP, 2013-14 NBA Champion
12. Charlotte Bobcats
Re-Do Pick: Taj Gibson, USC
Actual Pick: Gerald Henderson, Duke
Gibson’s Career: 9.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 52.4 WS, 15.5 PER, 6.4 VORP, 2009-10 All-Rookie
11. New Jersey Nets
Re-Do Pick: Danny Green, North Carolina
Actual Pick: Terrence Williams, Louisville
Green’s Career: 8.9 PPG, 40.2% 3PT FG, 56.8% TS, 42.7 WS, 13.0 PER, 17.9 VORP, 2x NBA Champion, 2016-17 All-Defensive
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Re-Do Pick: DeMarre Carroll, Missouri
Actual Pick: Brandon Jennings, USA
Carroll’s Career: 8.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 29.4 WS, 13.3 PER, 6.7 VORP
9. Toronto Raptors
Re-Do Pick: Patrick Beverley, Arkansas
Actual Pick: DeMar DeRozan, USC
Beverley’s Career: 8.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 STL, 28.2 WS, 12.5 PER, 9.0 VORP, 2x All-Defensive
8. New York Knicks
Re-Do Pick: Darren Collison, UCLA
Actual Pick: Jordan Hill, Arizona
Collison’s Career: 12.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 49.9 WS, 16.2 PER, 13.5 VORP, 2009-10 All-Rookie
7. Golden State Warriors
Re-Do Pick: Ricky Rubio, Spain
Actual Pick: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Rubio’s Career: 11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7.8 APG, 36.4 WS, 15.8 PER, 12.6 VORP, 2011-12 All-Rookie
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Re-Do Pick: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Actual Pick: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Teague’s Career: 12.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 50.8 WS, 17.0 PER, 14.4 VORP, 2014-15 All-Star
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Re-Do Pick: Jrue Holiday, UCLA
Actual Pick: Ricky Rubio, Spain
Holiday’s Career: 15.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.4 APG, 43.0 WS, 16.9 PER, 19.2 VORP, 2012-13 All-Star
4. Sacramento Kings
Re-Do Pick: DeMar DeRozan
Actual Pick: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
DeRozan’s Career: 20.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 66.5 WS, 18.2 PER, 16.5 VORP, 4x All-Star, 2x All-NBA
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Re-Do Pick: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Actual Pick: James Harden, Arizona State
Griffin’s Career: 21.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 75.2 WS, 22.0 PER, 31.9 VORP, 2010-11 Rookie of the Year, 6x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, 2010-11 All-Rookie
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Re-Do Pick: James Harden, Arizona State
Actual Pick: Hasheem Thabeeet, UConn
Harden’s Career: 25.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.3 APG, 133.3 WS, 24.7 PER, 63.6 VORP, 2017-18 NBA MVP, 2011-12 Sixth Man Award, 8x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2x Scoring Champion, 2016-17 Assists Leader, 2009-10 All-Rookie
1. Los Angeles Clippers
Re-Do Pick: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Actual Pick: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Curry’s Career: 23.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 103.2 WS, 23.8 PER, 50.7 VORP, 3x NBA Champion, 2x NBA MVP, 6x All-Star, 6x All-NBA, 2015-16 Scoring Champion, 2009-10 All-Rookie
Marc Weber Talks Sports 