The 2002 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North American leagues.[1] The draft was broadcast on TNT at 7:30 PM (EDT). The NBA announced that about 42 college and high school players, and five international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the draft.[2] The Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors both had a 22.5 percent probability of acquiring the first overall pick, but the Houston Rockets, with an 8.9 percent probability, won the NBA draft lottery on May 19.[3][4] The Bulls and Warriors were second and third, respectively. As punishment for salary-cap violations during the 2000–01 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round draft pick.
The 2002 draft set a record with 17 international selections, with six coming in the first round alone.[5]
#2 pick Jay Williams violated his contract by riding a motorcycle, and nearly lost his life in an accident that shattered his pelvis, severed a main nerve in his leg, and tore three ligaments in his left knee including his ACL. Although he underwent an intense rehabilitation program, Williams never played a game in the NBA again. When it became clear Williams would not be returning to the Bulls because of his injuries, he was waived. The Bulls could have voided Williams' contract, since riding a motorcycle was contractually prohibited. Instead the Bulls completed a $3 million buyout of the contract instead of having him walk away with nothing. [6]
Key
Draft selections
Drew Gooden, the 4th pick
Caron Butler, the 10th pick
Tayshaun Prince, the 23rd pick
Roger Mason, the 31st pick
Carlos Boozer, the 35th pick
Matt Barnes, the 46th pick
Darius Songaila, the 50th pick
- ↑ Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
Notable undrafted players
These players were not selected in this draft but played at least one game in the NBA. Dimitris Diamantidis & Felipe Reyes have not played any game in the NBA, but both have been among the most iconic players in the Euroleague for Panathinaikos and the Real Madrid. Felipe Reyes also won the 2006 FIBA World Cup with Spain.
References
- ↑ NBA.com: 2002 Draft Handbook
- ↑ NBA.com. Twenty-Four Early Entry Candidates Withdraw from Draft 2002. Retrieved June 26, 2007.
- ↑ NBA.com. Ties Broken for NBA Draft Order of Selection. April 24, 2002. Retrieved June 26, 2007.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lago, Joe. Draft record set with 17 foreign-born picks. June 26, 2002. Retrieved June 26, 2002.
- ↑ Nance, Roscoe. Bulls, Jay Williams agree to contract buyout. February 2, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Knicks traded #7 pick along with Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson to the Nuggets for Antonio McDyess, #25 pick and a 2003 second-round pick.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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