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2007 NBA draft
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| 2007 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 28, 2007 |
| Location | WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City) |
| Network | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 60 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers) |
The 2007 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2007, at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries.[1] In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players.
Freshman Greg Oden from Ohio State University was drafted first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, who won the draft lottery.[2] However, he missed the 2007–08 season due to microfracture surgery on his right knee during the pre-season.[3] Another freshman, Kevin Durant, was drafted second overall from the University of Texas by the Seattle SuperSonics,[4] and went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award for the 2007–08 season.[5] Oden and Durant became the first freshmen to be selected with the top two picks in the draft.[6] Al Horford, the son of former NBA player Tito Horford, was drafted third by the Atlanta Hawks.[7] Of the three top picks, Durant has been a League MVP, a two-time finals MVP and perennial All-Star while Horford has enjoyed a solid All-Star career. Oden, however, was beset by numerous microfracture surgeries on both knees that limited him to only 82 games from 2008 to 2010.
On the night after the draft, the Seattle Supersonics traded seven-time All-Star Ray Allen along with the draft rights of the 35th pick Glen Davis to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the draft rights to the 5th pick, Jeff Green.[8] The Portland Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks were also involved in a multi-player trade that sent Zach Randolph to the Knicks and Steve Francis to the Blazers.[9] Apart from those two trades, nine further draft-day trades were announced.[10]
The 2007 draft marked the first time three players drafted in the top 10 came from the same school: the University of Florida.[11] Florida, the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball champion, tied the record set by the University of Connecticut in 2006 with five players selected in the first two rounds of an NBA draft.[12] Florida joined nine other schools, including Connecticut, that had five players selected in an NBA draft, second only to UNLV, which had six players selected in the eight-round 1977 draft.[12][13] Five players who competed in the 2007 NCAA Basketball National Championship Final were selected in the top 10; three players came from Florida, and two players came from the runner-up, Ohio State University.[14] This draft also set the record number of freshmen drafted in the first round when eight freshmen were selected.[15] Of the 60 players drafted, eight were freshmen, five were sophomores, 14 were juniors, 20 were seniors, and 13 were international players without U.S. college basketball experience. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors all did not have a draft pick this year, although Indiana and Toronto each acquired a drafted player's rights after the draft.[10] As of 2025, the only remaining active NBA players from this draft are Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Mike Conley, and Jeff Green.
Draft selections
[edit]
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| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
^ a: Yi Jianlian's year of birth has been widely disputed, with several sources claiming that Chinese basketball authorities falsified his year of birth from 1984 to 1987 to allow him a longer period of competition in international junior tournaments. A dedicated section of Yi's Wikipedia article discusses this issue and includes sources.
^ b: Joakim Noah, who was born in the United States to a French father and a Swedish mother, has dual U.S. and French citizenship.[36] He has represented France internationally since 2011.[37]
^ c: Taurean Green, who was born in the United States, became a naturalized citizen of Georgia in 2010. He has represented Georgia internationally since 2010.[38]
Notable undrafted players
[edit].jpg)
These players were not selected in the 2007 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA.
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blake Ahearn | PG |  United States
|
Missouri State (Sr.) |
| Joel Anthony | C |  Canada
|
UNLV (Sr.) |
| Gustavo Ayón | C/PF |  Mexico
|
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain) |
| Bobby Brown | PG | United States
|
Cal State Fullerton (Sr.) |
| Eric Dawson | PF/C | United States
|
Midwestern State (Sr.) |
| Zabian Dowdell | PG | United States
|
Virginia Tech (Sr.) |
| Andre Ingram | SG | United States
|
American (Sr.) |
| Ivan Johnson | PF | United States
|
Cal State San Bernardino (Sr.) |
| Trey Johnson | SG | United States
|
Jackson State (Sr.) |
| Coby Karl | SG | United States
|
Boise State (Sr.) |
| Oliver Lafayette | PG/SG | United States Croatia
|
Houston (Sr.) |
| Cartier Martin | SF/SG | United States
|
Kansas State (Sr.) |
| Gary Neal | SG | United States
|
Towson (Sr.) |
| Mustafa Shakur | PG | United States
|
Arizona (Sr.) |
| Courtney Sims | C | United States
|
Michigan (Sr.) |
| Mirza Teletović | PF |  Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
Saski Baskonia (Spain) |
| Anthony Tolliver | PF | United States
|
Creighton (Sr.) |
| Darryl Watkins | C | United States
|
Syracuse (Sr.) |
| Mario West | G | United States
|
Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
Eligibility
[edit]The basic requirements for draft eligibility are:
- All drafted players must be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1988).[39]
- Any player who is not an "international player", as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), must be at least one year removed from the graduation of his high school class.[39]
The CBA defines "international players" as players who permanently resided outside the U.S. for three years before the draft, did not complete high school in the U.S., and have never enrolled at a U.S. college or university.[40]
The basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U.S. player is the completion of his college eligibility.[41] Players who meet the CBA definition of "international players" are automatically eligible if their 22nd birthday falls during or before the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1985).[42]
A player who is not automatically eligible must declare his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 60 days before the draft.[43][44] An early entry candidate is allowed to withdraw his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 10 days before the draft.[45] On June 19, 2007, NBA announced that 32 college players and 6 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2007 Draft, while 46 players who had previously declared as early entry candidates had withdrawn from the draft.[16]
Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[46]
Arron Afflalo – G, UCLA (junior)- Shagari Alleyne – C, Manhattan (junior)
- Corey Brewer – F, Florida (junior)
- Dwight Brewington – G, Liberty (junior)
- Wilson Chandler – F, DePaul (sophomore)
- Mike Conley Jr. – G, Ohio State (freshman)
- Daequan Cook – G, Ohio State (freshman)
- Javaris Crittenton – G, Georgia Tech (freshman)
- JamesOn Curry – G, Oklahoma State (junior)
- Glen Davis – F, LSU (junior)
- Kevin Durant – F, Texas (freshman)
- Jeff Green – F, Georgetown (junior)
- Taurean Green – G, Florida (junior)
- Spencer Hawes – C, Washington (freshman)
Al Horford – F, Florida (junior)- Robert Earl Johnson – F, Clinton JC (freshman)
- Kellen Lee – F, Los Angeles CC (freshman)
- Dominic McGuire – F, Fresno State (junior)
- Josh McRoberts – F, Duke (sophomore)
- Joakim Noah – F, Florida (junior)
- Greg Oden – C, Ohio State (freshman)
- Kendaris Pelton – G, Martin Methodist (junior)
- Gabe Pruitt – G, USC (junior)
- Ramon Sessions – G, Nevada (junior)
- Jason Smith – F, Colorado State (junior)
- Rodney Stuckey – G, Eastern Washington (sophomore)
- Marcus Williams – F/G, Arizona (sophomore)
- Sean Williams – F, Boston College (junior)
- Brandan Wright – F, North Carolina (freshman)
- Julian Wright – F, Kansas (sophomore)
- Nick Young – G, USC (junior)
- Thaddeus Young – F, Georgia Tech (freshman)
International players
[edit]The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[46]
Ralfi Silva Ansaloni – C, Praia Club (Brazil)
Stanko Barać – C, Široki Brijeg (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Marco Belinelli – G, Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
Kyrylo Fesenko – F/C, SK Cherkassy (Ukraine)
Yi Jianlian – F, Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Petteri Koponen – G, Tapiolan Honka (Finland)
Draft lottery
[edit]The first 14 picks in the draft belonged to teams that had missed the playoffs; the order was determined through a lottery. The lottery would determine the three teams that would obtain the first three picks on the draft. The remaining first-round picks and the second-round picks were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win–loss record in the previous season. On April 20, 2007, the NBA performed a tie-breaker to determine the order of the picks for teams with identical win–loss record.[47]
The lottery was held on May 22, 2007, in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Portland Trail Blazers, who had the seventh-worst record in the previous season, won the lottery with just a 5.3% chance to win.[48] This was the fourth time that the Blazers had the first overall draft pick and the first time that the Blazers won the draft lottery since it was introduced in 1985.[49] The Seattle Supersonics, who had the fifth-worst record, and the Atlanta Hawks, who had the fourth-worst record, obtained the second and third pick, respectively.[48]
Three teams who had the worst records—the Memphis Grizzlies, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks—obtained the fourth, fifth and sixth pick, respectively. These were the lowest possible picks they could have obtained through the lottery.[50] The most recent draft in which the three worst teams did not receive the top three picks was in 1993.[51]
Below were the chances for each team to get specific picks in the 2007 draft lottery, rounded to three decimal places:[52][53][54]
| ^ | Denotes the actual lottery results |
| Team | 2006–07 record |
Lottery chances |
Pick | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | |||
| Memphis Grizzlies | 22–60 | 250 | .250 | .215 | .178 | .357^ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Boston Celtics | 24–58 | 199 | .199 | .188 | .171 | .319 | .123^ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 28–54 | 156 | .156 | .157 | .156 | .226 | .265 | .041^ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Atlanta Hawks[1] | 30–52 | 119 | .119 | .126 | .133^ | .099 | .350 | .161 | .013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 31–51 | 88 | .088 | .097^ | .107 | — | .261 | .359 | .084 | .004 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 32–50 | 53 | .053 | .060 | .070 | — | — | .439 | .331^ | .046 | .001 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 32–50 | 53 | .053^ | .060 | .070 | — | — | — | .572 | .226 | .018 | .000 | — | — | — | — |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 33–49 | 19 | .019 | .022 | .027 | — | — | — | — | .725^ | .196 | .011 | .000 | — | — | — |
| New York Knicks[2] | 33–49 | 19 | .019 | .022 | .027 | — | — | — | — | — | .784^ | .143 | .005 | .000 | — | — |
| Sacramento Kings | 33–49 | 18 | .018 | .021 | .025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | .846^ | .087 | .002 | .000 | — |
| Indiana Pacers[3] | 35–47 | 8 | .008 | .009 | .012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .907^ | .063 | .001 | .000 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 35–47 | 7 | .007 | .008 | .010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .935^ | .039 | .000 |
| New Orleans Hornets | 39–43 | 6 | .006 | .007 | .009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .960^ | .018 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 40–42 | 5 | .005 | .006 | .007 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .982^ |
^ 1: Atlanta Hawks' pick would be conveyed to the Phoenix Suns if it was not in the top three.[r]
^ 2: New York Knicks' pick was conveyed to the Chicago Bulls.[l]
^ 3: Indiana Pacers' pick was conveyed to the Atlanta Hawks because it was not in the top ten.[m]
Trades involving draft picks
[edit]Draft-day trades
[edit]The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft.[55]
- a 1 2 Seattle acquired Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, the draft rights to 5th pick Jeff Green and a 2008 second-round draft pick from Boston in exchange for Ray Allen and the draft rights to 35th pick Glen Davis.[56]
- b 1 2 Golden State acquired the draft rights to 8th pick Brandan Wright from Charlotte in exchange for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to 36th pick Jermareo Davidson.[57]
- c 1 2 Philadelphia acquired the draft rights to 20th pick Jason Smith from Miami in exchange for the draft rights to 21st pick Daequan Cook, a 2009 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.[58]
- d Portland acquired James Jones and the draft rights to 24th pick Rudy Fernández from Phoenix in exchange for cash considerations. The trade was finalized on July 11, 2007.[59]
- e 1 2 Portland acquired the draft rights to 30th pick Petteri Koponen from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to 42nd pick Derrick Byars and cash considerations.[58]
- f Houston acquired the draft rights to 31st pick Carl Landry from Seattle in exchange for a 2008 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.[56]
- g 1 2 Utah acquired the draft rights to 38th pick Kyrylo Fesenko from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to 55th pick Herbert Hill and future draft considerations.[58]
- h Indiana acquired the draft rights to 39th pick Stanko Barać from Miami in exchange for a 2009 second-round draft pick.[60]
- i 1 2 Dallas acquired the draft rights to 44th pick Reyshawn Terry from Orlando in exchange for the draft rights to 60th pick Milovan Raković.[61]
- j New York acquired Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones and the draft rights to 53rd pick Demetris Nichols from Portland in exchange for Steve Francis, Channing Frye and a 2008 second-round draft pick.[62]
- k Toronto acquired the draft rights to 58th pick Giorgos Printezis from San Antonio in exchange for a 2008 second-round draft pick.[63]
Pre-draft trades
[edit]Before the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams.
- l 1 2 3 On October 4, 2005, Chicago acquired an option to swap 2007 first-round draft picks, a 2006 first-round draft pick, 2007 and 2009 second-round draft picks, Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney and Jermaine Jackson from New York in exchange for Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis.[64] The options to swap 2007 first-round draft picks were exercised, hence Chicago acquired New York's first-round draft pick and New York acquired Chicago's first-round draft pick. Chicago used the 9th pick to draft Joakim Noah and New York used the 23rd pick to draft Wilson Chandler.
- m 1 2 On August 22, 2006, Atlanta acquired a 2007 first-round draft pick and cash considerations from Indiana in exchange for Al Harrington and John Edwards.[65] Atlanta used the 11th pick to draft Acie Law.
- n On February 15, 2006, Detroit acquired a 2007 first-round draft pick and Kelvin Cato from Orlando in exchange for Darko Miličić and Carlos Arroyo.[66] Detroit used the 15th pick to draft Rodney Stuckey.
- o 1 2 On December 19, 2006, Philadelphia acquired Denver's and Dallas' 2007 first-round draft picks, Andre Miller and Joe Smith from Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin.[67] Previously, Denver acquired Dallas' 2007 first-round draft pick, Eduardo Nájera and Luis Flores on February 24, 2005, from Golden State in exchange for Rodney White and Nikoloz Tskitishvili.[68] Earlier, Golden State acquired two future first-round draft picks, Eduardo Nájera, Christian Laettner, the draft rights to Luis Flores and Mladen Šekularac and cash considerations on August 24, 2004, from Dallas in exchange for Erick Dampier, Evan Eschmeyer, Dan Dickau and the draft rights to Steve Logan.[69] Denver used the 21st and 30th picks to draft Daequan Cook and Petteri Koponen, respectively.
- p On June 23, 2004, Charlotte acquired Toronto's 2007 first-round draft pick from Cleveland in exchange for Sasha Pavlović.[70] Previously, Cleveland acquired a 2007 first-round draft pick and Michael Stewart on September 25, 2002, from Toronto in exchange for Lamond Murray and a 2004 second round draft pick.[71] Charlotte used the 22nd pick to draft Jared Dudley.
- q On June 28, 2006, Phoenix acquired Cleveland's 2007 first-round draft pick from Boston in exchange for Brian Grant, the draft rights to Rajon Rondo and cash considerations.[72] Previously, Boston acquired a 2007 first-round draft pick on February 24, 2005, from Cleveland in exchange for Jiří Welsch.[73] Phoenix used the 24th pick to draft Rudy Fernández.
- r On August 19, 2005, Phoenix acquired 2006 and future first-round draft picks and Boris Diaw from Atlanta in exchange for Joe Johnson.[74] Atlanta's 2007 first-round draft pick was top-three protected and hence the pick was not conveyed to Phoenix. Instead, Atlanta would convey their 2008 first-round draft pick to Phoenix.
- s On June 28, 2005, Seattle acquired 2006 and 2007 second-round draft picks from Memphis in exchange for the draft rights to Lawrence Roberts.[75] Seattle used the 31st pick to draft Carl Landry.
- t On June 28, 2006, San Antonio acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick from Milwaukee in exchange for the draft rights to Damir Markota.[76] San Antonio used the 33rd pick to draft Marcus Williams.
- u On February 22, 2007, Dallas acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick from Atlanta in exchange for Anthony Johnson.[77] Dallas used the 34th pick to draft Nick Fazekas.
- v On February 21, 2002, Golden State acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick and Dean Garrett from Minnesota in exchange for Marc Jackson.[78] Golden State used the 36th pick to draft Jermareo Davidson.
- w On June 28, 2006, Philadelphia acquired New York's 2007 second-round draft pick, the draft rights to Rodney Carney and cash considerations from Chicago in exchange for the draft rights to Thabo Sefolosha.[79] Previously, Chicago acquired an option to swap 2007 first-round draft picks, a 2006 first-round draft pick, 2007 and 2009 second-round draft picks, Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney and Jermaine Jackson on October 4, 2005, from New York in exchange for Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis.[64] Philadelphia used the 38th pick to draft Kyrylo Fesenko.
- x On June 7, 2007, Miami acquired Sacramento's 2007 and Miami's 2008 second-round draft picks from Orlando as part of the hiring of Stan Van Gundy as Orlando's head coach.[80] Previously, Orlando acquired Sacramento's second-round draft pick and DeShawn Stevenson on February 19, 2004, from Utah in exchange for Gordan Giriček.[81] Earlier, Utah acquired 2004 and 2007 second-round draft picks and Keon Clark on August 3, 2003, from Sacramento in exchange for a 2004 second-round draft pick.[82] Miami used the 39th pick to draft Stanko Barać.
- y On October 26, 2005, the L.A. Lakers acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick from Charlotte in exchange for Jumaine Jones.[83] The L.A. Lakers used the 40th pick to draft Sun Yue.
- z On June 28, 2006, Minnesota acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick and cash considerations from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to Bobby Jones.[79] Minnesota used the 41st pick to draft Chris Richard.
- aa On June 28, 2006, Portland acquired 2007 and 2008 second-round draft picks and the draft rights to Alexander Johnson from Indiana in exchange for the draft rights to James White.[84] Portland used the 42nd pick to draft Derrick Byars
- ab On February 14, 2005, Golden State acquired 2005 and 2007 second-round draft picks from New Jersey in exchange for Clifford Robinson.[85] Golden State used the 46th pick to draft Stéphane Lasme.
- ac 1 2 On July 20, 2006, Chicago acquired Denver's and Golden State's 2007 second-round draft picks and Howard Eisley from Denver in exchange for J. R. Smith.[86] Previously, Denver acquired Golden State's 2007 second-round draft pick on June 28, 2006, from Boston in exchange for the draft rights to Leon Powe.[87] Beforehand, Boston acquired Golden State's 2007 second-round draft pick on February 8, 2005, from Phoenix in exchange for Walter McCarty and cash considerations.[88] Earlier, Phoenix acquired 2007 and 2009 second-round draft picks on January 3, 2005, from Golden State in exchange for Žarko Čabarkapa.[89] Chicago used the 49th and 51st picks to draft Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry.
- ad On June 28, 2006, Dallas acquired Miami's 2007 second-round draft pick from the L.A. Lakers in exchange for the draft rights to J. R. Pinnock.[90] Previously, the L.A. Lakers acquired a 2006 first-round draft pick, a 2007 second-round draft pick, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant on July 14, 2004, from Miami in exchange for Shaquille O'Neal.[91] Dallas used the 50th pick to draft Renaldas Seibutis.
- ae On October 10, 1997, Portland acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick from Toronto in a three-team trade with Toronto and New York.[92] Portland used the 52nd pick to draft Taurean Green.
- af On June 28, 2006, Portland acquired a 2007 second-round draft pick and the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge from Chicago in exchange for the draft rights to Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa.[84] Portland used the 53rd pick to draft Demetris Nichols.
- ag Hours before the start of the draft, Houston acquired the 54th pick from Orlando in exchange for cash considerations.[55] Previously, Orlando acquired 2005 and 2007 second-round draft picks and Tony Battie on July 23, 2004, from Cleveland in exchange for Drew Gooden, Steven Hunter and Anderson Varejão.[93] Houston used the 54th pick to draft Brad Newley.
- ah On February 24, 2005, Milwaukee acquired 2006 and 2007 second-round draft picks and Reece Gaines from Houston in exchange for Mike James and Zendon Hamilton.[94] Milwaukee used the 56th pick to draft Ramon Sessions.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "2007 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- "2007 NBA Draft Board". NBA. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ "2007 NBA Draft Draws Increased Global Interest". NBA. June 26, 2007. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
- ^ "Trail Blazers take ex-Ohio State star Oden with top choice". ESPN. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Oden's recovery from surgery likely in range of 6–12 months". ESPN. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on January 18, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ Mahoney, Brian (June 29, 2007). "Oden to Blazers, Oden to Sonics". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Kevin Durant Named T-Mobile Rookie of the Year". NBA. May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- ^ Lee, Michael (June 29, 2007). "A Case of Natural Selection". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ Lawlor, Christopher (June 29, 2007). "Notes: No. 3 pick Horford eager to help Hawks". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 9, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Sonics' Allen traded to Celts for Wally, West & Green". ESPN. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Randolph heading to Knicks, Francis shipped to Blazers in draft-day trade". ESPN. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ a b "NBA draft-day trade overview". ESPN. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ DuPree, David (June 28, 2007). "Florida trio tapped in top 10; Celts land Ray Allen". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
- ^ a b Carey, Jack (June 28, 2007). "First round awaits Gators after second collegiate title". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "NBA Draft Superlatives". CBS College Sports. CSTV Networks, Inc. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ "Portland Selects Oden With Top Pick". Channel3000.com. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. June 29, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
{{cite web}}:|archive-url=is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Freshmen could produce record number in the '08 draft". ESPN. June 24, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Final Early Entry Candidates for 2007 NBA Draft". NBA. June 21, 2007. Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
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- ^ "Marc Gasol Draft 2007 Profile". NBA. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ "Renaldas Seibutis Stats – ESPN". Espn.go.com. July 23, 1985. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "Renaldas Seibutis Draft 2007 Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ "Brad Newley Stats – ESPN". Espn.go.com. February 18, 1985. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "Brad Newley Draft 2007 Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ "Herbert Hill Stats – ESPN". Espn.go.com. October 1, 1984. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
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- ^ "Giorgos Printezis Stats – ESPN". Espn.go.com. February 22, 1985. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
- ^ "Giorgos Printezis Draft 2007 Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ http://www.nba.com/historical/search/index.jsp?kw=Milovan%20Rakovic#results [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Milovan Rakovic Draft 2007 Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ "Noah cleared to play for France". FIBA. August 10, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
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External links
[edit]- "NBA.com: Draft 2007". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - 2007 NBA Draft – ESPN
- 2007 NBA Draft – Basketball-Reference.com Archived April 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- "2007 NBA Draft Class: Grades & Analysis". Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- 2007 NBA Draft History
2007 NBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 2007 NBA draft was the 60th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 28, 2007, in New York City.[1] Featuring 60 selections across two rounds, it began with the Portland Trail Blazers selecting center Greg Oden from Ohio State University first overall, followed by the Seattle SuperSonics choosing forward Kevin Durant from the University of Texas second overall.[2]
Considered one of the most anticipated drafts in NBA history due to the intense debate over Oden and Durant as the top prospects, the event highlighted the league's focus on high-upside college talents.[2] The class ultimately delivered several enduring stars and All-Stars, including Kevin Durant—a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, and 15-time All-Star who is widely regarded as the draft's best player—as well as Al Horford (third overall, five-time All-Star and 2024 NBA champion), Mike Conley (fourth overall, one-time All-Star), Joakim Noah (ninth overall, two-time All-Star and 2014 Defensive Player of the Year), and second-round selection Marc Gasol (48th overall, three-time All-Star, 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, 2019 NBA champion, and 2015 All-NBA First Team).[3][1][4][5][6] The draft was further defined by blockbuster trades, such as the Seattle SuperSonics sending Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics for forward Jeff Green (fifth overall) and other assets, reshaping team rosters ahead of the 2007–08 season.[7]
The draft class leaned heavily toward big men, particularly in the top 10, where six of the picks were centers or power forwards, reflecting teams' needs for rim protection and rebounding in an era of physical play.[1] Standouts included Oden, Horford, Noah, and Hawes, all projected as defensive anchors with potential to anchor franchises. Guards provided depth later in the round, with Conley offering playmaking poise as a floor general and Brewer bringing athletic wing versatility as a 3-and-D prospect.[1]
Pre-draft scouting emphasized Oden's elite shot-blocking and rebounding prowess, positioning him as a franchise center despite concerns over a recent knee surgery that raised durability questions. Durant's exceptional scoring versatility—capable of creating shots from anywhere with his 7'5" wingspan—was hailed as revolutionary for a 19-year-old, though his wiry frame prompted debates about physicality against NBA forwards.[38] The class added international intrigue with five non-U.S. college players selected, including Yi as a skilled stretch big, Belinelli's sharpshooting, Fernández's explosive scoring, Splitter's post fundamentals, and Koponen's crafty point guard vision, signaling the NBA's growing global scouting reach.[1]
The second round showcased a notable influx of international talent, with eight selections from outside the U.S., including future star Marc Gasol and prospects like Kyrylo Fesenko, who often opted for overseas development before or instead of NBA entry. Mid-major programs were well-represented, such as Nevada (Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions) and Marist (Jared Jordan), providing value for teams seeking undervalued college production. Successful examples include Carl Landry, who earned All-Rookie honors after his trade to Houston and enjoyed a nine-year career averaging 10.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and Glen Davis, a key bench contributor to Boston's 2008 championship.[1]
Many second-rounders faced significant hurdles, with 10 never appearing in an NBA game, often due to limited roster spots and the era's non-guaranteed contracts akin to modern Exhibit 10 deals, leading to summer league tryouts or direct overseas moves. For instance, players like Stanko Barać and Georgios Printezis prioritized lucrative European leagues, while others such as Gabe Pruitt and Jermareo Davidson bounced between the D-League (now G League) and international play after brief stints. This round's picks underscored the draft's lower tier, where immediate contributors were rare but long-term role players like Josh McRoberts (11 seasons, 5.4 points per game) and Ramon Sessions (solid backup with multiple 10+ point seasons) emerged through persistence. In contrast to late first-round picks like Aaron Brooks, who transitioned smoothly to a contributing role with Houston after a draft-night trade, second-rounders typically required extended development paths.[1]
Background and Process
Draft Overview
The 2007 NBA draft took place on June 28, 2007, at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1][8] The event saw 30 NBA teams select a total of 60 players across two rounds, marking a standard draft format that emphasized rebuilding opportunities for struggling franchises.[1] Broadcast internationally, the draft highlighted the league's growing global appeal while focusing primarily on domestic talent evaluation.[9] A central theme of the draft was the intense debate between top prospects Greg Oden, a dominant center from Ohio State, and Kevin Durant, a scoring forward from Texas, with Oden widely regarded as the consensus number-one pick despite emerging concerns over his injury history, including a recent wrist surgery.[10][11] This rivalry captivated analysts and fans, underscoring the high stakes for lottery teams seeking a franchise cornerstone.[12] In historical context, the 2007 draft followed the 2006 class, which featured a surge in international selections, including the first European player taken first overall with Andrea Bargnani and 10 international early-entry candidates.[13] In contrast, 2007 shifted emphasis toward U.S. college players, though nine international prospects were still drafted, reflecting a balanced but domestically leaning talent pool.[1]Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility rules for the 2007 NBA draft were governed by the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, which had introduced a minimum age requirement effective for the 2006 draft and remained unchanged for 2007.[14] Under these rules, all players selected in the draft were required to be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft.[15] For players who were not classified as international players, an additional criterion applied: at least one full NBA season must have elapsed since their graduation from high school.[14] This age and post-high school waiting period effectively ended direct entry from high school, a practice that had been allowed prior to 2006.[16] For U.S. college players, eligibility was determined by a combination of NCAA standing and the NBA's age/post-high school requirements. Players who had exhausted their college eligibility—typically seniors—were automatically eligible for the draft without needing to declare.[14] Underclassmen, such as sophomores, could also declare early entry by submitting written notice to the NBA at least 60 days before the draft, provided they met the age and one-year post-high school criteria; freshmen faced the same options but were effectively limited to those who had turned 19 and completed one year since high school.[14] This framework encouraged the "one-and-done" phenomenon in 2007, where highly touted freshmen played a single college season before declaring for the draft to satisfy the eligibility threshold.[15] There were no significant alterations to these college-specific rules from the prior year.[16] International players faced slightly different criteria under the 2005 CBA, which defined them as individuals who had resided outside the United States and Canada for at least three consecutive years in the five years immediately preceding the draft and had not played U.S. high school or college basketball.[14] Such players were eligible if they were at least 19 years old during the draft year, without the additional one-year post-high school waiting period, or if they were turning 22 during the calendar year or had signed a professional contract abroad and rendered services under it.[14] They could not have previously played in an NBA game.[14] This allowed international prospects to gain professional experience overseas during their post-high school year, though the core age minimum applied uniformly.[15] Players who declared for the 2007 draft but went undrafted became unrestricted free agents immediately after the event concluded, free to negotiate and sign contracts with any NBA team without draft-related restrictions.[17] These undrafted players retained their amateur status for NBA purposes unless they had hired an agent prior to the draft, and teams often pursued them aggressively in the immediate post-draft period for training camp invitations or short-term deals.[17] This process provided an alternative entry path for eligible players not selected in the 60-pick draft.[17]Pre-Draft Developments
Early Entry Declarations
The early entry process for the 2007 NBA draft saw a significant number of underclassmen and international players declare their eligibility, expanding the talent pool ahead of the June 28 event. According to the NBA's official announcement, 58 players from U.S. colleges and institutions, along with 25 international prospects, filed as early entry candidates by the declaration deadline of April 29, 2007.[18] These declarations, governed by the league's eligibility rules allowing underclassmen and qualifying young international players to enter without completing their college degrees or professional contracts—and under the 2005 CBA requiring players to be at least 19 during the draft year—set the stage for a deep draft class.[19][20] Among the college underclassmen, several high-profile talents opted to forgo remaining eligibility, including Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden, a dominant big man who led his team to the NCAA tournament as a freshman with averages of 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game; Texas freshman forward Kevin Durant, who exploded for 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game en route to National Freshman of the Year honors; Florida junior forward Al Horford, a versatile defender and rebounder on the defending national champions; Florida junior center Joakim Noah, known for his athleticism and intensity after helping secure the 2006 NCAA title; and Ohio State freshman point guard Mike Conley Jr., a quick and efficient floor general who averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 assists as a freshman.[21] These players represented a mix of freshmen and juniors testing the waters, often after strong NCAA performances.[22] International declarations added global flair to the pool, with notable prospects including 21-year-old Spanish wing Rudy Fernández of Joventut Badalona, a scoring and passing standout who had led his club to the Spanish League title and earned ACB MVP honors; 18-year-old French forward Nicolas Batum of SLUC Nancy, a skilled shooter and defender projected as a lottery talent; and 22-year-old Spanish center Marc Gasol of Akasvayu Girona, a 7-foot technician with professional experience in Europe's top leagues.[21] These entrants, eligible under NBA rules for players aged 19 or older by the end of the 2006-07 season who met professional play thresholds, brought athleticism and skill from overseas competitions.[23] Candidates had until the withdrawal deadline of June 18, 2007, to pull out without penalty if they had not hired an agent, allowing many to gauge feedback from workouts and team interviews.[20] For instance, Georgetown junior center Roy Hibbert, who had averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds in the 2006-07 season, withdrew on May 23 to return for his senior year and further develop his post game.[24][25] Ultimately, 46 players withdrew, leaving 32 college underclassmen and 6 internationals in the final pool.[21] The influx of early declarations notably deepened the draft at forward and guard positions, with versatile wings like Durant and Green, along with playmakers such as Conley, creating intense competition for mid-to-late first-round selections and bolstering overall positional talent availability.[21]Draft Lottery
The 2007 NBA draft lottery took place on May 22, 2007, at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, to determine the order of the top picks among the league's non-playoff teams from the 2006–07 season. This event was especially anticipated due to the presence of elite college prospects such as Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, who were expected to headline the draft. The lottery involved the 14 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs, with selection odds assigned inversely to their regular-season records to promote competitive balance.[26] The team with the worst record, the Memphis Grizzlies (22–60), entered with a 25.0% chance of securing the No. 1 pick, while the Portland Trail Blazers (32–50), who had the seventh-worst record, held just a 5.3% probability.[27] Other notable entrants included the Boston Celtics (24–58) at 19.9% odds and the Seattle SuperSonics (31–51) at 8.8%.[27] The selection process utilized a random drawing of ping-pong balls from a lottery machine containing 14 numbered balls (1 through 14), with four balls drawn to form winning combinations out of 1,001 possible outcomes; each team was assigned a varying number of these combinations based on their odds.[26] This drawing determined the top three picks, while positions 4 through 14 were set by reverse order of regular-season winning percentage, with ties broken by strength of schedule.[26] The event was conducted in a sequestered room with representatives from each team, league officials, and media, ensuring transparency. In a shocking outcome, the Portland Trail Blazers defied their slim 5.3% odds to win the No. 1 pick, followed by the Seattle SuperSonics landing No. 2 despite 8.8% odds, and the Atlanta Hawks securing No. 3 with 11.9% probability.[28] The Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks—the three teams with the worst records—slipped outside the top three to positions 4, 5, and 6, respectively, marking the first such occurrence since 1993. The lottery was broadcast live on ESPN, drawing significant viewership amid the high stakes of the draft class. While no formal controversies arose regarding the drawing's integrity, the results sparked widespread surprise and frustration, particularly for Memphis, whose dramatic fall highlighted the lottery's inherent unpredictability.Draft Event and Selections
Event Details
The 2007 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2007, at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, marking the first time the annual event took place at this venue.[1][29] The proceedings consisted of two rounds, with scheduled breaks between them, and were broadcast live on ESPN starting at 7:30 p.m. ET to audiences across 115 countries.[2][30] NBA Commissioner David Stern presided over the ceremony, announcing each selection from the stage alongside team representatives and the draftees who joined him for handshakes and photos.[31][32] The atmosphere buzzed with high energy and tension, fueled by the intense pre-draft debate over whether centers like Greg Oden or scoring forwards like Kevin Durant represented the better foundational choice, with teams heavily influenced by confidential medical evaluations released in the days leading up to the event.[33][12] Hundreds of guests, including family members, agents, and league executives, filled the theater, amplifying the celebratory yet nerve-wracking vibe as prospects awaited their professional futures.[34] Top lottery hopefuls gathered in a dedicated green room prior to the broadcast for interviews and camaraderie, while selected players participated in post-draft press conferences immediately following their announcements.[35][36]First-Round Selections
The first round of the 2007 NBA draft featured 30 selections, emphasizing frontcourt talent from American colleges alongside emerging international prospects, held on June 28, 2007, in New York City.[1] The lottery portion highlighted a debate between traditional big men and versatile scorers, with teams prioritizing size to address roster needs in a league transitioning toward more athletic play.[1] The selections are listed below, showing the original drafting team, player, position, and college or country of origin. Some picks involved immediate trades, noted where applicable, but details are covered elsewhere.[1]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College/Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland Trail Blazers | Greg Oden | C | Ohio State |
| 2 | Seattle SuperSonics | Kevin Durant | F | Texas |
| 3 | Atlanta Hawks | Al Horford | C | Florida |
| 4 | Memphis Grizzlies | Mike Conley | G | Ohio State |
| 5 | Boston Celtics | Jeff Green | F | Georgetown |
| 6 | Milwaukee Bucks | Yi Jianlian | F | China |
| 7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Corey Brewer | F | Florida |
| 8 | Charlotte Bobcats | Brandan Wright | F | UNC (traded to Golden State Warriors) |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | Joakim Noah | C | Florida |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | Spencer Hawes | C | Washington |
| 11 | Atlanta Hawks | Acie Law | G | Texas A&M |
| 12 | Philadelphia 76ers | Thaddeus Young | F | Georgia Tech |
| 13 | New Orleans Hornets | Julian Wright | F | Kansas |
| 14 | Los Angeles Clippers | Al Thornton | F | Florida State |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | Rodney Stuckey | G | Eastern Washington |
| 16 | Washington Wizards | Nick Young | G | USC |
| 17 | New Jersey Nets | Sean Williams | F | Boston College |
| 18 | Golden State Warriors | Marco Belinelli | G | Italy |
| 19 | Los Angeles Lakers | Javaris Crittenton | G | Georgia Tech |
| 20 | Miami Heat | Jason Smith | C | Colorado State |
| 21 | Philadelphia 76ers | Daequan Cook | G | Ohio State |
| 22 | Charlotte Bobcats | Jared Dudley | F | Boston College |
| 23 | New York Knicks | Wilson Chandler | F | DePaul (inducted into DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025)[37] |
| 24 | Phoenix Suns (traded to Portland Trail Blazers via Utah Jazz) | Rudy Fernández | G | Spain |
| 25 | Utah Jazz | Morris Almond | G | Rice |
| 26 | Houston Rockets | Aaron Brooks | G | Oregon |
| 27 | Detroit Pistons | Arron Afflalo | G | UCLA |
| 28 | San Antonio Spurs | Tiago Splitter | C | Brazil |
| 29 | Phoenix Suns | Alando Tucker | F | Wisconsin |
| 30 | Philadelphia 76ers | Petteri Koponen | G | Finland |
Second-Round Selections
The second round of the 2007 NBA draft featured 30 selections, often involving trades for future draft assets or cash considerations, and highlighted a mix of mid-major college standouts, international prospects, and under-the-radar college players with uncertain NBA futures. Unlike the first round's focus on high-upside lottery talent, these picks emphasized depth and potential role players, with teams frequently flipping rights immediately after selection.[1]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College/Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Seattle SuperSonics | Carl Landry | PF | Purdue | Traded to Houston Rockets on draft night for cash and future considerations; signed standard rookie contract. |
| 32 | Boston Celtics | Gabe Pruitt | PG | USC | Participated in Celtics' summer league; signed non-guaranteed contract. |
| 33 | San Antonio Spurs | Marcus Williams | SG | Arizona | Waived before season; played overseas. |
| 34 | Dallas Mavericks | Nick Fazekas | PF | Nevada | Traded to Los Angeles Clippers; signed with Clippers but released before regular season; played overseas. |
| 35 | Seattle SuperSonics | Glen Davis | PF | LSU | Traded to Boston Celtics in Ray Allen deal; signed with Celtics. |
| 36 | Golden State Warriors | Jermareo Davidson | PF | Alabama | Signed non-guaranteed deal; limited NBA play before overseas career. |
| 37 | Portland Trail Blazers | Josh McRoberts | PF | Duke | Signed with Blazers; 11-year NBA career as role player. |
| 38 | Philadelphia 76ers | Kyrylo Fesenko | C | Ukraine | Signed with 76ers; five NBA seasons as backup. |
| 39 | Miami Heat | Stanko Barać | C | Croatia | Rights traded to Indiana Pacers; never played in NBA, pursued European career. |
| 40 | Los Angeles Lakers | Sun Yue | SG | China | Joined Lakers but spent time in D-League and overseas; one NBA season. |
| 41 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Chris Richard | PF | Florida | Signed non-guaranteed contract; two NBA seasons. |
| 42 | Portland Trail Blazers | Derrick Byars | SG | Vanderbilt | Traded to Philadelphia 76ers; one NBA season before overseas. |
| 43 | New Orleans Hornets | Adam Haluska | SG | Iowa | Never played in NBA; overseas career. |
| 44 | Orlando Magic | Reyshawn Terry | SF | North Carolina | Never played in NBA; overseas and G League. |
| 45 | Los Angeles Clippers | Jared Jordan | PG | Marist | Never played in NBA; overseas career. |
| 46 | Golden State Warriors | Stéphane Lasme | PF | UMass | Signed with Warriors; one NBA season, then overseas success. |
| 47 | Washington Wizards | Dominic McGuire | SF | Fresno State | Signed with Wizards; six NBA seasons as role player. |
| 48 | Los Angeles Lakers | Marc Gasol | C | Spain | Traded to Memphis Grizzlies; 13-year highly successful career, including Defensive Player of the Year. |
| 49 | Chicago Bulls | Aaron Gray | C | Pittsburgh | Signed with Bulls; seven NBA seasons as backup center. |
| 50 | Dallas Mavericks | Renaldas Seibutis | SG | Lithuania | Never played in NBA; European career. |
| 51 | Chicago Bulls | JamesOn Curry | SG | Oklahoma State | Signed non-guaranteed contract; one NBA season. |
| 52 | Portland Trail Blazers | Taurean Green | PG | Florida | Signed with Blazers; one NBA season. |
| 53 | Portland Trail Blazers | Demetris Nichols | SF | Syracuse | Traded to New York Knicks; two NBA seasons. |
| 54 | Houston Rockets | Brad Newley | SG | Australia | Never played in NBA; overseas career. |
| 55 | Utah Jazz | Herbert Hill | PF | Providence | Never played in NBA; overseas. |
| 56 | Milwaukee Bucks | Ramon Sessions | PG | Nevada | Signed with Bucks; 11-year NBA career as reliable backup guard. |
| 57 | Detroit Pistons | Sammy Mejia | SG | DePaul | Never played in NBA; overseas. |
| 58 | San Antonio Spurs | Georgios Printezis | SF | Greece | Never played in NBA; prominent European career. |
| 59 | Phoenix Suns | D.J. Strawberry | SG | Maryland | Signed non-guaranteed contract; one NBA season. |
| 60 | Dallas Mavericks | Milovan Raković | C | Serbia | Never played in NBA; overseas. |