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2008 NBA draft
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| 2008 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 26, 2008 |
| Location | WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) |
| Network | ESPN |
| Overview | |
| 60 total selections in 2 rounds | |
| League | NBA |
| First selection | Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) |
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008, at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including international players from non-North American professional leagues. According to the NBA, 44 players, 39 collegiate players and five international players, filed as early-entry candidates for the 2008 NBA Draft.[1] These numbers do not include players who are automatically eligible for the draft. The Chicago Bulls, who had a 1.7 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22.[2][3] The Bulls' winning of the lottery was the second-largest upset in NBA Draft Lottery history behind the Orlando Magic, who won it in 1993 with just a 1.5% chance.[4] The Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves obtained the second and third picks respectively.[3]
For the first time in draft history the first three draft picks were all freshmen.[5] The Chicago Bulls used the first overall pick to draft Chicago native Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis, who later went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, making him the first player to be drafted first overall and to win Rookie of the Year since LeBron James in 2003, and also became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 at age 22.[6] The Miami Heat used the second pick to draft Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, and the Minnesota Timberwolves used the third pick to draft O. J. Mayo from The University of Southern California.[7] The Seattle SuperSonics used their 4th overall pick to draft Russell Westbrook from The University of California, Los Angeles, who would go on to win the 2017 NBA MVP award and is widely considered the best player in this draft. With five players taken in the draft, the University of Kansas tied University of Connecticut (2006) and University of Florida (2007) for the record with the most players selected in the first two rounds of an NBA draft until the University of Kentucky (2012) broke the record with six players drafted.[5] Another record was set when twelve freshmen were drafted, ten of whom were drafted in the first round.[8] Of the players drafted, 29 are forwards, 19 are guards, and 12 are centers.
The 2008 NBA Draft was the final time that the Seattle SuperSonics made an NBA Draft appearance, as well as the final time that the Sonics appeared in official media publications. In early July, the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder made their first NBA Draft appearance in 2009.[9] This draft also marked the first time that an NBA D-League player was drafted.[10] As of 2025, there are six active players from this draft who are still playing in the NBA: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum and DeAndre Jordan.
Draft selections
[edit]| 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 |
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^ a: The franchise relocated to become the Oklahoma City Thunder in July 2008.[9]
^ b: Eric Gordon was born in the United States to a Bahamian mother. He represented the United States when playing for Team U.S.A. in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. However, Gordon was permitted by FIBA on August 7, 2023 to play for The Bahamas instead, starting with the 2024 Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament for the Americas.
^ c: Anthony Randolph was born in West Germany to American parents and was raised in the United States. He became a naturalized citizen of Slovenia in 2017 and he has represented Slovenia internationally.[11][12]
^ d: Roy Hibbert was born in the United States to a Jamaican father and a Trinidadian mother. He had represented the United States internationally at youth level in 2007.[13] Since 2010, he has represented Jamaica internationally.[14]
^ e: Kosta Koufos was born and raised in the United States to Greek parents. He has represented Greece internationally.[15]
^ f: Serge Ibaka, who was born in Congo, became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 2011.[16] He has represented Spain internationally since 2011.[17]
^ g: Donté Greene was born in West Germany to American parents. He has represented the United States internationally at youth level.[18]
^ h: James Gist was born in Turkey to American parents.[19]
Notable undrafted players
[edit]These players were not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft but have played in the NBA.
| Player | Position | Nationality | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Forbes | SF |  Panama
|
UMass (Sr.) |
| Sundiata Gaines | PG |  United States
|
Georgia (Sr.) |
| Trey Gilder | SF | United States
|
Northwestern State (Sr.) |
| Mickell Gladness | C | United States
|
Alabama A&M (Sr.) |
| Steven Hill | PF | United States
|
Arkansas (Sr.) |
| Othello Hunter | F | United States
|
Ohio State (Sr.) |
| Othyus Jeffers | SG | United States
|
Robert Morris (IL) (Sr.) |
| Rob Kurz | SF | United States
|
Notre Dame (Sr.) |
| Salah Mejri | C |  Tunisia
|
Étoile Sportive du Sahel (Tunisia) |
| Gal Mekel | PG |  Israel
|
Wichita State (So.) |
| Anthony Morrow | SG | United States
|
Georgia Tech (Sr.) |
| Timofey Mozgov | C |  Russia
|
Khimki Moscow (Russia) |
| DeMarcus Nelson | PG | United States
|
Duke (Sr.) |
| Brian Roberts | PG | United States
|
Dayton (Sr.) |
| Damjan Rudež | F |  Croatia
|
KK Split (Croatia) |
| Greg Stiemsma | C | United States
|
Wisconsin (Sr.) |
| Reggie Williams | SF | United States
|
VMI (Sr.) |
Eligibility
[edit]Early entrants
[edit]College underclassmen
[edit]The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[20]
Joe Alexander – F, West Virginia (junior)- Ryan Anderson – F, California (sophomore)
- Darrell Arthur – F, Kansas (sophomore)
- D. J. Augustin – G, Texas (sophomore)
- Jerryd Bayless – G, Arizona (freshman)
- Michael Beasley – F, Kansas State (freshman)
- Keith Brumbaugh – F, Hillsborough CC (sophomore)
- Mario Chalmers – G, Kansas (junior)
- Chris Douglas-Roberts – G, Memphis (junior)
- C. J. Giles – C, Oregon State (junior)
- Eric Gordon – G, Indiana (freshman)
- Jamont Gordon – G, Mississippi State (junior)
- Donté Greene – F, Syracuse (freshman)
- Kalem Grimes – F, Missouri (junior)
- Richard Hendrix – F, Alabama (junior)
- JJ Hickson – F, NC State (freshman)
- George Hill – G, IUPUI (junior)
- Reggie Huffman – F, UAB (junior)
/ Shawn James – F, Duquesne (junior)- Davon Jefferson – F, USC (freshman)
- DeAndre Jordan – C, Texas A&M (freshman)
/ Kosta Koufos – F/C, Ohio State (freshman)- Brook Lopez – C, Stanford (sophomore)
- Robin Lopez – C, Stanford (sophomore)
- Kevin Love – F, UCLA (freshman)
- O. J. Mayo – G, USC (freshman)
Luc Mbah a Moute – F, UCLA (junior)- JaVale McGee – C, Nevada (sophomore)
- Kojo Mensah – G, Duquesne (sophomore)
- Trent Plaisted – C, BYU (junior)
- Bruce Price – G, Tennessee State (junior)
- Anthony Randolph – F, LSU (freshman)
- JaJuan Robinson – G, Lincoln (Pennsylvania) (freshman)
- Derrick Rose – G, Memphis (freshman)
- Brandon Rush – G, Kansas (junior)
- Walter Sharpe – F, UAB (junior)
- Marreese Speights – F, Florida (sophomore)
- Bill Walker – F, Kansas State (freshman)
- Russell Westbrook – G, UCLA (sophomore)
International players
[edit]The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[20]
Alexis Ajinça – C, Hyères-Toulon (France)- Nicolas Batum – F, Le Mans (France)
Danilo Gallinari – F, Olimpia Milano (Italy)
/
Serge Ibaka – F, L'Hospitalet (Spain)
Ante Tomić – KK Zagreb (Croatia)
Automatically eligible entrants
[edit]Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
- They have no remaining college eligibility.
- If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated.
- They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under the contract.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
- They are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates players born on or before December 31, 1986, were automatically eligible for the 2008 draft.
- They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA within the United States, and have played under that contract.
| Player | Team | Note | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ryan Kersten
|
New Zealand Breakers (Australia) | Left New Mexico in 2007; playing professionally since the 2007–08 season | [21] |
 Robert Krabbendam
|
ABC Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | Left Virginia Tech in 2007; playing professionally since the 2007–08 season | [22] |
| Damian Martin
|
West Sydney Razorbacks (Australia) | Left Loyola Marymount in 2007; playing professionally since the 2007–08 season | [23] |
| Mike Taylor
|
Idaho Stampede (NBA Development League) | Left Iowa State in 2007; playing professionally since the 2007–08 season | [24] |
This year marked the first time a player that came from the NBA Development League (since rebranded as the NBA G League) would enter into the NBA draft while in that minor league.
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 determined 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. As it is commonplace in the event of identical win–loss records, the NBA performed a random drawing to break the ties on April 18, 2008.[25]
The lottery was held on May 20, 2008, in Secaucus, New Jersey.[25] The Chicago Bulls, who had the ninth-worst record, won the lottery with just a 1.7% chance to win. The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, with the worst and third-worst records, respectively, won the second and third picks.
Below were the chances for each team to get specific picks in the 2008 draft lottery, rounded to three decimal places:[26][27]
| ^ | Denotes the actual lottery results |
| Team | 2007–08 record |
Lottery chances |
Pick | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | |||
| Miami Heat | 15–67 | 250 | .250 | .215^ | .177 | .358 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 20–62 | 199 | .199 | .188 | .171 | .319^ | .124 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 22–60 | 138 | .138 | .142 | .145^ | .238 | .290 | .045 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 22–60 | 137 | .137 | .142 | .145 | .085 | .323^ | .156 | .013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York Knicks | 23–59 | 76 | .076 | .084 | .095 | — | .262 | .385^ | .093 | .004 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 23–59 | 75 | .075 | .083 | .094 | — | — | .414 | .294^ | .039 | .001 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 26–56 | 43 | .043 | .049 | .058 | — | — | — | .600 | .232^ | .018 | .000 | — | — | — | — |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 32–50 | 28 | .028 | .033 | .039 | — | — | — | — | .725 | .168^ | .006 | .000 | — | — | — |
| Chicago Bulls | 33–49 | 17 | .017^ | .020 | .024 | — | — | — | — | — | .813 | .122 | .004 | .000 | — | — |
| New Jersey Nets | 34–48 | 11 | .011 | .013 | .016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | .870^ | .089 | .002 | .000 | — |
| Indiana Pacers | 36–46 | 8 | .008 | .009 | .012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .908^ | .063 | .001 | .000 |
| Sacramento Kings | 38–44 | 7 | .007 | .008 | .010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .935^ | .039 | .000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 41–41 | 6 | .006 | .007 | .009 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .960^ | .018 |
| Golden State Warriors | 48–34 | 5 | .005 | .006 | .007 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | .982^ |
Trades involving draft picks
[edit]Draft-day trades
[edit]The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft.
- a 1 2 Memphis acquired the draft rights to 3rd pick O. J. Mayo, along with Marko Jarić, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner, from Minnesota in exchange for the draft rights to 5th pick Kevin Love, along with Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins.[28][29]
- b 1 2 Portland acquired the draft rights to 11th pick Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu from Indiana in exchange for the draft rights to 13th pick Brandon Rush, Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts.[28] The trade was finalized on July 9, 2008.[30]
- c 1 2 Toronto acquired Jermaine O'Neal and the draft rights to 41st pick Nathan Jawai from Indiana in exchange for T. J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovič, Maceo Baston, and the draft rights to 17th pick Roy Hibbert.[28] The trade was finalized on July 9, 2008.[30]
- d 1 2 3 4 In a three-team trade, Portland acquired the draft rights to 25th pick Nicolas Batum from Houston, Houston acquired the draft rights to 33rd pick Joey Dorsey from Portland and the draft rights to 28th pick Donté Greene and a 2009 second-round draft pick from Memphis, and Memphis acquired the draft rights to 27th pick Darrell Arthur from Portland.[28]
- e Portland acquired the draft rights to 27th pick Darrell Arthur from New Orleans in exchange for cash considerations.[28]
- f 1 2 3 Detroit acquired the draft rights to 32nd pick Walter Sharpe and 46th pick Trent Plaisted from Seattle in exchange for the draft rights to 29th pick D. J. White.[28]
- g Miami acquired the draft rights to 34th pick Mario Chalmers from Minnesota in exchange for two future second-round draft picks and cash considerations.[28]
- h 1 2 In a three-team trade, Chicago acquired the draft rights to 36th pick Ömer Aşık from Portland, the Trail Blazers acquired a second-round draft pick in 2009 from Denver and two future second-round draft picks from Chicago, and Denver acquired the draft rights to 39th pick Sonny Weems from Chicago.[28]
- i 1 2 San Antonio acquired the draft rights to 48th pick Malik Hairston, a second-round draft pick in 2009, and cash considerations from Phoenix in exchange for the draft rights to 45th pick Goran Dragić.[28]
- j Boston acquired the draft rights to 47th pick Bill Walker from Washington in exchange for cash considerations.[28]
- k Cleveland acquired the draft rights to 52nd pick Darnell Jackson from Miami in exchange for 2009 second-round draft pick.[28]
- l The L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to 55th pick Mike Taylor from Portland in exchange for a 2009 second-round draft pick.[28]
- m Cleveland acquired the draft rights to 56th pick Sasha Kaun from Seattle in exchange for cash considerations.[31]
Pre-draft trades
[edit]Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams.
- n On August 19, 2005, Phoenix acquired 2006 and 2008 first-round draft picks and Boris Diaw from Atlanta in exchange for Joe Johnson.[32] Phoenix used the pick to draft Robin Lopez.
- o On June 25, 2008, Charlotte acquired the 20th draft pick from Denver in exchange for a future conditional first-round draft pick.[33] Charlotte used the pick to draft Alexis Ajinça.
- p On February 19, 2008, New Jersey acquired 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, and Keith Van Horn from Dallas in exchange for Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright and Malik Allen.[34] New Jersey used the pick to draft Ryan Anderson.
- q On July 20, 2007, Seattle acquired 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks and Kurt Thomas from Phoenix in exchange for a 2009 second-round draft pick.[35] Seattle used the pick to draft Serge Ibaka.
- r On February 1, 2008, Memphis acquired 2008 and 2010 first-round draft picks, the draft rights to Marc Gasol, Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and Aaron McKie from the L.A. Lakers in exchange for Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick.[36] Memphis used the pick to draft Donté Greene.
- s On January 26, 2006, Minnesota acquired Boston's 2006 and Miami's 2008 second-round draft picks, Ricky Davis, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed and Mark Blount from Boston in exchange for Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi, Dwayne Jones and a future first-round draft pick.[37] Previously, Boston acquired 2006 and 2008 second-round draft picks, Qyntel Woods and the draft rights to Albert Miralles from Miami in a five-team trade on August 8, 2005.[38] Minnesota used the pick to draft Nikola Peković.
- t On June 28, 2006, Portland acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick from Memphis in exchange for the draft rights to Alexander Johnson.[39] Portland used the pick to draft Joey Dorsey.
- u On June 28, 2007, Portland acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick, Steve Francis and Channing Frye from New York in exchange for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones and the draft rights to Demetris Nichols.[40] Portland used the pick to draft Ömer Aşık.
- v On February 16, 2008, Sacramento acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick, Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams, and Lorenzen Wright from Atlanta in exchange for Mike Bibby.[41] Sacramento used the pick to draft Sean Singletary.
- w On June 6, 2005, Utah acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick from Philadelphia in exchange for the 60th draft pick in the 2005 NBA draft.[42] Utah used the pick to draft Ante Tomić.
- x On June 28, 2007, San Antonio acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick from Toronto in exchange for the draft rights to Giorgos Printezis.[43] San Antonio used the pick to draft Goran Dragić.
- y On June 28, 2007, Seattle acquired Portland's 2008 second-round draft pick, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the draft rights to Jeff Green from Boston in exchange for Ray Allen and the draft rights to Glen Davis.[44] Previously, Boston acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick, Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff on June 28, 2006, from Portland in exchange for Raef LaFrentz, Dan Dickau and the draft rights to Randy Foye.[45] Seattle used the pick to draft Trent Plaisted.
- z On September 17, 2002, Phoenix acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick from Cleveland in exchange for Milt Palacio.[46] Phoenix used the pick to draft Malik Hairston.
- aa On February 23, 2006, Seattle acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick, Earl Watson and Bryon Russell from Denver in a four-team trade.[47] Seattle used the pick to draft DeVon Hardin.
- ab On June 7, 2007, Miami acquired 2007 and 2008 second-round draft picks from Orlando as part of the hiring of Stan Van Gundy as Orlando's head coach.[48] Miami used the pick to draft Darnell Jackson.
- ac On February 21, 2008, Houston re-acquired their 2008 second-round draft pick along with Bobby Jackson and Adam Haluska from New Orleans in a three-team trade.[49] Previously, Houston and New Orleans agreed to exchange second-round draft picks in a trade that sent Kirk Snyder to Houston on July 14, 2006.[50] Houston used the pick to draft Maarty Leunen.
- ad On June 28, 2006, Portland acquired Indiana's 2007 and Phoenix's 2008 second-round draft picks and the draft rights to Alexander Johnson from Indiana in exchange for the draft rights to James White.[51] Previously, Indiana acquired a 2008 second-round draft pick on August 25, 2005, from Phoenix in exchange for James Jones.[52] Portland used the pick to draft Mike Taylor.
- ae On June 28, 2007, Seattle acquired New Orleans' 2008 second-round draft pick and cash considerations from Houston in exchange for the draft rights to Carl Landry.[44] Previously, Houston and New Orleans agreed to exchange second-round draft picks in a trade that sent Kirk Snyder to Houston on July 14, 2006.[50] Seattle used the pick to draft Sasha Kaun.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "2008 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- "2008 NBA Draft Board". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- Specific
- ^ "Final Draft Early Entry Candidate List". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
- ^ "Chicago Bulls Win No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 22, 2008. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Bulls to pick first in draft; Heat, Wolves round out Top 3". ESPN.com. May 21, 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Year-by-Year Lottery Probabilities". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
- ^ a b "Bulls go for Rose over Beasley in NBA draft; Mukendi Love swap places". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
- ^ "Rookie of the Year Award". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2009.
- ^ "2008 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ Thomsen, Ian (June 27, 2008). "After top two, lack of locks spreads uncertainty in volatile draft". SI.com. Time Inc. Archived from the original on June 30, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2008.
- ^ a b Pian Chan, Sharon (July 2, 2008). "Sonics, city reach settlement". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
- ^ "Idaho's Mike Taylor Becomes First D-League Player Drafted By An NBA Team". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
- ^ Hu, Janny (January 28, 2009). "Warriors' Randolph trying to fit in". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ "Randolph joins Slovenia for EuroBasket". Eurohoops.net. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ^ Powell, Camille (December 22, 2007). "Fast Friends, Big Rivals". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ Williams, Gordon (January 19, 2011). "Jamaica's Hibbert working hard to reach the top". Sports Jamaica. Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ Aubrey, Daniel (August 9, 2007). "Greek Star Koufos Keeps Feet On The Ground". FIBA Europe. FIBA. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ "Serge Ibaka to boost talented Spain". ESPN.com. July 26, 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ "Pau Show as Spain Down France". FIBA Europe. FIBA. August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ Lidz, Franz (January 22, 2007). "Greener Pastures". Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ^ "Adanalı Fener'e doğru" [Fener to Adana]. Milliyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Demirören-Karacan. April 28, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "2008 Underclassmen". The Draft Review. June 29, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- ^ "Basketball: Breakers sign Australian guard". The New Zealand Herald. April 6, 2007. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Krabbendam, Robert (April 11, 2007). "Letter: Krabbendam speaks". Collegiate Times. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Martin Going Pro". Loyola Marymount Lions. July 6, 2007. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Idaho's Mike Taylor Becomes First NBA D-League Player Drafted By An NBA Team". Our Sports Central. June 27, 2008. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ties Broken for NBA Draft 2008 Order of Selection". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 18, 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
- ^ "Results of the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
- ^ "2008 NBA Draft Lottery odds". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Schuhmann, John (June 26, 2008). "The Deals of the Draft". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Wolves Acquire Love, Miller from Memphis". NBA.com/Timberwolves. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- ^ a b "Pacers Announce Two Trades; Acquire Seven Players". NBA.com/Pacers. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
- ^ "Cavaliers Acquire Draft Rights to Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun". NBA.com/Cavaliers. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Johnson Trade to Atlanta Completed". NBA.com/Suns. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. August 19, 2005. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Bobcats Acquire 20th Pick in 2008 NBA draft". NBA.com/Bobcats. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 25, 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Nets Acquire Devin Harris and Two First Round Draft Pics in Eight Player Trade with Dallas". NBA.com/Nets. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Suns Trade Kurt Thomas to Seattle". NBA.com/Suns. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 20, 2007. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Lakers Acquire Gasol from Grizzlies". NBA.com/Lakers. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Wolves Acquire Ricky Davis from Boston, Szczerbiak, Olowokandi & Jones to Celtics". NBA.com/Timberwolves. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. January 26, 2006. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Heat Acquire Antoine Walker, Jason Williams & James Posey". NBA.com/Heat. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. August 8, 2005. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
- ^ "Grizzlies Acquire Draft Rights to Alexander Johnson from Portland". NBA.com/Grizzlies. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Knicks Acquire Randolph, Dickau and Jones". NBA.com/Knicks. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Hawks Acquire Mike Bibby from Sacramento". NBA.com/Hawks. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 16, 2008. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Jazz Trade 60th Pick". NBA.com/Jazz. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Raptors Acquire Draft Rights to Giorgos Printezis". NBA.com/Raptors. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Sonics Acquire Green, Szczerbiak and West in Trade With Boston". NBA.com/Thunder. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Celtics Acquire Telfair and Ratliff". NBA.com/Celtics. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Suns Trade Milt Palacio". NBA.com/Suns. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. September 17, 2002. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Sonics Acquire Russell and Watson in Four-Team Deal". NBA.com/Thunder. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. January 23, 2006. Archived from the original on July 8, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Magic close book on Donovan by hiring Van Gundy". ESPN.com. June 8, 2007. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
- ^ "Hornets Acquire Wells and James from Rockets". NBA.com/Hornets. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 21, 2008. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ a b "Hornets Trade Kirk Snyder To Houston". NBA.com/Hornets. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 14, 2006. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- ^ "Trail Blazers Land Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge". NBA.com/Blazers. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. June 28, 2006. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ "Phoenix Acquires James Jones from Indiana". NBA.com/Suns. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. August 25, 2005. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
External links
[edit]- "NBA.com: Draft 2008". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - NBA Draft – 2008 NBA Draft – ESPN
2008 NBA draft
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The 2008 NBA Draft was the 62nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), held on June 26, 2008, at the WaMu Theater (now Theater at Madison Square Garden) in New York City.[1][2] The event consisted of two rounds with 60 total selections, where National Basketball Association franchises selected newly eligible players, primarily from U.S. colleges and international leagues.[1] The Chicago Bulls, despite entering the draft lottery with the ninth-worst record and only a 1.7 percent chance of securing the top pick, won the lottery and chose point guard Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis as the first overall selection.[1][3]
This draft class is widely regarded as one of the deepest in modern NBA history, particularly strong at the guard and forward positions, yielding multiple future superstars, All-Stars, and championship contributors. Key early selections included forward Michael Beasley (second overall, Miami Heat), guard O.J. Mayo (third overall, Minnesota Timberwolves, immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers), guard Russell Westbrook (fourth overall, Seattle SuperSonics, now Oklahoma City Thunder), and forward Kevin Love (fifth overall, Memphis Grizzlies, traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves).[4] Later notable picks encompassed forward Danilo Gallinari (sixth overall, New York Knicks), who announced his retirement from professional basketball on December 2, 2025, after 16 NBA seasons, guard Eric Gordon (seventh overall, Los Angeles Clippers), center Roy Hibbert (seventeenth overall, Indiana Pacers), center Brook Lopez (tenth overall, New Jersey Nets), and center DeAndre Jordan (thirty-fifth overall, Los Angeles Clippers, second round).[1][5] Of the sixty draftees, fifty-one ultimately played at least one game in the NBA, underscoring the class's talent depth.[1]
The long-term impact of the 2008 draft has been profound, with its players accumulating over 1,000 combined win shares and featuring two eventual NBA Most Valuable Players—Rose in 2011 and Westbrook in 2017—along with All-Stars including Love (five-time selection), Hibbert (two-time), and Lopez (one-time).[1] Rose led the Bulls to the playoffs in his rookie season and became the youngest MVP in league history, while Westbrook shattered records for triple-doubles and became a perennial scoring and rebounding leader. Love contributed to the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 NBA Championship alongside LeBron James, and Gordon earned Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2017. Other standouts like Jordan and Lopez anchored defenses for contending teams, including the Clippers and Bucks, respectively, highlighting how the draft bolstered multiple franchises over the subsequent decades.
Overview
Event Details
The 2008 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 2008, at the WaMu Theater within Madison Square Garden in New York City.[4][6] The event featured a standard two-round structure, with each of the league's 30 teams holding one selection per round for a total of 60 picks.[4] NBA Commissioner David Stern presided over the proceedings, announcing the first-round selections, while Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver assisted with the overall operations.[7] A historic milestone occurred in the second round when the Portland Trail Blazers selected Mike Taylor from the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede with the 55th overall pick, the first time a player from the developmental league was directly drafted into the NBA.[8][9] Draft picks in the NBA, including those for 2008, could be traded between teams prior to the event, often with conditional protections to mitigate risk for the trading team.[10] These protections typically specified ranges, such as "top-10 protected," where if the pick landed within that range based on the originating team's record, it would not convey to the acquiring team and might instead defer to a future draft or convert to a second-round pick; failure to meet conveyance conditions in subsequent years could result in forfeiture.[11] Several 2008 picks were subject to such agreements, influencing team strategies leading into the draft.[11]Summary of Top Picks
The Chicago Bulls won the 2008 NBA Draft lottery, earning the No. 1 overall selection despite entering with just a 1.7 percent chance.[1] This positioned them to draft point guard Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis, a highly touted freshman who led his team to the NCAA championship game earlier that year.[12] The Miami Heat followed suit with the second pick, selecting forward Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, another freshman known for his scoring prowess in college.[12] The third pick went to guard O.J. Mayo from the University of Southern California, chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he was traded immediately to the Memphis Grizzlies in an eight-player deal that also sent the fifth overall pick—forward Kevin Love from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)—to Minnesota.[13] Rounding out the top five was guard Russell Westbrook, also from UCLA, selected fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics, who relocated to become the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly after.[12] This draft class stood out for its depth in promising guards and forwards, many of whom evolved into foundational pieces for their franchises over the years. It also set a then-record with 9 freshmen chosen in the first round, underscoring the growing trend of elite one-and-done college players entering the league.[1]Eligibility
College Underclassmen
A total of 39 underclassmen from U.S. colleges declared early entry into the 2008 NBA draft, contributing to an overall pool of 44 early-entry candidates that included five international players.[4] These declarations highlighted a growing trend of talented young players forgoing additional college seasons to pursue professional opportunities. Prominent among the college declarants were freshmen Derrick Rose from the University of Memphis and Michael Beasley from Kansas State University, both projected as top lottery selections based on their exceptional freshman campaigns.[14] Other notable entrants included sophomore point guard Russell Westbrook from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as freshmen Kevin Love from UCLA and Eric Gordon from Indiana University, each bringing high-upside skills that positioned them as blue-chip prospects.[14] Under NBA rules, these underclassmen had until June 16, 2008—ten days before the draft—to withdraw their entries and preserve their NCAA eligibility, allowing many to test the draft waters through workouts and the pre-draft camp without full commitment.[15] Of the group, 14 freshmen stood out as top prospects, underscoring the draft's emphasis on one-and-done talent. This class represented a milestone, as it was the first time multiple one-and-done freshmen dominated lottery projections, ultimately resulting in a record seven freshmen selected in the lottery picks.[4]International Early Entrants
The 2008 NBA draft marked a significant moment in the league's globalization, as NBA teams intensified scouting efforts in Europe and other regions to identify young international talent eligible under the early entry rules for players under 22 years old. Five such players declared early entry and remained in the draft after the withdrawal deadline on June 16, allowing them to be selected without completing additional professional seasons or college eligibility. These entrants hailed from professional leagues in France, Italy, Spain, and Croatia, showcasing the diverse pathways for non-U.S. prospects to enter the NBA. The group included versatile forward Nicolas Batum, who played for Le Mans in the French Pro A league and was selected 25th overall by the Houston Rockets (later traded to the Portland Trail Blazers). Danilo Gallinari, a 6-foot-10 forward from Olimpia Milano in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A, went sixth overall to the New York Knicks, noted for his shooting range and athleticism. Center Alexis Ajinça, from Hyères-Toulon in France's Pro B division, was picked 20th by the Charlotte Bobcats, valued for his size and shot-blocking potential. Power forward/center Serge Ibaka, born in the Republic of the Congo but playing for L'Hospitalet in Spain's LEB league, was chosen 24th by the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder), bringing raw athleticism and defensive upside. Finally, center Ante Tomić from KK Zagreb in Croatia's Premijer Liga was selected 44th overall by the Utah Jazz in the second round, recognized for his passing and post skills. Although initial filings included a broader pool of international candidates, several withdrew before the deadline to pursue further development overseas, a common strategy to enhance draft stock in subsequent years. The successful selections of Batum, Gallinari, Ajinça, and Ibaka in the first round—along with other international picks—highlighted the draft's role in expanding the NBA's global footprint, with teams prioritizing prospects who could adapt quickly to the league's pace and physicality.Automatically Eligible Players
Under the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement governing the 2008 NBA draft, players were automatically eligible without requiring an early entry declaration if they satisfied specific age or experience criteria. For domestic players, automatic eligibility applied to those who had completed four years of college basketball, including seniors who had exhausted their NCAA eligibility or whose high school graduating class had already advanced four years beyond. Players four years removed from their high school graduation who had not enrolled in college were also automatically included. This ensured a pool of more seasoned prospects available to teams without additional paperwork.[16] International players qualified automatically if they turned 22 during the 2008 calendar year or had signed and fulfilled a contract with a professional basketball team outside the NBA. Additionally, any player—domestic or international—who had previously signed a professional contract and rendered services for a non-NBA team was eligible without declaration. These rules, established in Article X of the CBA, balanced the influx of young talent with opportunities for older or professionally experienced athletes.[16] The automatically eligible pool for the 2008 draft included numerous former U.S. college players and qualifying international prospects; many were drafted in the first round, offering teams reliable options with proven college or pro pedigrees. Notable examples featured college seniors like Roy Hibbert from Georgetown, selected 17th overall by the Toronto Raptors (and immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers), who brought four years of Big East experience as a dominant center, and Jason Thompson from Rider University, picked 12th by the Sacramento Kings for his versatile forward skills honed over a senior season averaging 20.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Other seniors such as George Hill (26th overall, IUPUI) exemplified the group's impact, with several contributing as rotation players in their rookie seasons.[1]Draft Lottery
Selection Process
The NBA draft lottery was introduced in 1985 to discourage intentional tanking by non-playoff teams seeking better draft positions, replacing the prior system where draft order strictly followed inverse regular-season records.[17] This random element aimed to promote competitive play throughout the season while still rewarding poorer performance with higher odds.[18] The lottery includes the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs, with selection odds determined by the reverse order of their previous season's records.[18] For instance, the team with the league's worst record is assigned 250 of the 1,000 possible combinations, giving it a 25% chance at the top pick, while better-performing lottery teams receive progressively fewer combinations.[19] The top three picks were determined by weighted randomization among the 14 teams, with the remaining picks (4th through 14th) assigned in inverse order of regular-season records. The weighting heavily favored teams with worse records, making it highly probable (though not guaranteed) that struggling teams would secure top selections.[20] For the 2008 lottery, held on May 20 at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, the drawing occurred behind closed doors using a machine with 14 ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14.[19] Four balls were drawn sequentially to generate a four-digit combination, repeated three times to assign the top three picks according to pre-assigned team probabilities.[20] The results were then revealed live on television via a commissioner drawing envelopes marked with team names from a hopper, creating suspense for the audience while the actual randomization remained secure.[21] The winning team secures the No. 1 pick, with the other two lottery selections filling the second and third spots, and the overall order adjusting to accommodate any shifts.[18]Results and Odds
The 2008 NBA draft lottery, held on May 20, 2008, at the NBA's studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, produced a dramatic outcome highlighted by an improbable upset. The Chicago Bulls, who finished the 2007-08 regular season with a 33-49 record—the ninth-worst in the league—won the No. 1 overall pick despite entering with just a 1.7% probability of doing so.[22][23] This victory propelled the Bulls eight spots ahead of their projected position based on record, marking one of the lowest-odds triumphs in lottery history.[24] The full top-five order of lottery winners was as follows: No. 2 to the Miami Heat, who had the league's worst record at 15-67 and a 25% chance for the top selection; No. 3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves; No. 4 to the Seattle SuperSonics; and No. 5 to the Memphis Grizzlies (traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves).[25][3] The remaining picks from No. 6 to No. 14 were assigned to the other non-playoff teams in reverse order of their regular-season records.[26] Odds for the top selection were heavily weighted toward teams with the poorest records, with the Miami Heat at 25%, the Seattle SuperSonics at 19.9%, the Memphis Grizzlies at 15.6%, and the Minnesota Timberwolves at 12.5%. The Grizzlies held a 48.9% cumulative probability of landing in the top three but instead drew the No. 5 slot, aligning with the weighted system's design to favor struggling franchises while allowing limited upward mobility for others. No team exceeded the maximum positional jumps permitted under the rules, which capped extreme shifts to prevent complete randomization. The Bulls' ascent remained the standout surprise, underscoring the lottery's element of chance within its structured probabilities.[23]Draft Selections
First Round Picks
The first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, conducted on June 26, 2008, at the WaMu Theater in New York City, saw NBA teams select 30 players, with the order primarily determined by the draft lottery for the top picks and reverse order of regular-season records thereafter.[1] Several selections involved immediate trades on draft night, altering the initial destinations for key prospects.[27] All 30 first-round picks appeared in at least one NBA regular-season game during their careers. In contrast, of the 60 total draftees across both rounds, only 51 ultimately played in the league.[1] The selections are detailed in the following table, listing the pick number, player, selecting team, position, origin (college or country), and notes on immediate trades where applicable:| Pick | Player | Selecting Team | Position | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derrick Rose | Chicago Bulls | PG | Memphis | |
| 2 | Michael Beasley | Miami Heat | PF | Kansas State | |
| 3 | O.J. Mayo | Minnesota Timberwolves | SG | USC | Rights traded to Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 5 pick (Kevin Love) and Mike Miller on draft night. |
| 4 | Russell Westbrook | Seattle SuperSonics | PG | UCLA | Franchise relocated to Oklahoma City Thunder post-draft. |
| 5 | Kevin Love | Memphis Grizzlies | PF | UCLA | Rights traded to Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 3 pick (O.J. Mayo) and Mike Miller on draft night. |
| 6 | Danilo Gallinari | New York Knicks | SF | Italy | |
| 7 | Eric Gordon | Los Angeles Clippers | SG | Indiana | |
| 8 | Joe Alexander | Milwaukee Bucks | SF | West Virginia | |
| 9 | D.J. Augustin | Charlotte Bobcats | PG | Texas | |
| 10 | Brook Lopez | New Jersey Nets | C | Stanford | |
| 11 | Jerryd Bayless | Indiana Pacers | PG | Arizona | Rights traded to Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 13 pick (Brandon Rush) and Jarrett Jack on draft night. |
| 12 | Jason Thompson | Sacramento Kings | PF | Rider | |
| 13 | Brandon Rush | Portland Trail Blazers | SG | Kansas | Rights traded to Indiana Pacers for the No. 11 pick (Jerryd Bayless) and Jarrett Jack on draft night. |
| 14 | Anthony Randolph | Golden State Warriors | PF | LSU | |
| 15 | Robin Lopez | Phoenix Suns | C | Stanford | Rights traded to New Jersey Nets for a 2009 second-round pick on draft night. |
| 16 | Marreese Speights | Philadelphia 76ers | PF | Florida | |
| 17 | Roy Hibbert | Toronto Raptors | C | Georgetown | |
| 18 | JaVale McGee | Washington Wizards | C | Nevada | |
| 19 | J.J. Hickson | Cleveland Cavaliers | PF | NC State | |
| 20 | Alexis Ajinça | Charlotte Bobcats | C | France | Pick acquired from Denver Nuggets for a future second-round pick on draft night. |
| 21 | Ryan Anderson | New Jersey Nets | PF | California | |
| 22 | Courtney Lee | Orlando Magic | SG | Western Kentucky | |
| 23 | Kosta Koufos | Utah Jazz | C | Ohio State | |
| 24 | Serge Ibaka | Seattle SuperSonics | PF | Congo | Franchise relocated to Oklahoma City Thunder post-draft. |
| 25 | Nicolas Batum | Houston Rockets | SF | France | Rights traded to Portland Trail Blazers for two future second-round picks on draft night. |
| 26 | George Hill | San Antonio Spurs | PG | IUPUI | |
| 27 | Darrell Arthur | New Orleans Hornets | PF | Kansas | Rights traded to Memphis Grizzlies for a 2010 second-round pick on draft night. |
| 28 | Donté Greene | Memphis Grizzlies | SF | Syracuse | |
| 29 | D.J. White | Detroit Pistons | PF | Indiana | |
| 30 | J.R. Giddens | Boston Celtics | SG | New Mexico |
Second Round Picks
The second round of the 2008 NBA Draft encompassed picks 31 through 60, focusing on prospects often seen as backups, specialists, or long-term projects rather than immediate starters, with a higher incidence of non-rostered players compared to the first round. Of the 30 selections, nine never logged an NBA regular-season minute, underscoring the round's volatility and the lack of guaranteed contracts for draftees.[1] International selections were a key feature, comprising seven players stashed abroad for further seasoning, such as centers Nikola Peković and Semih Erden, who later became rotation pieces for their teams. The round produced several impactful contributors, including rim-protecting center DeAndre Jordan, who evolved into a multiple-time All-Star and rebounding leader, and point guard Goran Dragić, a 2018 All-NBA Second Team honoree known for his scoring and playmaking. Additionally, this draft marked a milestone at pick 55 with Mike Taylor, the first player selected directly from the NBA Development League after leading the Idaho Stampede to a championship, though he appeared in only 11 NBA games.[28] The following table lists all second-round selections, including the drafting team at the time of the pick.
[1]