The 2006 NBA Draft is going to go down as the most entertaining draft in NBA history. A weak draft, without a player who's assured to make a significant impact, and on ESPN rather than TNT, this draft could have been a disaster.
Instead, ESPN and the NBA got together and made it the most entertaining 4 hours of TV ever. Here's a couple of real-time recaps to check out:
Chairchuckers.com
Sons of Sam Horn
(The latter link might not work unless you have an account.)
I don't think I can possibly do it justice. Here are just some of the highlights:
- A million random trades, including 400 by Portland
- 4 Year Duke scholar Shelden Williams giving an interview in mumbleese
- The Wolves/Blazers swap the 6th and 7th picks in one of the sketchiest deals in memory
- Centers Sene and Armstrong go in the lottery
- Rudy Gay miked up
- Jay Bilas, Stephen A. Smith, and Greg Anthony ripping everyone -- while their commentary is being broadcast live in the arena to all of the draftees present
- Dan Patrick and David Stern go at it live on the air
- Dick Vitale verbally fellates J.J. Reddick and then asks him for tickets
- Dick Vitale, who's never said a bad word about a player, disses Celtics' pick Rajon Rondo as the equivalent of a .220 hitter
- Jay Bilas says Noah Lowry could beat up Rondo
- Isiah Thomas spends his 1st pick on Renaldo Blackman, expected by many to go undrafted
- Marc Jones getting accosted by Knick fans both times he was forced to venture into the stands
Just a stellar night. I'm sure Bill Simmons will have a lot to say about it.