Whether or not you’re a fan of social media or not, you may’t deny a few of its advantages in at the moment’s world. For one, it provides a platform for individuals’s voices to be amplified, which might be for higher or worse. All of a sudden you may tweet one thing, it will get reposted by a related outlet, and sports activities writers, resembling myself, go in-depth on the topic.
On Tuesday, Jul. 18, Bleacher Report reposted a tweet from Twitter consumer @KhizHoop. The tweet reads, “Paul George and Gordon Hayward are the ONLY gamers from the 2010 draft nonetheless on a NBA roster..”
Which leads us to suppose, how can a complete draft class from 13 years in the past be down to 2 gamers? Minded, George and Hayward had been elite gamers at one level. They’ve made notable contributions to each franchise they served and are nonetheless thought of stars within the league at the moment. However occurred to the remainder?
A bunch of 60 gamers that entered the NBA one trustworthy evening is nearing extinction not lengthy after. This batch included names that blew up within the league earlier than they pale into blackness. So let’s see what occurred to the aces from this forgotten cohort.
John Wall, first decide, College of Kentucky
Being the primary decide in any draft holds loads of weight. We’ve got seen some reside as much as the expectations whereas others crumbled below the strain. John Wall was a type of who succeeded, not less than for some time.
Upon his entry, Wall turned the face of the Washington Wizards. With him and Bradley Beal on the forefront, the nation’s capital was rewarded with a workforce that was aggressive, on the very least.
A five-time All-Star and Slam Dunk champion with All-NBA Third Workforce, All-Defensive Second Workforce, and All-Rookie First Workforce picks, Wall was well-decorated earlier than he bought tormented by accidents. Regardless of main the Wizards to 4 playoff appearances and turning into the franchise’s fourth all-time main scorer, Wall left DC in 2020 as a shell of himself.
Stints with the Houston Rockets and the LA Clippers confirmed that whereas the car was nonetheless operating, the engine was not working fairly as properly. The Clippers traded Wall again to Houston in February. Three days later, he was Waived, going from the primary decide to having no takers.
DeMarcus Cousins, fifth decide, College of Kentucky
The 2010 NBA Draft was a great time to be a Wildcat. Whereas Wall embodied the primary choice, his Kentucky teammate DeMarcus Cousins trailed carefully because the fifth. After averaging 14.1 factors and eight.6 rebounds per recreation in his rookie season, Cousins turned an anchor for the Sacramento Kings for the subsequent seven years.
At his peak, he was arguably the most effective massive males of this era. Sadly, like Wall, he was a proficient star that fell off as a consequence of accidents. In 2017, he headed to New Orleans to hitch forces with Anthony Davis, and it was the beginning of a collection of quick stints and unlucky occasions for Boogie. From 2018 via 2022, Cousins suited up for 5 NBA groups. 4 of these occurred within the latter two.
Kentucky should have tied Wall and Cousins on the hip. They reunited in Houston on December 2020, however two months later, Cousins was waived by the Rockets, a sense Wall would expertise years later. Yikes.
Cousins now performs for Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
Hassan Whiteside, thirty third decide, Marshall College
Hassan Whiteside was chosen by Sacramento about midway via the night. The one stats he recorded in a Kings jersey had been two fouls in two minutes in his rookie season opener. This was adopted by a collection of shuffles between groups within the NBA G League, NBL China, and the Lebanese Basketball League.
The basketball gods should have sprinkled knee harm mud on this draft class, as all three gamers talked about have suffered them all through their careers. However Whiteside’s adventures in growth and abroad leagues planted a chip on his shoulder. In 2014, he signed with the Miami Warmth and regarded as promising as ever.
Whiteside spent 5 years in Florida because the Warmth sought their identification post-LeBron James. He bought an All-NBA Second-Workforce choice in 2016, led the league in blocks that very same 12 months, and rebounds the 12 months after. A hip harm demoted him to a role-player earlier than coming into the workforce roulette as soon as extra. He led the league in blocks once more in 2020 with Portland and had a redemption run with the Kings the next season. Contemplate that his swansong. In 2023, Whiteside joined Cousins in Puerto Rico, enjoying for Piratas de Quebradillas.
Lance Stephenson, fortieth decide, College of Cincinnati
You might know him for his blooper actual, however there’s no denying how strong of a participant Lance Stephenson was within the NBA. His antics might have outlined him, however he was a dependable position participant for essentially the most half. In his fourth 12 months with the Pacers, he averaged a constant 14.8 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and a couple of.9 assists per recreation.
His first 4 seasons within the league with Indiana had been the early peak of his profession. However after switching groups within the NBA seven extra occasions within the 4 years that adopted, Stephenson opted out and located his approach to China in 2019.
Nonetheless, Stephenson clicked the undo button sooner than anticipated. In 2021, he made pitstops with the Grand Rapids Gold and Atlanta Hawks earlier than a farewell run with the Pacers. In 2023, Stephenson set out on a journey to–you guessed it– Puerto Rico the place he’s enjoying for Leones de Ponce.
So that they get damage, get waived, and transfer to Puerto Rico. However how about everybody else?
In the event you take a look at the entire list of draft picks from 2010, you understand there was by no means a lot depth in it. Other than the gamers who I discussed on this write-up, some names would barely ring bells. Most of them didn’t do properly sufficient to go away a dent within the league, not to mention scratch the floor. If the perfect gamers from this class battle to remain within the NBA, it comes as no shock that others disappeared a lot sooner.
The misfortune of this draft class is unparalleled. Who would have that that simply over a decade later, Wall is hoping for a call-back whereas Cousins, Whiteside, and Stephenson are having fun with tropical hoops? Paul and Hayward are the final of a dying breed they usually too are visibly fading out of their stardoms.
- Revealed on 07/19/2023 at 22:27 PM
- Final up to date at 07/19/2023 at 22:51 PM
