Anthony Davis: The Gold of the 2012 NBA Draft

Anthony Davis with
Commissioner David Stern
at tonight's NBA Draft

This year's NBA Draft featured less talent than any draft before it, so one man-Anthony Davis-was the star of the show.  He was a freshman at the University of Kentucky when he won numerous individual awards, including the National Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.  Along with his individual achievements, he led his Wildcat teammates to the 8th National Championship in school history.  No player had the credentials that Davis had and it was no surprise that he was chosen first overall by the New Orleans Hornets tonight.

Since Davis was chosen at #1, the remaining twenty-nine teams had to settle with second class talent.  Even the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats, who were the most deserving after a disastrous 7-59 season, were out of luck.  They selected another Kentucky Wildcat with the second overall pick, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  Kentucky set two NBA Draft records tonight: most players drafted from one institution in a single year (6) and most players drafted in a three year span (14).  Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist would be joined by Terrence Jones (18th-Houston), Marquis Teague (29th-Chicago), Doron Lamb (42nd-Milwaukee), and Darius Miller (46th-New Orleans) before the night's end.

In other draft news, the NBA Champion Miami Heat drafted Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie before trading away his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers for tonight's 45th pick (Louisiana-Lafayette's Justin Hamilton) and a future 1st round pick.  It was one of ten trades that involved this year's draft...The University of Texas did not produce a NBA draftee for only the second time in the past seven years...The San Antonio Spurs held only one draft pick in this year's NBA Draft and selected Missouri guard Marcus Denmon with the 59th overall pick, a surprise to some after their lack of physicality against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.  Many expected the franchise to draft a forward or center to play alongside Tim Duncan in the paint.