the unknowns of the NBA Draft

The NBA Draft occurred on Thursday night.  I remember when the NBA Draft was a really exciting moment because you could always remember the top college players, and were excited to see where they were drafted and who their new professional teams would be.  The reason you knew the players well is because you had seen them play in college for 3 or 4 years.  Now it seems like the players are either foreigners, or spend 1 year in college before declaring for the draft.  Therefore, they become unknown professionals that the casual fan doesn't know.

With that, I thought I'd take a quick look at the Top 10 selections of 2011, 2001, and 1991.

Overall Pick/Player/Years in College

2011

1. Kyrie Irving - 1 year
2. Derrick Williams - 2 years
3. Enes Kanter - 0 years
4. Tristan Thompson - 1 year
5. Jonas Valanciunas - 0 years
6. Jan Vesely - 0 years
7. Bismack Biyombo - 0 years
8.  Brandon Knight - 1 year
9. Kemba Walker - 3 years
10. Jimmer Fredette - 4 years

total years = 12

2001

1. Kwame Brown - 0 years

2. Tyson Chandler - 0 years

3. Pau Gasol - 0 years

4.  Eddy Curry - 0 years

5. Jason Richardson - 2 years

6. Shane Battier - 4 years

7. Eddie Griffin - 1 years

8. DaSagna Diop - 0 years

9. Rodney White - 1 year

10. Joe Johnson - 2 years

total years = 10

1991

1.  Larry Johnson - 4 years

2.  Kenny Anderson -  2 years

3. Billy Owens - 3 years

4. Dikembe Mutombo - 4 years

5. Steve Smith - 4 years

6. Doug Smith - 4 years

7. Luc Longley - 4 years

8. Mark Macon - 4 years

9. Stacey Augmon - 4 years

10. Brian Williams - 3 years

total years = 36

A lot has changed in 20 years.  One reason players come out of school early is that there is a feeling that if they stay in college too long, that there must be something wrong with them.  Therefore, if you come out after 1 year in college, you still have potential.  If you stay in college for 3 or 4 years, you no longer have superstar potential because everyone knows what type of player you will be.  That's the rationale of coming out as quick as you can.  The 2011 overall #1 pick Kyrie Irving was injured in his freshman year, and played only 11 games.