NBA 2008 Draft Review: A Look Back at the Top Picks

The 2008 NBA draft was a memorable one, with several top prospects being selected in the first round. The draft took place on June 26, 2008, at the WaMu Theater in New York City.

The top pick of the draft was Oklahoma forward kevin.html">Kevin durant.html">Durant, who was selected by the Seattle supersonics.html">SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder). Durant, a consensus national player of the year, had averaged 25.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game as a freshman at Oklahoma.

Next up was Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, who was taken second overall by the Chicago Bulls. Rose, a dominant force on the court, had led the Tigers to the NCAA champions.html">championship.html">championship game as a sophomore.

The Minnesota Timberwolves used their third-overall pick to select Kansas small forward Russell Westbrook, a dynamic scorer and playmaker. Westbrook, a consensus first-team All-American, had averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.html">assists per game as a sophomore at Kansas.

Other notable picks from the 2008 draft include Brook Lopez (23rd overall) and Robin Lopez (15th overall), both of whom have gone on to have successful NBA careers with the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively. Tyler Hansbrough, a dominant post player from North Carolina, was taken 13th overall by the Indiana Pacers.

In hindsight, the 2008 draft looks like a strong one for the NBA, with several players going on to have All-Star careers or becoming key contributors to their respective teams. As we look back on this draft class, it''s clear that Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook were the top talents, each bringing unique skills and athleticism.html">athleticism to the league.

Today, these three superstars.html">superstars continue to dominate the NBA landscape, with Durant leading the Golden State Warriors to multiple championships, Rose winning the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2011, and Westbrook becoming a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate with the Houston rockets.html">Rockets. The 2008 draft will always be remembered as a special one, with these top picks setting the stage for future greatness.