NBA 2009 NBA Draft Recap: A Year of Surprises and Upsets

The 2009 NBA Draft was a night to remember for basketbal.html">basketball.html">basketball fans. With the first overall pick, the Los Angeles Clippers selected Blake griffin.html">Griffin, a dominant power forward from Oklahoma. However, it was the picks that followed that truly made this draft stand out.

In a surprise move, the Golden State Warriors took stephen.html">stephen.html">Stephen curry.html">Curry at seventh overall, bypassing more touted prospects like Tyreke Evans and james.html">James harden.html">Harden. The decision would prove to be a shrewd one, as Curry has since become a three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, meanwhile, used their first-round picks to select Russell Westbrook and James Harden. While both players.html">players have gone on to have successful careers, it''s hard not to think about what could have been if they had remained teammates for the long haul.

jordan.html">Jordan Hill, a talented big man from Arizona, was selected eighth overall by the New York Knicks. Despite flashes of brilliance, Hill has struggled to find consistency in his career, serving as a reminder that even first-round picks can''t guarantee success.

The draft also saw several international players make the jump to the NBA, including Jonny Flynn and DeMar DeRozan. Both players have gone on to have solid careers, with Flynn earning a reputation as one of the league''s top defenders.

In retrospect, the 2009 NBA Draft was a year of surprises and upsets. While some picks panned out, others failed to live up to expectations. Nevertheless, it remains an exciting chapter in the history of the NBA draft.