The 2005 NBA Draft: An historic NBA draft begins the drift toward more experienced players
NEW YORK – If you’re already preparing for the 2006 NBA Draft when all American prospects must be 19 and a year removed from high school, the results of this year’s draft might serve as a useful and sobering model.
Yes, there were the consensus high picks such as Andrew Bogut of Utah via Australia going to the Bucks as the overall number one selection and Marvin Williams of North Carolina going second to the Hawks. And there was a much healthier draft mix than in several years consisting of proven college stars and international players combined with relatively unproven, but very promising talent, too.
But when the dust settled after this historic draft, only three prep stars – Martell Webster of Seattle (WA) Prep, (No. 6 to Portland); Gerald Green, Gulf Shore Academy, Houston, TX (No. 18 to Boston) and Andrew Bynum, St. Joseph HS, NJ (No. 10 to the Los Angeles Lakers) came away with guaranteed contracts from the first round.
Largely left to fend for themselves and their agents if they can’t make their respective NBA squads next year (the odds are that only 1 in 4 will make it for them to sign a minimum contract with that club) were these former high school prep phenoms and second-round picks: C.J. Miles, Skyline HS (TX) (No. 34 to Utah); Ricky Sanchez, IMG Academy (FL) (No. 35 to Portland); Monta Ellis, Lanier HS (MS) (No. 40 to Golden State); Louis Williams, South Gwinnett HS (GA) (No. 45 to Philadelphia); Andray Blatche, South Kent School (CT) (No. 49 to Washington) and Amir Johnson, Westchester (CA) HS (No. 56 to Detroit).
That also left such undrafted college notables as Matt Walsh and Anthony Roberson (both of Florida); Kennedy Winston (Alabama) and Randolph Morris (Kentucky), among others, without a chance to continue their college careers and with an empty professional resume which they hope to quickly fill by looking for a position overseas, or in the NBA’s Development League.
That didn’t mean the draft didn’t once again focus around promising young talent. Several teams filled their needs for the present or stockpiled them for the future in the second round. And that obviously doesn’t mean that such upcoming current stars as Greg Oden or O.J. Majo – provided they continue to develop mentally, physically and emotionally, won’t likely long end up as good, if not distinguished NBA players.
NBA Draft Trends/Thoughts
Despite a substantial dropout rate of early-entry candidates from the original 108 and several undrafted prospects from high school and college ranks, there is an encouraging trend toward excellence and maturity.
- The average age of all the draftees was approximately 20 1/2 years old, or two years younger then the typical college graduate. This draft represented the most high school picks ever (9), but the number of first-round selections of prep players was 8 in 2004 and 4 in 2003. From 1995 to 2002, there were just 1 or 2 first-round picks for high school players in each draft.
- The loss of high schoolers will have a temporary effect on those select few who would have been ready to make the jump, but who will wait out a year with a year of college or two to come back even stronger. But before we celebrate the demise of the ‘immature’ high school player from future drafts, didn’t 2004 still give us an optimistic and sometimes exciting glimpses of the future with some flashes of brilliance from Josh Howard, Sebastian Telfair, J.R. Smith, Josh Smith and Shaun Livingston?
- If USA players are worried about a continued onslaught of international prospects as competition in the draft, also think again. The draftees once again represented a broad cross section of talent from 14 different countries, but the total of 16 was far less than the record total of 21 in 2003 or 20 in 2004 when there were 8 chosen in the first round alone.
- Contrary to the common mantra recited by many broadcasters, college seniors aren’t becoming a rare draft species: There were 15 overall, 9 in the first round. And it wouldn’t be surprising that several second-round college seniors will be signed, especially Salim Stoudamire (No. 31 to Atlanta); Ronnie Turiaf (No. 37 to the L.A. Lakers) and Ryan Gomes (No. 50 to Boston), whom many say might have been the steal of the entire draft.
- Being a first, second or third-team All-American is an obvious advantage with 11 going in the first round, including No. 1 Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee), No. 3 Deron Williams (Utah), No. 4 Chris Paul (New Orleans), No. 5 Raymond Felton (Charlotte), No. 8 Channing Frye (New York), No. 9 Ike Diogu (Golden State); (No. 16 Joey Graham (Toronto), No. 19 Hakim Warrick (Memphis), No. 21 Nate Robinson (Phoenix), No. 24 Luther Head (Houston) and No. 29 Wayne Simien (Miami).
- For the first time in five years, the No. 1 overall pick played at least one season of college basketball. That hadn’t happened since Kenyon Martin of Cincinnati, a four-year player, was chosen #1 in 2000.
The Prime-Time NBA High School Draft Selections React
So what did Webster, Bynum and Green, think of their good fortune?
Webster, who along with No. 2 pick Marvin Williams of the University of North Carolina rank as the highest-ever Washington state natives picked in the same draft, sympathized with their younger counterparts.
“I felt fortunate to be part of the last group of high school players that will be coming out,” said Webster. “The agreement had no effect on my decision, though. Even if it took place this year, I would have been happy to go the University of Washington. But I feel fortunate to be a part of this.”
“I think it’s a pretty good idea,” said Green, who originally had committed to Oklahoma State. “A lot of high schoolers that came out before this draft, they thought they weren’t really mature and I think that whatever the NBA decided to do, the decision that they made, I think it was a good decision.”
In response to one question at the press conference following his selection, which queried: “What do you say to critics who said you probably wouldn’t have been polished enough to start at UConn?” Bynum, whose early selection surprised many observers, said: “I’d have to say,”’Look at me right now. I’m a Laker draft pick and in the top 10. I’m in the lottery.” He continued: “I’m not shocked. I went to the Lakers workout and did pretty good. I was able to get a guarantee a couple of days later. I’m not shocked but I’m very happy right now.”
Ironically Green, predicted by many to be the first high school player picked becuase of similarities in his game to Tracy McGrady, may have dropped to No. 18 possibly for injecting too many doses of humility in statements made at a pre-draft day press conference. “Right now I’m not really too sure about being ready or not. I just think possibly, if I get drafted, that the coaches will stick with me. I learn a lot from the veterans. I have a lot to learn and I think they could teach me a lot. And I know for sure when the season starts I should be ready.”
Whatever happens with all these draftees and prospects, the competition worldwide to enter the NBA will be even stiffer in the future.
Marvin Williams perhaps summed it up best for future USA NBA hopefuls when asked when he realized he was ready for the NBA. “Probably after the (NCAA) championship game, about a week after when I really knew. I had the opportunity coming out of high school and I turned it down. One year of college helped me. I felt I was ready after this year.”
