Teams Drafts that changed the teams in last decade – NBA Feature (Part-2)
Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson
For the last few years, there has been a serious debate going on in the NBA circles that the young players should not be allowed to make it to NBA directly from high school so that they reach a certain maturity level, both on and
off the field.
However, if you see the number one draft picks of the year 2003-04 and 2004-05, you will be inclined to believe otherwise.
What NBA procured in those two years, were athletes, who have proven themselves to be the best players of their generation.
Yes, I am talking about LeBron James and Dwight Howard.
When it comes to the best team draft, Dwight and Jameer Nelson take the lead in the last decade.
Back in the 2004 draft, the Orlando Magic franchise was at a loss, whether to pick the war hardened Emeka Okafor, who had led Connecticut to a national title last season or the young Dwight Howard, who in his four years at the
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy for high school had established himself as the best American high school basketball player with 16.6 points per game, 13.4 rebounds per game (rpg) and 6.3 blocks per game in 129 appearances.
Thankfully for the Magic, they went with a player, who is at present a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA team selection and three-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Emeka Okafor is a superb player in his own right. He is a monster on the paint and his rebounding and shot blocking skills can be compared with the best in the league. But, if anyone compares him to the Superman, quite honestly,
he will laughed out of the room.
Howard made his impact from the very first season. He racked up an average of 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, becoming the first rookie ever to have a double-double season.
And then there was Jameer Nelson, a guy who many thought should have been in the top 10, but eventually got picked up the Denver Nuggets as the 20th overall. Desperate to acquire a decent point guard, the Magic traded
for Nelson and played him mostly as a role player in the first season, by the end of which, Nelson started to prove his credentials. He finished his rookie season with an average of 8.7 points per game, but playing mostly as a starter in the next season, his
figure shot to 14.9 points and 4.9 assists per game.
The duo of Howard and Nelson were pivotal in making the Magic a genuine championship contender in the years that followed. Magic reached the NBA Finals in 2008, but went down fighting against the mighty Los Angeles Lakers.
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