2002 NBA draft
| 2002 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | June 26, 2002 |
| Time | 7:30 pm (EDT) |
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York |
| Network(s) (US) | TNT |
| First selection | Yao Ming, Houston Rockets |
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← 2001
NBA draft
2003 →
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The 2002 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2002, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North American leagues. The draft was broadcast on TNT at 7:30 PM (EDT). The NBA announced that about 42 college and high school players, and five international players, had filed as early-entry candidates for the draft. The Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors both had a 22.5 percent probability of acquiring the first overall pick, but the Houston Rockets, with an 8.9 percent probability, won the NBA draft lottery on May 19. The Bulls and Warriors were second and third, respectively. As punishment for salary-cap violations during the 2000–01 season, the Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round draft pick.
The 2002 draft set a record with 17 international selections, with six coming in the first round alone.
Number 2 pick Jay Williams violated his contract by riding a motorcycle, and nearly lost his life in an accident that shattered his pelvis, severed a main nerve in his leg, and tore three ligaments in his left knee including his ACL. Although he underwent an intense rehabilitation program, Williams never played a game in the NBA again. When it became clear Williams would not be returning to the Bulls because of his injuries, he was waived. The Bulls could have voided Williams' contract, since riding a motorcycle was contractually prohibited. Instead the Bulls completed a $3 million buyout of the contract instead of having him walk away with nothing.
This draft has been deemed as one of the worst of all time, while one sports outlet deemed it THE worst NBA draft ever.
These players were not selected in this draft but played at least one game in the NBA.
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