That Not So Fresh Feeling

The 2006 NBA Draft is going to go down as the most entertaining draft in NBA history. A weak draft, without a player who’s assured to make a significant impact, and on ESPN rather than TNT, this draft could have been a disaster.

Instead, ESPN and the NBA got together and made it the most entertaining 4 hours of TV ever. Here’s a couple of real-time recaps to check out:

Chairchuckers.com
Sons of Sam Horn
(The latter link might not work unless you have an account.)

I don’t think I can possibly do it justice. Here are just some of the highlights:

• A million random trades, including 400 by Portland
• 4 Year Duke scholar Shelden Williams giving an interview in mumbleese
• The Wolves/Blazers swap the 6th and 7th picks in one of the sketchiest deals in memory
• Centers Sene and Armstrong go in the lottery
• Rudy Gay miked up
• Jay Bilas, Stephen A. Smith, and Greg Anthony ripping everyone — while their commentary is being broadcast live in the arena to all of the draftees present
• Dan Patrick and David Stern go at it live on the air
• Dick Vitale verbally fellates J.J. Reddick and then asks him for tickets
• Dick Vitale, who’s never said a bad word about a player, disses Celtics’ pick Rajon Rondo as the equivalent of a .220 hitter
• Jay Bilas says Noah Lowry could beat up Rondo
• Isiah Thomas spends his 1st pick on Renaldo Blackman, expected by many to go undrafted
• Marc Jones getting accosted by Knick fans both times he was forced to venture into the stands

Just a stellar night. I’m sure Bill Simmons will have a lot to say about it.