2012 NBA draft

2012 NBA draft
General information
SportBasketball
Date(s)June 28, 2012
LocationPrudential Center (Newark, New Jersey)
Network(s)
Overview
60 total selections in 2 rounds
LeagueNBA
First selectionAnthony Davis (New Orleans)
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The 2012 NBA draft was held on June 28, 2012, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The New Orleans Hornets, who had a 13.70 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 30. The Charlotte Bobcats and the Washington Wizards were second and third, respectively. This draft marked the first time that the first two players selected were from the same school (Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were teammates at Kentucky).[1] It also set a record of having six players from one school (Kentucky) being selected in the two rounds of the draft and was the first draft to have the first three selections be college freshmen all from the same conference (Southeastern Conference). Bernard James was the oldest player drafted in an NBA draft, being 27 years old at the time of the draft.[2]

The draft contained seven players who combined for 10 championships as well as having Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard both named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.[3] Six players have participated in an All-Star Game. Draymond Green won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022, as well as being named an All-Star in 2016–2018 and 2022. Green was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, while also leading the league in steals that season.[4][5] Anthony Davis won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and was an All-Star from 2014–2021, and 2024, as well as the NBA All Star Game MVP in 2017. He also was the NBA blocks leader in 2014, 2015, and 2018.[6][7] Damian Lillard became the fourth player to be unanimously named Rookie of the Year.[8] Lillard was an All-Star in 2014, 2015, 2018–2021, and 2023–2024, the All-Star Game MVP in 2024, as well as the winner of the Three-Point Contest in 2023 and 2024.[9][10][11] Khris Middleton won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and was selected as an All-Star in 2019–2020, and 2022.[12]

Of the players drafted, 30 were forwards, 21 were guards, and 9 were centers. The 2012 NBA draft marked the first appearance of the Brooklyn Nets. This draft also marks the last draft appearance for the New Orleans Hornets. After the 2012–13 season, the franchise was renamed as the New Orleans Pelicans. New Orleans made their first draft appearance as the Pelicans in 2013. Four of the players selected in this draft never played in an NBA game throughout their professional basketball careers. Two of those players were the sole selection of the draft by their respective teams: İlkan Karaman (Brooklyn's only pick) and Marcus Denmon (San Antonio's only pick).

  1. ^ Hoffman, Benjamin (June 28, 2012). "Kentucky Reigns Again on N.B.A.'s Draft Night". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Beltran, Jess Matthew (July 29, 2012). "Bernard James: The 27-Year-Old Rookie". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "NBA 75th Anniversary Team announced". NBA.com. October 21, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Draymond Green NBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Cato, Tim (June 26, 2017). "Draymond Green is finally the Defensive Player of the Year award winner after 2 runners-up". SB Nation. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Anthony Davis NBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "NBA Season Blocks Leaders". NBA.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Damian Lillard the Fourth Unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year". SLAM Magazine. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Damian Lillard NBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Bontemps, Tim (February 18, 2023). "Lillard secures 'a goal of mine,' wins NBA 3-point contest". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  11. ^ Nehm, Eric (February 19, 2024). "Damian Lillard turns All-Star Weekend into Dame Time with game MVP, 3-Point Contest win". The Athletic. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Khris Middleton NBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.