NBA Draft Pac-10 Players Review
Comments (46) The Pac-10 was well represented in Thursday night’s NBA Draft with nine of the 60 picks made hailing out of the conference (including three of the top 10). Here is our analysis of those nine Pac-10 draftees.
Player: James Harden, Shooting Guard, 6-5, 222
School: Arizona State
Drafted By: Okalahoma City Thunder, 3rd Overall
Analysis: Both the Thunder and James Harden were winners Thursday night. Harden will join former UCLA standout Russell Westbrook in the backcourt next season. Some prognosticators thought PG Ricky Rubio would be the pick, but Thunder management believes in Westbrook’s ability to run the point. The addition of Harden solidifies a young and talented core for Oklahoma City. Harden’s basketball IQ is off the charts and he can score in a variety of ways, averaging 20.1 points per game last season (as well as 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists). He has a prototypical body for a shooting guard, and plays an unselfish brand of basketball that makes everyone around him better. Harden may be the most NBA-ready player in the entire draft. The Pac-10 Player of the Year for 2009 will join Westbrook and forward Kevin Durant on one of the NBA’s most exciting young teams.
James Harden makes his move
