2015 NBA Draft First Round Results: Minnesota Timberwolves Select Karl-Anthony Towns With No. 1 Selection
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns out of the University of Kentucky with the No. 1 overall selection in 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
With the first pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select… #WitnessHistory pic.twitter.com/LG4F15eCRx
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 25, 2015
Towns, who was widely believed to be the top overall selection by experts according to ESPN, averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in his only collegiate season. Bleacher Report wrote that Towns is the third former Kentucky player to go No.1 since 1966.
This is the first time in the Timberwolves’ history that they have owned the No. 1 overall pick but the 17th time the franchise had a top-10 pick since 1989. Minnesota’s previous highest pick was No. 2, which the Wolves used on Derrick Williams out of Arizona.
The Los Angeles Lakers owned the second pick and selected Ohio State freshman D’Angelo Russell. Russell, a tremendous shooter, was a little bit of a surprise as the Lakers were expected to take Duke big man Jahlil Okafor — Okafor went No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kentucky had a total of four players taken in the lottery, matching North Carolina (2005) for the most players taken in the lottery in NBA history.
Here is the complete list the 2015 draft.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C), Kentucky. Towns is very athletic and a tremendous rim protector. He also has the ability to score inside and out.
He and 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins will be the face of the franchise for years to come.
Welcome to the Pack, @KarlTowns! #GrowTogether https://t.co/er2ZGROKiV
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 26, 2015
2. Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG), Ohio State. Russell has a chance to be a star, due to his scoring ability, and that is what the Lakers need. In addition to his shooting prowess, he is an excellent penetrator and passer.
Lakers coach Byron Scott talked about what Russell will bring to the table and what went into their decision-making.
Byron: "The decision that was made was to basically take the best player available. … We really felt this kid was special."
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 26, 2015
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Jahlil Okafor (PF/C), Duke. Okafor is an outstanding offensive player who possesses excellent footwork and range out to 14 feet. He is also a very good passer out of the double team.
4. New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis (C), Latvia.
5. Orlando Magic: Mario Hezonja, (SG), Croatia.
6. Sacramento Kings: Willie Cauley-Stein (C), Kentucky.
7. Denver Nuggets: Emmanual Mudiay (PG), China
8. Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson (SF), Arizona
9. Charlotte Hornets: Frank Kaminsky III (PF/C), Wisconsin
10. Miami Heat: Justise Winslow (SF), Duke
11. Indiana Pacers: Myles Turner (C), Texas
12. Utah Jazz: Trey Lyles (PF), Kentucky
13. Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker (SG), Kentucky
14. Oklahoma City Thunder: Cameron Payne (PG), Murray State. Payne is the highest-ever Racer selected in the NBA draft.
15. Atlanta Hawks: Kelly Oubre (SG/SF), Kansas. USA Today reported that Oubre was traded to the Washington Wizards for the No. 19 pick in the 2015 draft. The Hawks also are expected to receive two future second round picks.
16. Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier (PG), Louisville.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Rashad Vaughn (SG), UNLV.
18. Houston Rockets: Sam Dekker (SF), Wisconsin.
19. Washington Wizards: Jerian Grant (PG), Notre Dame. Grant is rumored to be traded to the New York Knicks (via Atlanta Hawks thru Washington). The Hawks will receive Tim Hardaway, Jr.
20. Toronto Raptors: Delon Wright (PG), Utah.
21. Dallas Mavericks: Justin Anderson (SG), Virginia.
22. Chicago Bulls: Bobby Portis (PF), Arkansas.
23. Portland Trail Blazers: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF), Arizona.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyus Jones (PG), Duke. Jones traded to Minnesota for Timberwolves two second round selections (No. 31 and No. 36).
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Jarell Martin (PF), LSU.
26. San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Milutinov (C), Serbia. Milutinov is not expected to play in the NBA for a couple of years.
27. Los Angeles Lakers: Larry Nance, Jr. (SF/PF), Wyoming.
28. Boston Celtics: R.J. Hunter (SG), Georgia State. Hunter will be the first player from Georgia State to play in an NBA game.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Chris McCullough (PF), Syracuse. McCullough played only 16 games as a freshman for the Orange due to injures.
30. Golden State Warriors: Kevon Looney (PF), UCLA.
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