The 2006 NBA draft: a night of high-stakes trades and historic school records
In short: Held at Madison Square Garden, the 2006 NBA draft featured a rare first-overall pick from Italy. While the Toronto Raptors secured Andrea Bargnani, the night was defined by massive trades and a historic performance by the University of Connecticut, which saw five players selected across two rounds.
The 2006 NBA draft, broadcast on ESPN from The Theater at Madison Square Garden, occurred during a period of transition for the league. Following the 2005-06 season, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets operated under that transitional moniker while the city rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. The draft was headlined by the Toronto Raptors, who won the lottery and selected Italian player Andrea Bargnani first overall. Bargnani, who had played three years for the Italian club Benetton Treviso, became only the second player without U.S. competitive experience to be taken first overall, following Yao Ming in 2002.
The draft also served as a showcase for collegiate dominance, specifically from the University of Connecticut. UConn set a new precedent by seeing five players chosen across two rounds: Rudy Gay, Hilton Armstrong, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone in round one, plus Denham Brown in round two. This achievement matched the record for maximum first-round picks from one institution, a distinction held by Duke University in 1999 and North Carolina in 2005.
Beyond the selections, the draft day was marked by intense movement of draft rights. The Portland Trail Blazers were particularly active, acquiring the rights to the second-overall pick, LaMarcus Aldridge, from the Chicago Bulls, and the sixth-overall pick, Brandon Roy, from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Roy eventually earned the 2006–07 Rookie of the Year award. The class has diminished over time; Kyle Lowry, the final active player from 2006, declared his retirement throughout the 2025–26 season.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2006 NBA draft
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