The 2012 NBA draft broke records and birthed modern legends
In short: Imagine a single draft producing seven players who would eventually combine for 10 championships, including two future first-ballot Hall of Famers. From Kentucky's historic dominance to the oldest player ever selected, the 2012 class redefined what it meant to be an elite prospect.
The 2012 NBA draft was a landmark event for collegiate basketball, specifically for the University of Kentucky. It marked the first time in history that teammates from the same school were selected with the first two picks: Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Furthermore, it set a record by selecting six different players from Kentucky across the first two rounds. This draft also saw the first instance where the top three selections were all college freshmen from the Southeastern Conference.
The selection process was defined by high-stakes mechanics. While the lottery only determined the top three picks—using 1,001 possible combinations of weighted ping pong balls—the remaining first-round and second-round slots were assigned based on the previous season's win-loss records. The New Orleans Hornets secured the first pick despite having only a 13.7% probability, while the Charlotte Bobcats took the second spot even though they held the highest mathematical odds to land the top prize.
The legacy of this draft is visible in today's league. Among the class are Draymond Green, who won four championships with the Golden State Warriors, and Anthony Davis, a five-time All-NBA selection. Damian Lillard also emerged as a standout, becoming only the fourth player ever to be named Rookie of the Year unanimously. As of 2025, only seven players from this specific draft remain active in the NBA.
Beyond the superstars, the draft featured unique outliers. Bernard James entered the league as the oldest player ever drafted at age 27. Conversely, the class also included four players who never played a single professional game, including İlkan Karaman and Marcus Denmon, who were the only selections for their respective franchises.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2012 NBA draft
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