Isaiah Austin’s NBA dream was taken away in brutal fashion just last week. At last night’s draft, the NBA made a classy move to acknowledge the Baylor star.
Last night’s NBA draft was one of the best in years. Stacked with classy players, we could have seen at least 10 potential All-Star level players begin their careers, a hugely exciting prospect for the sport.
But in the middle of all the talk about ‘upside’, ‘potential’ and ‘wingspan’ came a moment of real class by the NBA.
Isaiah Austin was expected to be one of those possible future stars. The Baylor centre had a great college career and at 7’1″ he also appeared to have the physical gifts to be a dominant player at the pro level. However, just last Sunday, Austin was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome. The genetic disorder affects the connective tissue in the body and it can have a major impact on the aorta and the heart, expanding and weakening the vessels.
This is the impact that the Syndrome has on Austin so he was advised by doctors that he should immediately retire from competitive basketball, ending his chances of ever playing in the NBA.
But in a show of real class, the NBA brought Austin to the draft last night and ‘drafted’ him into the NBA. Obviously it doesn’t compensate the player for the lost opportunity but the acknowledgement of him on a night that should have been such a special one for him and his family was a fine move by new commissioner Adam Silver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q9OLx9ZVi4
