Between flashy suits and surprising picks, the wacky reactions and a surprise selection, Thursday night’s NBA Draft had it all. Relive some of the odder moments with us:
The Suit
Andrew Wiggins won the night, and not because the Canadian star was the first player selected. His flashy suit went viral even before the draft started, when Women’s Wear Daily tweeted a photo of him getting ready for the big night.
Comedian Steve Martin even retweeted a photo reacting to the rampant comparison of Wiggins’ suit to one of his getups in the film “The Three Amigos.”
Wiggins certainly turned some heads with the black and white floral blazer and super-tight black dress pants. His tailor? Waraire Boswell, who has also dressed LeBron James, Blake Griffin and Chris Bosh.
Draft celebration
Nik Stauskas is ready for the NBA.
He already has his 3-point celebration down pat. After getting selected by the Kings eighth overall, the former Michigan star stood up, turned to his father, Paul, and executed a planned move in which they slapped hands three times and gave a goggles sign to each other.
Kings fans are already mimicking the move.
Hankerchief moment
The most poignant pick was not made by a team — but by the NBA. Before announcing the Bulls’ pick at No. 16, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Isaiah Austin — a projected first-round pick before he recently was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting the body’s connective tissue — was selected by the league.
“Like the other young men here tonight, Isaiah committed himself to endless hard work and dedication to a potential career as a professional basketball player,” Silver said from the podium at Barclays Center. “And we wanted to make sure he fulfilled at least this part of his dream.”
The big man from Fresno, California, bowed his head, took a deep breath and walked up to the stage. Up there, he wiped away tears, gave Silver a hug and put on a blue NBA hat as the crowd chanted his name.
Don’t pick me! Don’t pick me!
Money can’t buy happiness.
And neither can a professional career. Just ask Zach LaVine.
While virtually every player wore an ear-to-ear smile after they were selected, LaVine seemed genuinely upset when the Timberwolves took him at No. 13, even mouthing a curse word to himself. His agent said the former UCLA star’s “f— me” was just expressing relief. Right.