WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The players drafted before Steph Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft
Cork Gaines
- The 2009 NBA Draft was a deep class with multiple future MVPs and several players who will likely go on to the Hall of Fame.
- But the class of the draft turned out to be Stephen Curry despite being passed over six times, including one team that drafted two point guards not named Curry.
- While it is not unusual for an NBA all-time great to slip past the first pick in the NBA Draft, it is strange to see a talent like Curry not be drafted until six other players have come off the board.
1. Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Power forward
College: University of Oklahoma
What was said at the time: "Griffin has some holes. He'll be beat defensively. He isn't the sturdiest in the low post, as he tends to fall to his left or right when he should be jumping straight up for jump hooks. The same glitch hurts his jump shot. He isn't 7-feet tall, either. And that's about it. The guy is a stud." — Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports
Where Griffin is now.
All-Star games: 6
All-NBA team: 2nd team (three times), 3rd team (two times)
Championships: 0
Where he is now: Not all of the picks ahead of Curry were busts. There are a couple who were not mistakes at all, including Griffin, who has been an All-Star six times in 13 seasons. After 7.5 seasons with the Clippers, Griffin played for the Pistons, Nets, and is now a backup with the Celtics.
2. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies
Position: Center
College: UConn
What was said at the time: "I am not a huge fan of Thabeet but understand why the Grizzlies went that way. Ricky Rubio wasn't cooperating, and Thabeet can help the Grizzlies, who needed a big, athletic shot-blocker. He is limited offensively, but he can change the game on defense." — Chad Ford of ESPN.com
Where Thabeet is now.
All-Star games: 0
All-NBA team: 0
Championships: 0
Where he is now: Thabeet played for four NBA teams in five seasons, which doesn't include his two stints in the D-League. Thabeet hasn't played in the NBA since the 2013-14 season and was last seen being ejected from a Summer League game. The 7-foot-3 center worked out for several NBA teams in 2019 in an attempt to make a comeback. Now he is playing in China.
3. James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Shooting guard
College: Arizona State
What was said at the time: "While I thought the Thunder might be able to use Ricky Rubio as a trade asset, if nothing else, it's hard to fault Sam Presti. Harden is a better fit in the backcourt with Russell Westbrook" — Chad Ford of ESPN.com
Where Harden is now.
All-Star games: 10
All-NBA team: 1st team (six times), 3rd team (one time)
Championships: 0
Where he is now: After being traded to Houston, Harden thrived in the Rockets' offense. He was the 2017-18 MVP and is a two-time scoring champ. However, after a falling out with the Rockets, Harden struggled to fit in with the Nets and now the 76ers.
4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
Position: Shooting guard
College: University of Memphis
What was said at the time: "Evans is a talented guy and one of the most NBA-ready guards in the draft, a terrific, physical slasher who knows how to score ... On the other hand, I think the Kings chose the safest route, picking now over the future. Ricky Rubio was a better fit than Evans, who is a not a point guard." — Chad Ford of ESPN.com
Where Evans is now.
All-Star games: 0
All-NBA team: 0
Championships: 0
Where he is now: Despite all of the other great talents in this draft, it was Evans who won Rookie of the Year. However, after averaging 20.2 points as a rookie, his scoring numbers regressed a bit and he bounced around a bit. After stints with the Pelicans, Kings, and Grizzlies, he last played in the NBA in 2019. He most recently played in the G League with Wisconsin.
5. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Position: Point guard
College: None
What was said at the time: "Processes the game a step ahead of everybody else. Anticipation makes him a prolific distributor and ball thief. Sets up his teammates for easy baskets by leading them to the ball. Creates his own angles to open up passing lanes. Superb ball-handler." — NBA.com.
Where Rubio is now.
All-Star games: 0
All-NBA team: 0
Championships: 0
Where he is now: This is where things started to get wonky in the draft. With doubts about whether Stephen Curry could play the point in the NBA, the Timberwolves drafted Rubio, a good passer and solid defender but not a good shooter. On top of that, he spent two more years in Europe before coming to the NBA. After six seasons with the Timberwolves, he was traded to the Jazz. He has since bounced around with several teams, most recently being traded mid-season to the Pacers after just 34 games with the Cavs and then re-signing with the Cavs before the 2022-23 season.
6. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
Position: Point guard
College: Syracuse
What was said at the time: "Rubio and Flynn might have been the two best point guards in the draft. But to fall in love with them both and actually take them both amounts to point guard polygamy." — Chad Ford of ESPN.com
Where Flynn is now.
All-Star games:
All-NBA team:
Championships:
Where he is now: The Timberwolves doubled-down on point guards not named Stephen. Flynn was demoted to the D-League mid-way through his second season and hasn't played in the NBA since the 2011-2012 season when he suited up 18 times for the Portland Trail Blazers. He was last seen playing for a team in Italy in 2014. However, that stint lasted just two games as he was released after getting injured.
7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Position: Point guard
College: Davidson
What was said at the time: "Curry may or may not (rumors lean toward the latter, at this point) be on his way to Phoenix in a deal that would net the Warriors Amar'e Stoudemire. Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter that Monta Ellis might be unhappy with Golden State selecting a player with a frame similar to his. If Monta Ellis has enough sway in your organization to call shots, then your organization is shot. Curry can play. Figure the rest out later." — Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo Sports
Where Curry is now.
All-Star games: 8
All-NBA team: 1st team (four times), 2nd team (three times), 3rd team (one time)
Championships: 4
Where he is now: Curry is now one of the greatest basketball players on the planet. He has won two MVP awards and helped lead the Warriors to six NBA Finals and four championships. Curry said during an interview with Bill Simmons that he heard the Timberwolves were afraid to draft him because they were worried that he would be miserable if he couldn't play a lot of golf in the cold northern climate.
(BONUS) 8. Jordan Hill, New York Knicks
Position: Power forward
College: Arizona
What was said at the time: "The fans booed, but Hill is a great value here, a true power forward who is an upgrade from Al Harrington at the position. He's got the ability to become an absolute stud, and at the least should be a poor man's Jermaine O'Neal." — NBADraftNet.com.
Where Hill is now.
All-Star games: 0
All-NBA team: 0
Championships: 0
Where he is now: We include Jordan Hill here because it was believed at the time that the Knicks wanted to draft Stephen Curry and Curry wanted to play for the Knicks. Instead of trading up, the Knicks made the mistake of staying put, only to see Curry go one pick before they were on the board. Hill was later part of the trade that sent Tracy McGrady to the Knicks. Hill later became a good role player off the bench, playing with five teams in eight seasons but never became a regular starter. He last appeared in the NBA in 2017 with the Timberwolves.
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