As expected, the Washington Wizards selected Kentucky guard John Wall with the first pick of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Wall, who became the first UK player ever selected with the first overall pick in a NBA draft, stood immediately when his name was called. He buttoned his suit coat, kissed a young woman at his table, took a Wizards’ cap, hugged his mother and then headed for the stage.
Never smiling, Wall approached NBA Commissioner David Stern and shook his hand. Something Stern said made him smile. Maybe Stern noted that the Wizards last overall No. 1 pick in a NBA Draft was a big bust, Kwame Brown.
Or maybe Stern let Wall know that the NBA rookie salary cap calls for a $4,286,900 salary next season and another $4,608,400 in 2011-12.
Then Wall left the stage to begin a round of interviews.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
