The 2021 National Basketball Association draft took place on Thursday, and Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State was selected first overall. The point guard from Arlington, Texas became the third player in NBA history to be drafted first overall by the Detroit Pistons. He followed shooting guard Jimmy Walker of Amherst, Virginia, who was selected by the Pistons first overall in the 1967 NBA Draft after playing his collegiate basketball at Providence, and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier of Buffalo, New York, who was selected by the Pistons first overall in the 1970 NBA Draft, after playing his collegiate basketball at St. Bonaventure.
Cunningham is also the first player ever from Oklahoma State to be drafted first overall. The highest player selected in the NBA Draft from Oklahoma State prior to Cunningham was Bob Harris of Linden, Tennessee, who was drafted third overall by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1949 NBA Draft.
One of the biggest surprises from the first round was the fact that the Toronto Raptors did not select Gonzaga Bulldogs freshman Jalen Suggs with the fourth overall pick. There was a lot of speculation Suggs would be the player taken at number four, but the Raptors decided on Florida State freshman power forward Scottie Barnes instead. The Orlando Magic then scooped up Suggs with the fifth overall pick.
Then with the sixth overall pick, it was a joyful moment for Australian basketball, as the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Josh Giddey of Melbourne sixth overall out of the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League. Giddey was the first player born outside the United States selected.
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