An all-time record five Kansas Jayhawks were selected in the 2008 NBA Draft June 26. The five KU players selected ties an NBA Draft two-round record with Connecticut in 2006 and Florida in 2007.
KU’s Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers went in the first 34 picks and were then part of separate proposed trades. Darnell Jackson was the 52nd overall choice of the Miami Heat and Sasha Kaun 56th to the Seattle Supersonics. Kaun, who was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, recently signed a pro contract at his home in Russia for a three-year commitment; Cleveland will have his NBA rights when that contract is complete.
Rush became the first Jayhawk selected as the 13th overall pick by the Portland Trailblazers. He was then part of a proposed trade to the Indiana Pacers. Arthur also was selected in the first round, going No. 27 to the New Orleans Hornets. The forward was first part of a proposed rights trade to the Portland Trailblazers and later traded to the Houston Rockets. Chalmers was taken early in the second round—No. 34 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then had his rights traded to the Miami Heat. Jackson also was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. All proposed trades must be approved by the NBA July 9.
Rush’s selection marks the second straight season a KU player was selected 13th overall. Julian Wright last year earned the same slot as the choice of the New Orleans Hornets.
The five Kansas selections in 2008 surpasses the previous high of three KU selections in 1969, 1971, 1981 and 1986.
Including four times in the past four years, Rush and Arthur are the sixth and seventh Jayhawks since 2002 to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. In addition, the 2008 draft marks the fourth time since the draft was reduced to two rounds that Kansas has had two first-round selections. The other years were 1997 – Scot Pollard and Jacque Vaughn, 1998 – Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce, and 2003 – Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich.
Former Jayhawks on NBA title roster for third-straight year
With the Boston Celtics claiming the 2008 NBA title, former KU men’s basketball players Paul Pierce and Scot Pollard give KU three straight years with a former Jayhawk winning an NBA title. In addition to Pierce and Pollard, KU legend Jo Jo White is the director of special projects for the champion Celtics.
Pollard and Pierce join former Jayhawks Jacque Vaughn of the 2007 champions San Antonio and Wayne Simien of the 2006 champions Miami Heat to have won an NBA title in each of the past three seasons. Additionally, the duo becomes the eighth and ninth Jayhawks to be on the NBA champions’ roster at season’s end, dating back to former KU legend Clyde Lovellette with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1954.
Pierce became the third Jayhawk to be named the MVP of the NBA Finals, joining Wilt Chamberlain with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972 and White with the Celtics in 1976.
KU players who have gone on to win NBA titles:
Clyde Lovellette (1950-’52 at KU), Minneapolis Lakers 1954;
Boston Celtics 1963 and 1964
Maurice King (1955-’57 at KU) Boston Celtics - 1960
Wilt Chamberlain (1957-’58 at KU) Philadelphia 76ers 1967; L.A. Lakers 1972
Jo Jo White (1966-’69 at KU) Boston Celtics 1974 and 1976
Bill Bridges (1959-’61 at KU) Golden State Warriors 1975
Wayne Simien (2002-’05 at KU) Miami Heat 2006
Jacque Vaughn (1994-’97 at KU) San Antonio Spurs 2007
Paul Pierce (1996-’98 at KU) Boston Celtics 2008
Scot Pollard (1994-’97 at KU) Boston Celtics 2008
Kansas NBA Finals Most Valuable Players:
Wilt Chamberlain 1972
Jo Jo White 1976
Paul Pierce 2008
