NBA Draft 2009:Just Because You Got Drafted...

Every young kid who picks up a ball and shoots hoops on the playground or in the schoolyard has dreams of one day playing in an arena in front of thousands under the bright lights.

It is a dream shared by many and realized by only a few.

And with the NBA Draft less than 24 hours away, 60 lucky young men will have their names called and subsequently get pro-ed and con-ed apart by has-beens in suits. And maybe only a handful of those 60 will actually really be a legit player in the league.

Newsflash to my dudes getting drafted: You haven't proved jack yet.

I mean I'm not an NBA caliber player, but I could school the average fool on the playground. But I knew since the 7th grade basketball wasn't taking me anywhere.

And I realized in the 10th grade, it didn't take even the best players that far either—when I played against Trajan Langdon in a pick up game at Lifetime Fitness.

Yes. The Alaskan Assassin. Playing with high schoolers.

I'll never forget it.

I mean he was good—made most of his shots, threw down a dunk, crossed a few kids—but he was playing at a local gym with high schoolers and college kids. Not to mention I hit him with the Shamgod and blew by him for two easy ones.

But back to the feature...

Look at the NBA Draft history over the years. So many good and even great college players get drafted and then never make anything of themselves in the NBA. And some of these players that get drafted weren't even that good in college!

Why?

Do NBA teams just figure that anyone drafted who isn't a lottery pick will never amount to anything, so hell, let's just draft your average Joe?

I mean seriously some bums get drafted.

I would love to sit here and throw out names to make us all laugh but I'm afraid I'll run out of room in this little text box.

There is so much to say and so little time so I'm not going to try or waste it.

All I'm saying is that we will all be excited for picks 1-through-60 tomorrow when in reality, in two-to-five years we will look back and scratch our heads asking ourselves "where are they now?"

Prognosticate and analyze all you want. Mock draft yourself till your mocked out.

The only sure thing about the NBA Draft is that more than half of those lucky suckers who get their name called will be hosting a basketball camp for a $75-per-camper fee at your local high school in a few years.

At least I can write for B/R for no compensation and keep my street cred on the courts.

Get educated draftees.