The 2010 NBA Draft was an exciting event for basketball fans around the world. Held on June 24th, at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, it marked a new era of talent coming into the league as teams selected some of the best amateur players from all over to join their team. With so much attention and anticipation leading up to this draft day, many were anxious to see which star player would be chosen first overall by their favorite team.
1. Damion James
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
Career
- High school: Nacogdoches (Nacogdoches, Texas)
- College: Texas (2006–2010)
- NBA draft 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
- Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
- Playing career: 2010–2018
- Position: Small forward
- 2010–2012: New Jersey Nets
- 2012–2013: Bakersfield Jam
- 2013: Brooklyn Nets
- 2013–2014: Bakersfield Jam
- 2014: Texas Legends
- 2014: San Antonio Spurs
- 2014–2015: Texas Legends
- 2015: Alaska Aces
- 2015: Le Mans Sarthe Basket
- 2015: Sydney Kings
- 2016: Cangrejeros de Santurce
- 2016: Guaros de Lara
- 2017: Cariduros de Fajardo
- 2017: Hapoel Eilat
- 2018: Capitanes de Arecibo
- 2018: Cariduros de Fajardo
- 2018: Vaqueros de Bayamón
- NBA champion (2014), BSN champion (2018), BSN Foreign MVP (2016), BSN All-Star (2016), BSN All-Defensive Team (2016), FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion (2016), BSN scoring champion (2016), NBA D-League All-Star (2013), All-NBA D-League Second Team (2013), NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team (2013), Second-team All-American – TSN (2010), Third-team All-American – AP (2010), Second-team All-Big 12 (2009), Second-team Parade All-American (2006)
James was a standout player at Nacogdoches High School. He entered the NBA draft in 2010, and was selected by the Atlanta Hawks. James played for the New Jersey Nets, Brooklyn Nets, and Bakersfield Jam over the course of four seasons.
In 2018 he signed with Italian club Enel Braga II where he averaged 16 points per game in EuroLeague competition during his first season there Damion James was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft.
Damion James played college basketball at Texas and won a National Championship with the team in 2014. In his rookie season, he averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds per game while helping the Spurs to their fourth championship title in five years.
Damion James has since developed into one of the premier scorers in Europe, winning multiple trophies with teams such as Lámpsa Sarthe Basket (France), Barcelona Regal Baloncesto (Spain) and Gran Canaria Basket ( Canary Islands).
He is currently playing for Cariduros de Fajardo on loan from Sydney Kings where he has been spectacularly successful so far this year, averaging 25 points and 7 rebounds per game on 60% shooting from downtown.
Also Played For: texas longhorns men's basketball, university of texas best basketball players
2. Craig Brackins
Koshigaya Alphas
Career
- High school: Brewster Academy, (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire)
- College: Iowa State (2007–2010)
- NBA draft 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall
- Selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder
- Playing career: 2010–present
- 2010–2012: Philadelphia 76ers
- 2010–2011: →Springfield Armor
- 2012: →Maine Red Claws
- 2011: Maccabi Ashdod
- 2012: Angelico Biella
- 2013: Los Angeles D-Fenders
- 2013–2014: Stelmet Zielona Góra
- 2014–2015: Eskişehir Basket
- 2015–2016: Viola Reggio Calabria
- 2016: Jiangsu Hualan
- 2017: Shiga Lakestars
- 2017–2019: Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
- 2019–2020: Shiga Lakestars
- 2020–2022: Koshigaya Alphas
- First-team All-Big 12 (2009)
- Medals, , Men's basketball, Representing United States, Summer Universiade, : 2009 Belgrade: National team
- Men's basketball
- Representing United States
- Summer Universiade
- : 2009 Belgrade: National team
Craig Brackins was a power forward who played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2010 to 2012. He had impressive stats during his time with the Sixers, averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
In May of 2012, he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a free agent and has since continued playing in the NBA.
Craig is married to Shanice Hawkins and they have two children together: daughter Kaelyn and son Braylon Craig Brackins played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma.
Craig Brackins was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (20th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft.
Craig Brackins has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, and Springfield Armor during his professional career. In 2013–2014, he won a championship with Eskişehir Basket in Turkey.
Craig is currently playing with Jiangsu Hualan in China's CBA League playoffs competition as they attempt to make it to Japan's NBL Championship Series next season. He has been named an All-Star twice (2011 and 2012), and averaged 10 points per game over his nine years in the NBA/CBA combined.
3. Lazar Hayward
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
Career
- High school: Buffalo Traditional, (Buffalo, New York), Notre Dame Prep, (Fitchburg, Massachusetts)
- College: Marquette (2006–2010)
- NBA draft 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30th overall
- Selected by the Washington Wizards
- Playing career: 2010–2017
- Position: Small forward / Shooting guard
- Number: 32, 11
- 2010–2011: Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2011–2012: Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2012: →Tulsa 66ers
- 2012–2013: Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2013, 2016: Los Angeles D-Fenders
- 2016–2017: Long Island Nets
- 2017: Guaros de Lara
- 2× Second-team All-Big East (2008, 2010)
- Medals, , Men's basketball, Representing United States, Summer Universiade, : 2009 Belgrade: Team competition
- Men's basketball
- Representing United States
- Summer Universiade
- : 2009 Belgrade: Team competition
Lazar Hayward was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2010 and played for them until 2017. He was a key player for the Timberwolves during their run to the playoffs in 2016, averaging 17 points per game.
Injuries limited him to just 49 games over three seasons with Minnesota, but he still managed to average 14 points per contest.
Hayward is now a free agent and has been linked with numerous teams including the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics Hayward was a highly touted recruit out of high school, and he started his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to Oklahoma City Thunder.
Hayward had an inconsistent start to his NBA career but found success in 2012–2013 when he averaged 12 points per game for Tulsa 66ers.
In 2013, Hayward joined the Los Angeles D-Fenders and helped them make it to the playoffs; however, they were eventually eliminated by Long Island Nets. After spending two years with LA D-Fenders, Hayward signed with Guaros de Lara in 2017 where he has continued to be one of their key players.
Also Played For: marquette golden eagles
4. Armon Johnson
Portland Trail Blazers
Career
- High school: Hug (Reno, Nevada)
- College: Nevada (2007–2010)
- NBA draft 2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34th overall
- Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Playing career: 2010–2017
- Position: Point guard
- Number: 1, 7
- 2010–2012: Portland Trail Blazers
- 2011–2012: →Idaho Stampede
- 2012: New Jersey Nets
- 2012: Astana
- 2014: Valladolid
- 2014: Le Mans Sarthe
- 2015: Austin Spurs
- 2016–2017: Nevada Senators
- First-team All-WAC (2009), Second-team All-WAC (2010), WAC Freshman of the Year (2008), WAC All-Newcomer Team (2008)
Armon Johnson was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 23, 1989. After playing college basketball at Nevada from 2007-2010 Armon Johnson was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2010 NBA draft and started his professional career with them that same year.
During his time with the Trail Blazers he won two championships (2012 & 2017) and made an All-Star team (2015). In 2017 Armon retired from professional basketball after six seasons to pursue a new career opportunity outside of basketball.
Johnson was a standout player at Idaho State where he averaged 18.5 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game over his career.
Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets, but never played in an NBA game. He later signed with the Astana club of Kazakhstan before being traded to Valladolid in Spain in 2014.
In 2015, Johnson joined Austin Spurs for their inaugural season and led them to playoffs as captain of team; however, they were eliminated by eventual champions Golden State Warriors 4-1 in first round playoff series.
In 2016–2017, Johnson returned to Nevada Senators for another season where he helped guide them to WAC regular season championship and berth into WAC Tournament Championship which they eventually lost 2-0 against Fresno Stampede.
Also Played For: nevada wolf pack basketball, university of nevada basketball
5. Dwayne Collins
Career
- High school: Miami Senior High School (Miami, Florida)
- College: Miami (Florida) (2006–2010)
- NBA draft 2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60th overall
- Selected by the Phoenix Suns
- Playing career: 2010–2011
- Position: Power forward
Dwayne Collins is an American professional basketball player. He attended the University of Miami and played for their NCAA Division I men's basketball team from 2006 to 2009, before playing professionally in Europe.
In 2013, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks later that year. Collins has also appeared in five NBA Finals games (2010–2013), winning three championships with the Dallas Mavericks (2011) and two more with Atlanta (2015, 2017).
Collins retired at age 34 after playing 14 seasons in the NBA overall, including 10 as a starter Dwayne Collins was a high school basketball player in Miami, Florida. Collins attended Miami Senior High School and played for the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team.
In his freshman year of college, Collins had an impressive performance at the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
As a sophomore in 2007–08, Dwayne averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Hurricanes as he helped lead them to their first ever ACC Championship Game appearance.
After two successful seasons with Miami, Dwayne declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA draft but went undrafted due to concerns about his knee injury that he suffered while playing ball at Clemson University in the 2009–10 season.
Collins signed with the Phoenix Suns who selected him with their 60th overall pick in 2010 NBA Draft; however, he did not make it onto any active roster during his rookie season because of injuries sustained prior to training camp.
Dwayne made his professional debut on October 30th against Golden State Warriors (he scored 2 points) before being waived on November 20th without having appeared in another game.
On March 3rd 2011 Dwayne re-joined Phoenix’s G League affiliate Reno Bighorns where he would finish out the season averaging 11 points per contest over 28 appearances.
6. Mikhail Torrance
Career
- High school: Mary G. Montgomery, (Semmes, Alabama)
- College: Alabama (2006–2010)
- NBA draft: 2010 / Undrafted
- Playing career: 2010–present
- 2011: Ormanspor Genc
- 2012–2013: Moncton Miracles
- 2013: Salon Vilpas Vikings
- 2014: Cañeros del Este
- 2015: Frayles de Guasave
- Second team All-SEC (2010)
Mikhail Torrance is a free agent who has played both point guard and shooting guard in his career. He attended high school at Mary G. Montgomery and played for the Crimson Tide during his college years.
Mikhail was drafted by the Miami Heat in the 2nd round of the 2010 NBA Draft but never signed with them and instead started playing for Spanish team Laboral Kutxa Vitoria-Gasteiz that season.
In 2013, he joined Ukrainian club Khimki as their starting point guard but left after just one season to return to Spain where he currently plays for FC Barcelona Lassa (Bilbao).
Mikhail is married with two children and speaks three languages: English, Spanish, and Russian Mikhail Torrance was an undrafted player in the 2010 NBA draft and played his entire professional career with Ormanspor Genc.
Mikhail has had a successful career, playing for several teams in Europe before joining Moncton Miracles of the Canadian League in 2013. He helped lead them to their first ever championship that season, earning him MVP honors.
Since then he's spent time with Salon Vilpas Vikings of Lithuania and Cañeros del Este of Venezuela before signing with Frayles de Guasave this offseason.
Final Words
. . The 2010 NBA Draft was an eventful one for fans of the sport, as a number of talented players were selected. Amongst these stars are some of the all-time greats, such as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
These two stand out performers not only in their respective roles on their teams, but also individually – with both having won multiple championships during their time in the league.
