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| 2011 NBA draft | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2011 NBA draft |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | June 23, 2011 |
| Location | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey |
| Commissioner | David Stern |
| First | Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers) |
| Overall | 60 |
2011 NBA draft was the selection event where National Basketball Association franchises chose eligible amateur and international basketball players. Held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the draft featured prospects from Duke University, University of Kentucky, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and international programs such as FC Barcelona Bàsquet and Real Madrid Baloncesto. The draft produced multiple NBA All-Stars, NBA Rookie of the Year Award contenders, and several impactful international players.
The draft order was determined in part by the NBA draft lottery involving teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Bobcats, and Sacramento Kings. Franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, and Dallas Mavericks jockeyed via prior trades for picks used in the lottery. The lottery results set picks for organizations like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves that led to selections affecting personnel involving figures such as Danny Ferry and David Kahn.
Notable college underclassmen declared from programs like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, and University of Florida included players represented by agents from firms connected to National Basketball Players Association. International early entrants hailed from clubs such as KK Partizan and Panathinaikos B.C., adding prospects with prior experience against EuroLeague competition. The class included former McDonald's All-Americans, NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament participants, and players who had withdrawn or remained eligible under CBA regulations.
Prospects attended the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Illinois, performing measurements, medical evaluations, and athletic testing observed by scouts from franchises like the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Brooklyn Nets. Individual workouts took place at team facilities including the Cleveland Clinic Courts and training sites of the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks. Media coverage by outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The New York Times amplified interviews with players who had ties to institutions like Syracuse and Villanova.
The top picks included players selected by franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, and Sacramento Kings. High-profile draftees came from collegiate programs including Duke and Kentucky, as well as international clubs such as Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. and Anadolu Efes S.K.. Organizations announced selections amid appearances by executives including Danny Ainge, Pat Riley, Billy King, and coaches representing the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.
Numerous draft-night trades involved front offices like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves and included packages of picks tied to earlier moves by the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. Trades affected rosters of the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors, altering the rights to draftees and future draft considerations. Transactions invoked the authority of the NBA Board of Governors and were reported by journalists from The Washington Post and USA Today.
Several prospects who went undrafted later signed with teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks. Undrafted players from programs like Gonzaga, Iowa State, and St. John's earned NBA G League opportunities and two-way contracts that linked them to franchises including the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers.
The class produced multiple NBA All-Star selections, All-NBA Team honorees, and contributors to championship rosters of franchises such as the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Front office decisions by figures like Chris Grant, Flip Saunders, and Gerald Henderson Sr. were evaluated in light of player development narratives involving coaching staffs from the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. International scouting gains were highlighted by clubs including FC Barcelona Bàsquet and Real Madrid Baloncesto as former international draftees established roles in the NBA and EuroLeague.