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The Daily OrangeFlynn selected No. 6 overall by Timberwolves in NBA Draft
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 6/25/09, 10:35 PM EST Section: Sports
NEW YORK - When Jonny Flynn announced he was leaving Syracuse and declaring for the NBA Draft, it didn't take long for the criticism to begin. Suddenly, everybody he knew doubled as his agent. Everyone had an opinion. Many of them who didn't hesitate to tell him they thought he was making a mistake.
The Orange was coming off a trip to the Sweet 16 and seemed poised to make a run at the national championship next season with Flynn remaining in the backcourt. That was about two months ago, when Flynn wasn't even considered a lottery pick. At the time, it seemed like he could benefit from another year of seasoning.
But Flynn didn't care. He never stopped believing his stock would rise, that he was ready to make the jump to the pro game. On Thursday night, he was proven right.
Flynn was selected with the No. 6 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves here at Madison Square Garden, officially closing the door on his two-year Syracuse career. After workouts and interviews for nine NBA teams during the last several weeks, Flynn propelled up the draft board and quickly became one of the most coveted players in a draft class laden with talented point guards.
He became the first Orange player to be picked in the top 15 since Carmelo Anthony, who went No. 3 overall in 2003 to the Denver Nuggets months after leading SU to its only national championship.
Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf, teammates of Flynn at Syracuse, were also eligible but both went undrafted.
"It's been a crazy ride over the past two months," Flynn said. "...It was definitely a roller coaster ride from then - from people telling you that you should stay in school, and them telling you you're making the wrong decision until now."
Though it seemed all but certain Flynn was going to be selected somewhere in the top 10, Minnesota was perhaps the most unlikely suitor. The Timberwolves took Ricky Rubio with the No. 5 pick immediately before choosing Flynn, and it didn't seem possible they would choose two point guards back-to-back.
The Orange was coming off a trip to the Sweet 16 and seemed poised to make a run at the national championship next season with Flynn remaining in the backcourt. That was about two months ago, when Flynn wasn't even considered a lottery pick. At the time, it seemed like he could benefit from another year of seasoning.
But Flynn didn't care. He never stopped believing his stock would rise, that he was ready to make the jump to the pro game. On Thursday night, he was proven right.
Flynn was selected with the No. 6 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves here at Madison Square Garden, officially closing the door on his two-year Syracuse career. After workouts and interviews for nine NBA teams during the last several weeks, Flynn propelled up the draft board and quickly became one of the most coveted players in a draft class laden with talented point guards.
He became the first Orange player to be picked in the top 15 since Carmelo Anthony, who went No. 3 overall in 2003 to the Denver Nuggets months after leading SU to its only national championship.
Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf, teammates of Flynn at Syracuse, were also eligible but both went undrafted.
"It's been a crazy ride over the past two months," Flynn said. "...It was definitely a roller coaster ride from then - from people telling you that you should stay in school, and them telling you you're making the wrong decision until now."
Though it seemed all but certain Flynn was going to be selected somewhere in the top 10, Minnesota was perhaps the most unlikely suitor. The Timberwolves took Ricky Rubio with the No. 5 pick immediately before choosing Flynn, and it didn't seem possible they would choose two point guards back-to-back.
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Billy D.
posted 6/26/09 @ 2:54 PM EST
I am THRILLED Devendorf and Harris didn't get drafted. They never should have declared. Good luck at Burger King, girls.
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