This was far and away the highlight of the NBA Draft last night. Isaiah Austin was a lock to be drafted into the NBA coming out Baylor, but was diagnosed with Marfan’s Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that guaranteed he would never play basketball again. Instead of just saying ‘oh well, tough luck”, Adam Silver decided to spotlight Austin, and in an extremely classy gesture, made him an honorary draft pick for the NBA. If you need to know how much this meant to Austin, just look at how he breaks down when Silver announces he’s been drafted by the NBA. This is a kid, like every other athlete in the room, who has been busting his ass, basically dedicating his life to his sport, in the HOPES that maybe, with an extreme amount of luck, he would have his name announced on draft night. To have that dream cut short and be completely out of your hands must be devastating. This move by the NBA and Adam Silver doesn’t change any of that, but it sure must’ve felt good to get the support he greatly deserves.

– Ryan