Count Denver Nuggets forward Quincy Miller among those felt a sense of pride when Isaiah Austin walked across the stage and shook hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on draft night.
Four days after learning that a genetic disorder would not allow him to pursue his NBA dream, Austin was recognized when Silver made him an honorary draft pick during the first round.
“For me, I was just happy to see him get to walk across the stage and get that experience,” Miller said. “I know Isaiah personally. I know he’s a great kid and how hard he works and how much he loves the game.”
While playing at Baylor University in 2011-12, Miller was Austin’s host during a recruiting visit. The two also knew each other from workouts in the Dallas area.
Austin, a 7-foot-1 center, left Baylor after his sophomore season to enter the NBA draft, but he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome while going through predraft medical testing. Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition that weakens the body’s connective tissue and can be life-threatening.