By Nick Gallo | Broadcast and Digital Editor | okcthunder.com
It was getting late. Aaron Wiggins, watching the 2021 NBA Draft in his hometown of Greensboro, N.C., was feeling the uncertainty and the tension of the moment.
When NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum starts rattling off the selections and the early 50’s come around, many prospects begin to wonder if their name will get called at all. Each year, 60 of the brightest young players from across the world are selected by an NBA team at the draft, while dozens more are signed on two-way deals, as free agents and on summer league contracts. Being drafted is no guarantee of any more NBA success than a player who went undrafted, but there’s something surreal and special about hearing your name called by Tatum or NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who announces the first-round picks.
Finally, on that late July night in 2021, Tatum strode to the podium at Barclays Center and said, “With the 55th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selects Aaron Wiggins from the University of Maryland.”
“So many emotions around that night,” said Wiggins. “Once I finally got the phone call from my agent and he said OKC was drafting me – a lot of smiles, a lot of tears with me and my family.”
Wiggins was one of four players selected by the Thunder in the 2021 Draft and was subsequently signed to a two-way contract so that he could freely be called back and forth to the Thunder’s G League squad, the Oklahoma City Blue. Alongside Josh Giddey at number 6, Tre Mann at 18 and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl at 32, Wiggins became part of an impressive rookie class that combined to make 151 NBA starts in the 2021-22 season. The quartet helped to catalyze the organization forward with another big step into a new future while still bringing the types of attributes the Thunder has valued for the last decade and a half.
“The core stuff we've always looked for is pretty consistent,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Every one of those guys came a different way. There are certain guys that were really locked in and there were other guys that kind of caught us. Wiggins really caught us during the draft process. He really impressed people with his first interview in Chicago.”
The impact the four drafted rookies made was remarkable, including Wiggins’ promotion to a full-time NBA contract, Mann averaging nearly 16 points per game after the All-Star Break, Robinson-Earl racking up nine games with three or more made3-pointers and Giddey winning four consecutive Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards.
Less than a year after their draft night, as they reminisced on the experience, they still felt in awe of the life changing moment. They also doled out some advice to the incoming class of Thunder rookies. The organization holds four of the top 34 selections in the 2022 NBA Draft (Thursday, June 23), including the second, 12th, 30th and 34th overall selections to utilize how the front office best sees fit.
At the 2021 Draft, Giddey was in the green room at Barclays Center and said that for the few minutes after he heard his name he was in a daze of euphoria, unable to remember anything until after the moment he shook Silver’s hand.
“One of the best nights of my life. When Adam Silver calls your name, your life changes,” said Giddey. “If I could relive any day in my life, I think it would be the draft.”
A dozen picks later, Silver called Mann’s name, but he wasn’t there to shake hands. He was close by though, in New York with his family. After a game of pool with his dad and some time to celebrate, Mann did what came most natural to him – he hit the gym. Ball in hand, Mann got some late-night shots up, practicing what he would later preach to the Thunder’s incoming 2022 draft class:
“For them coming in, I'd say get ready to work,” said Mann. “Take advantage of it. Have fun.”
For the Thunder’s two second round picks, Robinson-Earl and Wiggins, the upcoming draft is a reminder of just what a whirlwind an NBA player’s rookie year can be. Playing an 82-game schedule for the first time, traveling to new arenas and squaring off against unique opponents all while trying to develop individually and as a team can make the time fly by.
“I hear a lot of veterans and guys who have already retired say it'll go by fast, don't take it for granted,” said Wiggins. “You’ve got to really approach every day and attack every day.”
“It's crazy how fast the season went by,” said Robinson-Earl. “It was just being grateful to be in an opportunity where it's a young team, there's a lot of opportunity and experience and just being able to take advantage of that and grow.”
Fortunately, all four members of the Thunder’s 2021 draft class made the most of their chances, gained invaluable experience and leaned into the program fully from a physical and mental standpoint. They’ve all got solid ground under their feet now and will be in position to welcome in the newcomers from the 2022 draft with open arms.
“We have a really good rookie class from this past season that will help guide those guys, guys that literally were in their shoes last year,” said Robinson-Earl.