From unheralded bench player to national player of the year to NBA Draft lottery pick; Frank Kaminsky’s unlikely journey to the pros is complete.
With the ninth pick in Thursday night’s draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected the Wisconsin big man, making him the first Badger to be picked in the top 10 since the Dallas Mavericks took Devin Harris at No. 5 in 2004.
Just five UW players had been picked in the first round prior to Thursday night, including two who played under head coach Bo Ryan.
Kaminsky, who won the Wooden Award as the country’s best player this past season, averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, leading the Badgers in each of those categories. He also led the team in both shooting percentage (54.7) and 3-point shooting percentage (41.6).
Kaminsky is just the second player in UW history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in his career, and he also recorded a school-record 153 blocks during his time in Madison.
His NBA career will begin on a team that’s co-owned by the legendary Michael Jordan, which is a big deal for Kaminsky, who grew up outside of Chicago.
“Michael Jordan is everything there,” he said during his interview with ESPN. “He still is. I had all his posters on my wall. Space Jam's my favorite movie. Crazy to think he thought highly enough of me to take me ninth in the draft.”
He joins a Hornets team that finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference.
But now, Kaminsky will try and help Charlotte reverse its fortunes. Like any other player, it remains to be seen how his game will translate to the pro game, but he’s hopeful that his four years of experience and development in Madison will help make that transition easier.
“Having to go through some tough times in college really made me better,” Kaminsky said. “I had a great last year in college and it really propelled me in the NBA draft. Going top 10? That's something I never thought I would be doing.”
