Story Published: Jun 25, 2009 at 4:13 PM PST
Story Updated: Jun 25, 2009 at 4:13 PM PST
Blake Griffin, from Oklahoma, smiles during a news interview after being picked as the No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
NEW YORK (AP) - The Los Angeles Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the No. 1 pick Thursday night, grabbing the only player considered a sure thing in a draft full of question marks.
Griffin was the consensus college player of the year after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for Oklahoma. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the pick hours after they won the draft lottery last month.
The Memphis Grizzlies then grabbed Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, a dominant rebounder and shot blocker who doesn't have strong offensive skills.
After the two big men, the rest of the first round was expected to be dominated by point guards, with perhaps 10 or more expected to go in the top 30 picks.
The draft followed a busy day of trades in the NBA. A deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside LeBron James in Cleveland was completed earlier Thursday, and Eastern Conference champion Orlando acquired Vince Carter from the Nets in a swap completed shortly before the first pick was made.
Oklahoma City had the No. 3 pick.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
