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June 23, 2017

Perhaps Thursday night was a disappointment for O.G. Anunoboy.

He was expecting a Lamborghini, after all. but had to settle for a Rolls Royce.

Some of life's disappointments are more significant than others.

Once again proving the experts don't always have much expertise, Anunoby --- a 2015 graduate of Jefferson City High School --- fell to 23rd in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night in New York, going to the Toronto Raptors.

But let's put this in perspective.

In a world of 7 billion people, Anunoby will likely be one of the 449 players on an opening day NBA roster. You could say this puts O.G. in elite company ---- as in, 0.00000006 percent of the world population is good enough to play in the NBA.

Anunoby missed the last 15 games of his sophomore season with the Indiana Hoosiers when he suffered a right knee injury in January. Certainly, it damaged more than just his ACL, this hurt his bank account.

Before the injury, Anunoby was projected to be a Lottery pick, meaning a top-seven selection. Then, he was projected to go in the middle of the first round, before finally being taken at No. 23 --- even though doctors insist he'll make a full recovery.

What's it mean?Here are this year's rookie salary cap numbers:

*** No. 7 pick, $3.2 million

*** 15th pick, $2 million

*** 23rd pick. $1.4 million

"I think it effected my draft," Anunoby told NBA TV on Thursday night, "but everything happens for a reason. I'm happy to be playing for the Raptors now."

The 6-8, 230-pound Anunoby can be an explosive offensive threat and is a shut-down defender. His other strengths?

"My personality, my character, how hard working I am," Anunoby said, "and how much I care about the team."

During a mock draft on NBA TV earlier this week, their "experts" had Anunoby going 16th to the Chicago Bulls.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that Indiana fell apart after this guy got hurt," David Aldridge said. "I think he's a guy who can help you win basketball games in the NBA."

Said Sekou Smith: "Before he got hurt, he was one of the fastest-rising guys in this year's draft. I would have loved to see how he finished the season and how this Indiana team finished the season. I think it would have been a totally different outcome for (Indiana coach) Tom Crean who, of course, is no longer there."

The Hoosiers went 5-10 down the stretch without Anunoby, ending with a first-round loss in the NIT. Crean was fired two days later.

But now, the future. Thursday night was a dream come true for Anunoby, who was in New York attending the draft. It's a dream he's had since he was 7.

One sentence changed his life.

With the 23rd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select O.G. Anunoby from Indiana University.

Lower than expected, perhaps. But take a look at a few guys who were taken in the second round of the draft and enjoyed fairly good careers.

Manu Ginobli, Dennis Rodman, Draymond Green and (the other) Isaiah Thomas, the present-day superstar of the Boston Celtics.

Having had the pleasure to get to know Anunoby (who's been unavailable for comment since the draft), he will not look at Thursday night as a disappointment.

Like his defensive stance, it will be a time to dig in. Deep. It was a time to be thankful, for this was a life-changing moment he'll never forget.

Rest assured, he'll make the most of it.

Look for Anunoby to make most
of this opportunity with Raptors

Loeffler's Link

The next stop in the basketball career of O.G. Anunoby is with the Toronto Raptors.