2001 NBA draft

Kwame Brown became the first high school player to be drafted with the first overall pick in the history of the NBA.

The selection of Kwame Brown by the Washington Wizards, over players that have gone on to have more successful NBA careers, has been a source of great criticism by numerous media outlets.

[1] Several international players from this draft, Pau Gasol (Spain), Tony Parker (France) and Mehmet Okur (Turkey), became NBA All-Stars.

The Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round pick due to salary cap violations.

This year would officially mark the very first year where the number of underclassmen that declared their entry into the NBA draft would exceed the number of selections made with 75 players that fit the underclassmen criteria declaring their initial entry for the NBA draft.

Kwame Brown was selected 1st overall by the Washington Wizards .
Tyson Chandler was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Chicago Bulls ).
Pau Gasol was selected 3rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks (traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies ).
Joe Johnson was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics .
Zach Randolph was selected 19th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers .
Gerald Wallace was selected 25th overall by the Sacramento Kings .
Tony Parker was selected 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs .
Gilbert Arenas was selected 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors .
Mehmet Okur was selected 38th overall by the Detroit Pistons .