Fulfilling a dream
Austin's emotional moment headlines 2014 NBA draft
Just days after a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome ended former Baylor basketball star Isaiah Austin’s dream of playing professionally, the NBA made sure that Austin would still get to hear his name called on draft night.
In what many sports writers across the country dubbed as the best moment of the June draft, and perhaps one of the most memorable moments in the draft’s history, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver interrupted draft night proceedings to make a special announcement, “drafting” Austin and bringing worldwide attention to his story.
“With the next pick in the 2014 NBA Draft,” Silver proclaimed, “the NBA selects Isaiah Austin from Baylor University.” Wiping away tears, Austin received an extended standing ovation from the crowd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The Friday before the draft, Lisa Green, Austin’s mother, quickly assembled a support group of family, pastor, mentors, coaches and friends to be with him when she told Austin of the diagnosis. Within 48 hours, Austin, expected to be an early pick in the draft, shared the news of his career-ending diagnosis with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe.
News of Austin’s condition spread quickly throughout Baylor Nation, which offered widespread support and prayers. It also caught the attention of Silver, who invited Austin to be the commissioner’s special guest at the NBA draft in addition to calling his name and inviting him on stage for the memorable honor.
Austin told ESPN that the honor was one of the biggest blessings of his life.
“When God closes one door, He opens up another for you,” said Austin, who continues to share his story. He has made appearances on all major news networks and has been the subject of numerous articles. The Marfan Foundation website experienced much higher than usual traffic following Austin’s announcement.
Before the draft, Austin and the Marfan Foundation teamed up to offer T-shirts bearing his likeness and the words Dream Again with proceeds benefiting the organization. See www.isaiah-austin.com for more information.
Marfan syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to problems in connective tissues throughout the body. One feature of Marfan syndrome is aortic enlargement, which can be life-threatening. According to The Marfan Foundation, about one in 5,000 people have Marfan syndrome. For more information, visit www.marfan.org.
A 7-foot-1 center from Arlington, Texas, Austin revealed during his sophomore season that he is blind in his right eye as a result of a detached retina suffered as a teenager. He was expected to be the first to ever play in the NBA while partially blind.
Austin played two seasons at Baylor before declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft. He played in 73 games (72 starts) and averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. Austin finished his Baylor career tied for second on the school’s all-time blocked shots list with 177, and his 119 blocks as a sophomore led the Big 12 Conference. Baylor went a combined 49-26 during his two-year career, winning the 2013 NIT Championship and advancing to the 2014 NCAA Sweet 16.