Nerlens Noel: Teams Will Regret Not Picking Me

Heading into the 2013 NBA Draft Nerlens Noel was favored to go with the No. 1 pick. When he was passed up in favor of Anthony Bennett, the Kentucky alum was a sure thing to go No. 2. But then he kept falling.

Noel was taken with the 6th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. Of course, that didn’t last long since the Pelicans only drafted Noel for leverage and would end up trading him within minutes to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jrue Holliday and another draft pick.

Noel’s draft did not go as he expected and college basketball’s best defensive player plans on making the team’s that passed him up regret their decision.

Noel said: “Oh yeah, I’m going to make them pay … In a few years down the road, when I am established in the NBA, I’ll say this is the night that gave me motivation that I needed to be the player that I wanted to be.”

It’s a little too early to tell if Nerlens Noel will become “established” in the NBA but the young center is definitely headed to the 76ers with a chip on his shoulder.

Michael Carter-Williams, who grew up alongside Noel and will now be playing next to him in Philadelphia (Carter-Williams was taken with the 11th pick), said that Noel will be working extra hard to become one of the NBA’s great shot blockers.

Carter-Williams said: “It was meant to be. I am sure he has a chip on his shoulder now, and who knows, maybe that’s what he needs for him to be great in the NBA.”

[Image Via Kentucky Sports Radio]