I remember sitting in my living room on that humid July evening, watching the 2021 NBA Draft unfold with the kind of anticipation that only basketball enthusiasts can understand. The air was thick with speculation – would Cade Cunningham really go first? How far would Jalen Suggs fall? As I watched the picks roll in, I couldn't help but think about that powerful quote from TNT center Poy Erram that had been circulating among basketball circles: "Kanina nung halftime, sabi lang niya na be accountable and don't look at the score." That mentality, I realized, perfectly encapsulated what these young prospects would need to survive in the brutal world of professional basketball.
The Detroit Pistons made the obvious but correct choice at number one, selecting Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State. At 6'8" with guard skills and a mature beyond-his-years basketball IQ, Cunningham represented the modern NBA prototype. I've watched countless prospects come through the draft, but there was something special about Cunningham's combination of size and skill that reminded me of a young Luka Dončić. The Houston Rockets followed by taking Jalen Green second overall, and here's where I'll express a personal bias – I thought Green had the highest ceiling in the entire draft. His athleticism was simply otherworldly, and having watched him in the G League bubble, I believed he could develop into a perennial All-Star if given the right development path.
What fascinated me about that night was how the draft unfolded in unexpected ways. The Toronto Raptors made what I considered the steal of the draft at number four with Scottie Barnes, passing on the more hyped Jalen Suggs. I remember texting my colleague during the pick, saying Barnes' versatility and defensive potential made him the perfect modern NBA forward. The Orlando Magic scooped up Suggs at five, getting what many considered a top-three talent later than expected. The middle of the first round saw some fascinating developments – the Golden State Warriors at seven took Jonathan Kuminga, another G League Ignite product, while the Sacramento Kings at nine selected Davion Mitchell, whose defensive tenacity had impressed me throughout Baylor's championship run.
As the night progressed into the late first round, I kept thinking about how these players would adapt to the NBA grind. That's where Erram's wisdom about accountability becomes crucial. These prospects were about to enter a world where halftime adjustments could make or break careers, where being accountable for your mistakes mattered more than natural talent. I've spoken with numerous NBA development coaches over the years, and they consistently emphasize that the players who succeed are those who take ownership of their development. Take Bones Hyland, selected 26th by the Denver Nuggets – his journey from overcoming personal tragedy to becoming a first-round pick exemplified the mental toughness required at this level.
The second round contained its usual share of hidden gems that I always find exciting to analyze. The Detroit Pistons grabbed Isaiah Livers at 42, a player I'd watched develop at Michigan into a reliable three-and-D wing. The Philadelphia 76ers selected Filip Petrušev at 50, a skilled big man whose rights they'd eventually trade, but who represented the kind of international depth that makes the NBA draft so fascinating. What many casual fans don't realize is that second-round picks often have more flexibility in their development paths – they're not burdened with the same immediate expectations as lottery picks, which sometimes allows them to develop at their own pace.
Looking back at that draft class now, with the benefit of a season's worth of hindsight, I'm struck by how quickly some players have embraced that accountability mindset. Evan Mobley, selected third by the Cleveland Cavaliers, immediately transformed their defense in ways I haven't seen from a rookie since Tim Duncan. Josh Giddey, picked sixth by the Oklahoma City Thunder, showed playmaking brilliance that belied his age. Meanwhile, some players I was high on have struggled – James Bouknight, selected 11th by the Charlotte Hornets, has found minutes hard to come by, proving that draft position guarantees nothing in this league.
The real test for these young men isn't their draft position or even their rookie season performance – it's how they respond to the inevitable challenges ahead. The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the players who internalize that halftime advice about accountability rather than score-watching are the ones who build lasting careers. I've followed the NBA draft for over twenty years, and the pattern remains consistent – talent gets you drafted, but character and mindset determine your ceiling. The 2021 class appears particularly rich in both categories, which makes their continued development one of the most compelling stories in basketball today. As we look toward their sophomore campaigns, I'm most excited to see how players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green build on their promising starts, and whether later picks like Herb Jones (35th to New Orleans) can maintain their surprising impact. The draft night is just the beginning – the real work starts when the cameras turn off and these young men have to live out that accountability philosophy every single day.