The
2001 NBA draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York.
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 Brown by the Washington Wizards, over players that have gone on to have more successful NBA careers, has been a source of great criticism, with Brown having been widely labeled one of the worst draft busts in NBA history. Several international players from this draft,
Pau Gasol (Spain),
Tony Parker (France) and
Mehmet Okur (Turkey), became NBA All-Stars. This was the last draft the
Vancouver Grizzlies participated in while in their original city; their move to Memphis was finalized several weeks later. This was also the final draft participated by the
Charlotte Hornets until
2014; the then-current team moved to New Orleans the following year as the future
Pelicans, while an expansion Charlotte team (formerly the Bobcats) was later formed in 2004.