Internet, pro athletes praise Isaiah Austin moment
The moment NBA commissioner Adam Silver drafted Baylor’s Isaiah Austin on Thursday night — the NBA was the true winner of the evening.
Austin, a sophomore center for Baylor, was expected to be a high pick, but that dream was cut short just days ago while doing a physical for the draft. Doctors discovered that he had Marfan syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart.
It was news that ended his competitive playing career and halted the future he was hoping for, but the NBA knew exactly what to do for Austin, a young man Silver said, “committed himself through endless hard work and dedication to a potential career as a professional basketball player,” as he made the announcement.
“The NBA selects Isaiah Austin,” Silver announced Thursday night between the 15th and 16th picks of the 2014 NBA Draft.
And the Internet — including professional athletes — went wild, praising the moment and gesture from Silver.
“Adam Silver is such a classy man! That’s love right there. I’m emotional for him. Damn I love that,” Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant tweeted Thursday night.
In an emotional moment, Austin took the stage and wiped away tears to a standing arena.
“Happy Isaiah Austin was able to hear his name called at the NBA draft. Very cool to see,” Minnesota Timberwolves player Kevin Love tweeted.
The social media cheers and praises for Silver and the NBA continued throughout the evening.
“Wow… classy by @NBA and Adam Silver to allow Austin to still live his dream. I’m in tears over here… Man,” Candace Parker, player for the Los Angeles Sparks, tweeted.
“Adam Silver hasn’t been on the job 12 mos and is already doing a remarkable job! Very classy move. God Bless Isaiah Austin,” Desmond Howard, a former NFL wide receiver, tweeted.
Austin, who has been blind in his right eye since middle school and wears a prosthetic, according to ThePostGame, isn’t giving up on his dream — it’s a dream that’s just a little different now.
“I worked so hard to get to this point,” Austin said. “Unfortunately it was taken away, but when God closes one door he opens another for you.”
Austin has created the “Dream Again” campaign, where he plans to educate others on his condition, according to Forbes.
“I’m going to dream again,” Austin said. “I’m going to go around and share my story with as many people as I can and i’m just hoping to touch people’s lives and let them know that any obstacle that they are facing that they can get through it.”
Contact Kira Terry at kterry@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kiraterry
