Writing Illini
Fansided

Illinois Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers drafted Meyers Leonard 7 years ago today

By Rees Woodcock

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Meyers Leonard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number eleven overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Meyers Leonard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number eleven overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

There are mixed emotions when typing this article about the Illinois basketball team.

Seven years ago today, Illinois center Meyers Leonard was selected with the 11th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Portland Trail Blazers picked Leonard to be a pivotal piece in a building organization. This was a great memory for me because I thought Leonard was a really talented player who could have done great things with the Illini. Sadly, this was the last member of the Orange and Blue to get picked in the NBA Draft.

In the three years prior to the 2011-12 NBA season, the Trail Blazers had made the playoffs. They were a team that had some good talent like LaMarcus Aldridge who was entering the prime of his career. The 2011-12 campaign hit and Portland ended the season 4th place in the Northwest Division and out of the playoffs.

This bad finish to the season landed them in the NBA Draft Lottery. They actually had two picks that season in the lottery and selected Damian Lillard with the No. 6 pick and then Leonard with the No. 11 pick. This was a great draft for the organization now that we look back at it.

The first season Leonard was in Portland, the Trail Blazers missed the playoffs. But they were clearly a team on the rise. Since that rookie year, the team has made the postseason every season since. All of this while losing Aldridge to the San Antonio Spurs.

Leonard has been a solid player for the Trail Blazers so far during his career. He has averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in the 15.5 minutes per game he has played. His role on the team continues to develop as well. This year in the playoffs, he started to see some extended minutes. In the final two games against the Golden State Warriors, Leonard dropped 16 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in game three and 30 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists in game four.

Next. Minnesota Timberwolves promote Brian Randle. dark

It has been a quick seven years. It seems like yesterday that I was watching a young Leonard use his size to get his way in the paint for the Illini. He has been doing some good things in the NBA, and I can’t wait to see what he can do in the next seven years.

Home/Illinois Basketball