{{short description|Basketball player selection}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox sports draft | name = 2001 NBA draft | image = 2001 NBA draft logo.png | caption = | logo = | logosize = | sport = Basketball | date = June 27, 2001 | location = The Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) | network = TNT | league = NBA | teams = | overall = 57 | rounds = 2 | first = Kwame Brown (Washington Wizards) | hofnum = {{Collapsible list | title = 2 |1 = PF Pau Gasol |2 = PG Tony Parker}} | prev = 2000 | next = 2002 }} 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 Kwame Brown by the Washington Wizards, over players that have gone on to have more successful NBA careers, has been a source of great criticism by numerous media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biggest Bust of the 00s|url=http://www.aolnews.com/2008/08/11/2-biggest-bust-of-the-00s-kwame-brown/|publisher=AOL News|access-date=2012-05-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510035742/http://www.aolnews.com/2008/08/11/2-biggest-bust-of-the-00s-kwame-brown/|archive-date=2012-05-10}}</ref> Several international players from this draft, Pau Gasol (Spain), Tony Parker (France) and Mehmet Okur (Turkey), became NBA All-Stars.
The Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round pick due to salary cap violations.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBA Restores Timberwolves' 2005 Draft Pick|url=http://www.nba.com/news/twolves_draft_pick_011228.html|work=NBA.com|access-date=January 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901224939/http://www.nba.com/news/twolves_draft_pick_011228.html|archive-date=September 1, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> It would be the first of two first rounders that would have to forfeit their picks during the early 2000s.
Eight of the players selected in this draft would never play in an NBA game in their professional basketball careers. Both of the players drafted by the New York Knicks (Michael Wright and Eric Chenowith) were among this group.
The final remaining active player from this draft was Joe Johnson, who retired from the NBA following the 2022 season. Thus, no active players remain from this class.
==Draft selections== {|class=wikitable |- | G || Guard | PG || Point guard | SG || Shooting guard | F || Forward | SF || Small forward | PF || Power forward | C || Center |} {{NBA Draft legend|1=y|2=y|3=y|4=|5=y|6=y}} {{stack| [[File:Kwame Brown cropped.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Kwame Brown was selected 1st overall by the Washington Wizards.]] [[File:Tyson Chandler cropped.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Tyson Chandler was selected 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to the Chicago Bulls).]] [[File:Pau gasol zz.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Pau Gasol was selected 3rd overall by the Atlanta Hawks (traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies).]] [[File:Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks 2008-9 season.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Joe Johnson was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics.]] [[File:Zach Randolph profile view.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Zach Randolph was selected 19th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.]] [[File:Gerald Wallace Nets.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Gerald Wallace was selected 25th overall by the Sacramento Kings.]] [[File:Parker khomar.JPG|right|thumb|150px|Tony Parker was selected 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs.]] [[File:ArenasWizards.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Gilbert Arenas was selected 31st overall by the Golden State Warriors.]] [[File: Brian Scalabrine of the Boston Celtics at NBA Media Day 2007.png |right|thumb|150px|Brian Scalabrine was selected 35th overall by the New Jersey Nets.]] [[File:Mehmo.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Mehmet Okur was selected 38th overall by the Detroit Pistons.]] }}
{| class="wikitable sortable sortable" |- ! style="width:1%;"| Round ! style="width:1%;"| Pick ! style="width:19%;"| Player ! style="width:1%;"| Position ! style="width:16%;"| Nationality{{refn|group=n|Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.}} ! style="width:35%;"| Team ! style="width:20%;"| School/club team |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 1 |{{sortname|Kwame|Brown}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Washington Wizards | Glynn Academy <small>(Brunswick, Georgia)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 2 | style="background:#fbceb1;"| {{sortname|Tyson|Chandler}}<sup>*</sup> | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Los Angeles Clippers <small>(traded to Chicago)</small> | Dominguez HS <small>(Compton, California)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 3 | bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Pau|Gasol}}^~ | PF/C | {{flagu|Spain}} | Atlanta Hawks <small>(traded to Vancouver)</small> | FC Barcelona <small>(Spain)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 4 | {{sortname|Eddy|Curry}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Chicago Bulls | Thornwood HS <small>(South Holland, Illinois)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 5 | {{sortname|Jason|Richardson}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Golden State Warriors | Michigan State (So.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 6 | {{sortname|Shane|Battier}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Vancouver Grizzlies | Duke (Sr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 7 | {{sortname|Eddie|Griffin|Eddie Griffin (basketball)}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | New Jersey Nets <small>(traded to Houston)</small> | Seton Hall (Fr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 8 | {{sortname|DeSagana|Diop}} | C | {{SEN}} | Cleveland Cavaliers | Oak Hill Academy <small>(Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)</small> HS |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 9 | {{sortname|Rodney|White}} | SF/PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Detroit Pistons | Charlotte (Fr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 10 | style="background:#fbceb1;"| {{sortname|Joe|Johnson|Joe Johnson (basketball)}}<sup>*</sup> | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Boston Celtics | Arkansas (So.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 11 | {{sortname|Kedrick|Brown}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Boston Celtics <small>(from Denver)</small> | Okaloosa-Walton CC (So.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 12 | {{sortname|Vladimir|Radmanović}} | PF | {{FR-YUG}} | Seattle SuperSonics | FMP <small>(Yugoslavia)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 13 | {{sortname|Richard|Jefferson}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Houston Rockets <small>(traded to New Jersey)</small> | Arizona (Jr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 14 | {{sortname|Troy|Murphy}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Golden State Warriors <small>(from Indiana)</small> | Notre Dame (Jr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 15 | {{sortname|Steven|Hunter}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Orlando Magic | DePaul (Fr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 16 | {{sortname|Kirk|Haston}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Charlotte Hornets | Indiana (Jr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 17 | {{sortname|Michael|Bradley|Michael Bradley (basketball)}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Toronto Raptors | Villanova (Jr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 18 | {{sortname|Jason|Collins}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Houston Rockets <small>(from New York via Phoenix and Orlando, traded to New Jersey)</small> | Stanford (Sr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 19 | style="background:#fbceb1;"| {{sortname|Zach|Randolph}}<sup>*</sup> | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Portland Trail Blazers | Michigan State (Fr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 20 | {{sortname|Brendan|Haywood}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Cleveland Cavaliers <small>(from Miami, traded to Orlando)</small> | North Carolina (Sr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 21 | {{sortname|Joseph|Forte}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Boston Celtics <small>(from Phoenix via Denver and Utah)</small> | North Carolina (So.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 22 | {{sortname|Jeryl|Sasser}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Orlando Magic <small>(from Milwaukee via Houston)</small> | SMU (Sr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 23 | {{sortname|Brandon|Armstrong|dab=basketball}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Houston Rockets <small>(from Dallas via Orlando, traded to New Jersey)</small> | Pepperdine (Jr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 24 | {{sortname|Raül|López|Raül López (basketball)}} | PG | {{flagu|Spain}} | Utah Jazz | Real Madrid <small>(Spain)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 25 | style="background:#fc0;"| {{sortname|Gerald|Wallace}}<sup>+</sup> | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Sacramento Kings | Alabama (Fr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 26 | {{sortname|Samuel|Dalembert}} | C | {{flagu|Canada}}<ref>Dalembert was born in {{HTI}} but grew up and spent his childhood in Canada, where he later became a citizen in 2007.</ref> | Philadelphia 76ers | Seton Hall (So.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 27 | {{sortname|Jamaal|Tinsley}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Vancouver Grizzlies <small>(from L.A. Lakers via New York, traded to Indiana via Atlanta)</small> | Iowa State (Sr.) |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 28 | bgcolor="#FFFF99"| {{sortname|Tony|Parker}}^ | PG | {{flagu|France}}<ref>Parker was born in Belgium but represents France in international competitions.</ref> | San Antonio Spurs | Paris Basket Racing <small>(France)</small> |- |align=center| 1 |align=center| 29 |bgcolor="lightgray"| Forfeited pick | | | Minnesota Timberwolves <small>(forfeited their first-round pick due to salary cap violations)</small><ref>{{cite web|title=NBA Restores Timberwolves' 2005 Draft Pick|url=http://www.nba.com/news/twolves_draft_pick_011228.html|work=NBA.com|access-date=January 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901224939/http://www.nba.com/news/twolves_draft_pick_011228.html|archive-date=September 1, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 30 | {{sortname|Trenton|Hassell}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Chicago Bulls | Austin Peay (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 31 | style="background:#fbceb1;"| {{sortname|Gilbert|Arenas}}<sup>*</sup> | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Golden State Warriors | Arizona (So.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 32 | {{sortname|Omar|Cook}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Orlando Magic <small>(from Washington, traded to Denver)</small> | St. John's (Fr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 33 | {{sortname|Will|Solomon}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Vancouver Grizzlies | Clemson (Sr.) |- | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 34 | {{sortname|Terence|Morris}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Atlanta Hawks | Maryland (Sr.) |- | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 35 | {{sortname|Brian|Scalabrine}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | New Jersey Nets |USC (Sr) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 36 | {{sortname|Jeff|Trepagnier}} | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Cleveland Cavaliers | USC (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 37 | {{sortname|Damone|Brown}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Philadelphia 76ers <small>(from L.A. Clippers)</small> | Syracuse (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 38 | style="background:#fc0;"| {{sortname|Mehmet|Okur}}<sup>+</sup> | C | {{TUR}} | Detroit Pistons | Efes Pilsen <small>(Turkey)</small> |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 39 | style="background:silver;"| {{sortname|Michael|Wright|Michael Wright (basketball)}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/1030/michael-wright |title=Michael Wright Stats |publisher=ESPN|access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | New York Knicks <small>(from Boston via Seattle)</small> | Arizona (Jr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 40 | {{sortname|Earl|Watson}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Seattle SuperSonics | UCLA (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 41 | {{sortname|Jamison|Brewer}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Indiana Pacers | Auburn (So.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 42 | {{sortname|Bobby|Simmons}} | F/G | {{flagu|United States}} | Seattle SuperSonics | DePaul (Jr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 43 | style="background:silver;"|{{sortname|Eric|Chenowith}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/bio/_/id/985/eric-chenowith|title=Eric Chenowith Stats|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | C | {{flagu|United States}} | New York Knicks <small>(from Seattle)</small> | Kansas (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 44 | style="background:silver;"| {{sortname|Kyle|Hill}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/news/_/id/1001/kyle-hill |title=Kyle Hill Stats|publisher=ESPN |date=1979-04-07 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Dallas Mavericks <small>(from Houston)</small> | Eastern Illinois (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 45 | {{sortname|Sean|Lampley}} | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | Chicago Bulls <small>(from Charlotte)</small> | California (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 46 | {{sortname|Loren|Woods}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Minnesota Timberwolves | Arizona (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 47 | style="background:silver;"|{{sortname|Ousmane|Cisse}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/986/ousmane-cisse|title=Ousmane Cisse Stats |publisher=ESPN |date=1982-10-20 |access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | PF | {{MLI}} | Denver Nuggets <small>(from Toronto)</small> | St. Jude HS <small>(Montgomery, Alabama)</small> |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 48 | {{sortname|Antonis|Fotsis}} | SF | {{GRE}} | Vancouver Grizzlies <small>(from New York)</small> | Panathinaikos <small>(Greece)</small> 1981 |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 49 | {{sortname|Ken|Johnson|Ken Johnson (basketball, born 1978)}} | C | {{flagu|United States}} | Miami Heat | Ohio State (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 50 | {{sortname|Ruben|Boumtje-Boumtje}} | C | {{CMR}} | Portland Trail Blazers | Georgetown (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 51 | {{sortname|Alton|Ford}} | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Phoenix Suns | Houston (Fr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 52 | style="background:silver;"| {{sortname|Andre|Hutson}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/1003/andre-hutson|title=Andre Hutson Stats |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | PF | {{flagu|United States}} | Milwaukee Bucks | Michigan State (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 53 | {{sortname|Jarron|Collins}} | F/C | {{flagu|United States}} | Utah Jazz | Stanford (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 54 | {{sortname|Kenny|Satterfield}} | PG | {{flagu|United States}} | Dallas Mavericks | Cincinnati (So.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 55 | style="background:silver;"|{{sortname|Maurice|Jeffers}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/1005/maurice-jeffers|title=Maurice Jeffers Stats |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | SG | {{flagu|United States}} | Sacramento Kings | Saint Louis (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 56 | style="background:silver;"| {{sortname|Robertas|Javtokas}}<ref>http://www.nba.com/historical/search/index.jsp?kw=Robertas%20Javtokas#results{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><sup>#</sup> | C | {{flagcountry|LTU|1988}} | San Antonio Spurs <small>(from L.A. Lakers)</small> | Lietuvos rytas Vilnius <small>(Lithuania)</small> |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 57 | {{sortname|Alvin|Jones|dab=basketball}} | C | {{LUX}} | Philadelphia 76ers | Georgia Tech (Sr.) |- |align=center| 2 |align=center| 58 | style="background:silver;"| {{sortname|Bryan|Bracey}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/978/bryan-bracey |title=Bryan Bracey Stats |publisher=ESPN|access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref><sup>#</sup> | SF | {{flagu|United States}} | San Antonio Spurs | Oregon (Sr.) |} {{reflist|group=n}}
==Notable undrafted players== {{further|List of undrafted NBA players}} These players were not selected in the draft but have played at least one game in the NBA. {| class="wikitable sortable sortable" |- ! style="width:12%;"| Player ! style="width:1%;"| Position ! style="width:12%;"| Nationality ! style="width:12%;"| School/club team |- |{{sortname|Carlos|Arroyo}} |PG |{{PRI}} |FIU (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Charlie|Bell|Charlie Bell (basketball)}} |G |{{flagu|United States}} |Michigan State (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Tierre|Brown}} |G |{{flagu|United States}} |McNeese State (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Joe|Crispin}} |PG |{{flagu|United States}} |Penn State (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Maurice|Evans|Maurice Evans (basketball)}} |SG/SF |{{flagu|United States}} |Texas (Jr.) |- |{{sortname|Tang|Hamilton}} |SF |{{flagu|United States}} |Mississippi State (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Walter|Herrmann}} |SF |{{ARG}} |Atenas de Córdoba (Argentina) |- |{{sortname|Horace|Jenkins}} |PG |{{flagu|United States}} |William Paterson (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Jamario|Moon}} |SF |{{flagu|United States}} |Meridian CC (Fr.) |- |{{sortname|Andrés|Nocioni}} |PF/SF |{{ARG}} |TAU Cerámica (Spain) |- |{{sortname|Dean|Oliver|Dean Oliver (basketball)}} |PG |{{flagu|United States}} |Iowa (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Norman|Richardson|Norman Richardson (basketball)}} |G |{{flagu|United States}} |Hofstra (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Paul|Shirley}} |PF |{{flagu|United States}} |Iowa State (Sr.) |- |{{sortname|Cezary|Trybański}} |C |{{POL}} |Znicz Pruszków (Poland) |- |{{sortname|Ratko|Varda}} |C |{{FR-YUG}} |Partizan (Serbia) |- |{{sortname|Mike|Wilks|Mike Wilks (basketball)}} |PG |{{flagu|United States}} |Rice (Sr.) |}
==Early entrants== ===College underclassmen=== This year would officially mark the very first year where the number of underclassmen that declared their entry into the NBA draft would exceed the number of selections made with 75 players that fit the underclassmen criteria declaring their initial entry for the NBA draft. However, it would also mark the largest number of dropped players yet with 23 of those players either coming from college or overseas deciding to withdraw from the draft for one reason or another. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.<ref name=tdr>{{cite web |title=2001 Underclassmen |url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3048:2001-underclassmen&catid=136&Itemid=384 |website=The Draft Review | date=August 4, 2007 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}</ref>
{{div col}} * {{flagicon|USA}} Gilbert Arenas – G, Arizona (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Brandon Armstrong – G, Pepperdine (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Malcolm Battles – F, Point Mark (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Tavorris Bell – F, Rhode Island (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Preston Bennett – F, Grayson (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Bradley – F, Villanova (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Jamison Brewer – G, Auburn (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Kedrick Brown – F, Okaloosa-Walton CC (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} SirValiant Brown – G, George Washington (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Nick Burwell – G, Orange Coast (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Jason Collins – C, Stanford (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Omar Cook – G, St. John's (freshman) * {{flagicon|HAI}} Samuel Dalembert – C/F, Seton Hall (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Maurice Evans – G, Texas (junior) * {{flagicon|NGR}} Benjamin Eze – F, Southern Idaho (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Alton Ford – F, Houston (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Joseph Forte – G, North Carolina (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Jerry Green – G, UC Irvine (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Griffin – F, Seton Hall (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Rob Griffin – F, Kentucky Wesleyan (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Trenton Hassell – G, Austin Peay (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Kirk Haston – F, Indiana (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Draper Housley – G, Lee College (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Steven Hunter – C/F, DePaul (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Richard Jefferson – F, Arizona (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Johnson – F/G, Arkansas (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} D. A. Layne – G, Georgia (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Zach Marbury – G, Rhode Island (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Jamario Moon – F, Meridian (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Troy Murphy – F, Notre Dame (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Zach Randolph – F, Michigan State (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Jason Richardson – G, Michigan State (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Kenny Satterfield – G, Cincinnati (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Bobby Simmons – F, DePaul (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Will Solomon – G, Clemson (junior) * {{flagicon|USA}} Clifton Terry – F, Kennedy–King (sophomore) * {{flagicon|USA}} Gerald Wallace – F/G, Alabama (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Rodney White – F, Charlotte (freshman) * {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Wright – F, Arizona (junior) {{div col end}}
===High school players=== This would be the seventh straight year in a row where at least one high school player would declare their entry into the NBA draft directly out of high school after previously only allowing it one time back in 1975. This year would also mark the year with the highest amount of players coming directly out of high school yet with six players deciding to make the jump into an opportunity at the NBA (though only five of them would get it). Not only that, but it marked the first time that a high schooler would be taken as the #1 pick of the NBA draft. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance.<ref name=tdr />
{{div col}} * {{flagicon|USA}} Kwame Brown – F, Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Georgia) * {{flagicon|USA}} Tyson Chandler – F/C, Dominguez High School (Compton, California) * {{flagicon|MLI}} Ousmane Cisse – F, St. Jude Educational Institute (Montgomery, Alabama) * {{flagicon|USA}} Eddy Curry – C/F, Thornwood High School (South Holland, Illinois) * {{flagicon|SEN}} DeSagana Diop – C, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) * {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Key – C, Centennial High School (Compton, California) {{div col end}}
===International players=== The following international players successfully applied for early draft entrance.<ref name=tdr />
{{div col}} * {{flagicon|RUS}} Denis Ershov – C, Pulkovo Saint Petersburg (Russia) * {{flagicon|GRE}} Antonis Fotsis – F, Panathinaikos (Greece) * {{flagicon|SPA}} Pau Gasol – F, FC Barcelona (Spain) * {{flagicon|SPA}} Raül López – G, Real Madrid (Spain) * {{flagicon|FRA}} Tony Parker – G, Paris Basket Racing (France) * {{flagicon|BIH}} Vladimir Radmanović – F, FMP (FR Yugoslavia) {{div col end}}
===Other eligible players=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left; font-size:95%" ! Player !! {{tooltip|Team|Most recent team played for before the draft}} !!class=unsortable| Note !!class=unsortable| Ref. |- !scope="row"|{{flagicon|LIT}} Robertas Javtokas | Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania) || Left Arizona in 2000; playing professionally since the 2000–01 season ||align=center|<ref>{{cite news |last1=Freeman |first1=Rick |last2=Magruder |first2=Jack |title=NCAA Tournament Notebook |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/03/16/ncaa-tournament-notebook/3af6935a-382f-4e12-bb39-398ed5a32b56/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 22, 2022 |date=March 16, 2000}}</ref> |}
==Invited attendees== The 2001 NBA draft is considered to be the 23rd NBA draft to have utilized what is properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned somewhere within The Theater at Madison Square Garden<ref name="2001Invites">{{cite web | title=2001 Green Room Invites - the Draft Review | access-date=April 30, 2026 | url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room/2001-green-room-invites }}</ref>), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maurer |first=Matthew |date=2024-02-18 |title=Draft Broadcasts - The Draft Review |url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/sundry/sundry-articles/draft-broadcasts |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=The Draft Review |language=en-us}}</ref>
The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 14 prospects at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green Room - The Draft Review |url=https://www.thedraftreview.com/historical-draft-events/green-room |access-date=2026-04-14 |website=The Draft Review |language=en-us}}</ref> Despite the lower amount of invites for this year's draft when compared to the previous couple of drafts, there would still be a notable amount of discrepancies involved, such as an invitation being given out to Brendan Haywood instead of the actual 13th pick of the draft, Richard Jefferson, alongside multiple All-Stars and All-NBA talents like Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Hall of Famer Tony Parker, Gilbert Arenas, and Mehmet Okur. Not only that, but it would also showcase the most high school players that would be invited into the Green Room by this point in time with four players being invited and later selected into the Top 10, including three players in the Top 4 and both Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler being considered the top two picks of the draft at the time. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.<ref name="2001Invites" />
{{div col}} *{{flagicon|USA}} Shane Battier – SF, Duke *{{flagicon|USA}} Kedrick Brown – SF, Okaloosa-Walton Community College *{{flagicon|USA}} Kwame Brown – PF, Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Georgia) *{{flagicon|USA}} Tyson Chandler – C, Dominguez High School (Compton, California) *{{flagicon|USA}} Eddy Curry – SG, Thornwood High School (South Holland, Illinois) *{{flagicon|SEN}} DeSagana Diop – C, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) *{{flagicon|ESP}} Pau Gasol – C, FC Barcelona Bàsquet (Spain) *{{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Griffin – PF, Seton Hall *{{flagicon|USA}} Brendan Haywood – C, North Carolina *{{flagicon|USA}} Joe Johnson – SG, Arkansas *{{flagicon|USA}} Troy Murphy – PF, Notre Dame *{{flagicon|FR Yugoslavia}}/{{flagicon|SRB}}/{{flagicon|BIH}} Vladimir Radmanović – PF, KK FMP (Yugoslavia) *{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Richardson – SG, Michigan State *{{flagicon|USA}} Rodney White – SF/PF, Charlotte {{div col end}}
==See also== * List of first overall NBA draft picks
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100913125030/http://www.nba.com/draft2001/ NBA.com: 2001 NBA Draft] * [https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2001.html Basketball Reference: 2001 NBA Draft]
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