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NBA Draft: First Round Picks From Auburn Since 1978

By Jake Mastroianni

May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former NBA player and current TNT television personality Charles Barkley prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former NBA player and current TNT television personality Charles Barkley prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of game one of the SEC conference tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts during the first half of game one of the SEC conference tournament against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

While it’s highly unlikely that Tyler Harris, Cinmeon Bowers or Kareem Canty will get drafted in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft – if taken at all – Auburn still has some history for producing first round talent.

Since 1978 Auburn basketball has seen six players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft, but it hasn’t happened since Momadou N’Diaye was taken 26th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2000 NBA Draft.

It’s no secret that Auburn basketball has lacked top of the line talent for a while now, but with the recruits that Bruce Pearl is bringing in it may not be long before we have another player taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Perhaps Mustapha Heron or Danjel Purifoy are the next to join the elite class of talent to put on an Auburn basketball uniform and go on to do great things at the NBA level. There is no doubt these guys have the talent, so now it’s just up to them to perform at a high level and bring Auburn basketball back to where it was in the 80’s when Auburn produced four first round draft picks from 1978-1988.

The game of basketball is different from any other sport in that one person can carry you to a championship. For over 10 years now Auburn has been trying to find that player that will make them relevant again, and then go on to represent Auburn in the NBA.

Here is a look back at players that did just that for the Tigers by being selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Next: Mike Mitchell

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