Mavericks Land Ninth Overall Pick in NBA Draft

The recipient of an MD from UCLA, Paul W. McDonough earned the Longmire Medal as the highest-achieving student in surgery for his graduating class. Currently practicing in Abilene, Texas, Dr. Paul McDonough enjoys watching the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Dallas Mavericks in his free time.

A consistently competitive team, the Mavericks have only missed the playoffs twice since 2001. However, Dallas finished the 2016–17 season with its worst record (33–49) since the 1998–99 season, which gave the team a chance at receiving the top selection in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery on May 16.

Unfortunately, the lottery was won by the Boston Celtics, while the Mavericks held steady at the №9 position. The team only had a 19 percent chance of moving up in the draft and a 1.7 percent chance of landing the coveted first overall selection, so it wasn’t surprising that it is staying put at №9. Still, because the group of prospects available in the draft is expected to be one of the best in recent years, the Mavericks can find a quality player with the ninth overall pick. Players expected to be taken in that range include North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith, Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell, and Gonzaga’s Zach Collins.