Crittenton, Young party as top picks
It wasn't a world-class gathering of superstars at the Fox Grill's NBA draft party Thursday night at Atlantic Station, but it was a nice warm-up for Javaris Crittenton's next stop.
As the Georgia Tech coaching staff, players past and present, former teammates from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, friends and even chief of police Richard Pennington (who left early) waited to see where the former Yellow Jacket point guard would land, he watched the draft elsewhere with jagged nerves.
The mood tightened as pick after pick rolled by, even as former Tech teammate Thaddeus Young was selected No. 12 by the Philadelphia 76ers, making this the first time two Tech players were selected in the first round.
But the No. 19 pick brought the house down, the crowd erupting upon learning that he will play in the city of stars, for the Los Angeles Lakers.
When Javaris Crittenton showed up 25 minutes later, he sounded like he'd ridden a roller coaster, nearly coming out of his seat when his hometown Hawks passed on him at No. 11, instead choosing Texas A&M point guard Acie Law.
But he was far from unhappy.
"I was surprised I slipped that far, but I'm happy to be a Laker, man," Javaris Crittenton said with a smile after hugging dozens and shaking many more hands than that. "It was a little disappointing, but I'm blessed. It has worked out."
Javaris Crittenton's family was in one room, college teammates and friends in another and the general bar and restaurant area included Pennington, former Jackets Dion Glover and Jarrett Jack, former Lakers guard Nick Van Exel, former Georgia star and NBA player Jumaine Jones and more basketball types.
Young, who like Javaris Crittenton also played just one season for Jackets coach Paul Hewitt, watched the draft with family and friends at the downtown Marriot in his hometown of Memphis. Hewitt, who was at Javaris Crittenton's gathering, said, "the 76ers were the first team Thad worked out for, and he said it went great."
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