NBA Draft 2015: Lakers Shock With D’Angelo Russell At No. 2

June 26, 2015

The 2015 NBA Draft had some unexpected excitement Thursday night.

Predictably, after Kentucky’s Karl Anthony Towns went No. 1 overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers made a surprise pick, taking Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell over Duke’s Jahlil Okafor at No. 2.

Just listen to the crowd lose it after NBA commish Adam Silver announces the pick.

Reportedly, there were many scouts who had Russell as the top rated prospect coming out of the draft. It’s a good pick for the Lakers who need a guard with Kobe Bryant retiring.

Okafor ended up at No. 3 to the 76ers, who already has two injured centers they’ve drafted back-to-back years in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

Other big picks included the Knicks taking 7-foot Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4, Denver selecting international superstar Emmanuel Mudiay at No. 7 and the Hornets taking NCAA Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky at No. 9.

You can see all the final results here.

Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.

Josh is originally from the small berg of Arthur, Ill, proudly the Amish capital of the state. It also has one hell of a pumpkin patch.

Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Josh enjoys loud rock music, Tom Hanks movies, dogs that like to cuddle and long runs. He is also always in search for America's greatest cheeseburger. Follow him here if you would like to be friends!