The Ultimate 2017 NBA Draft Twitter Reactions Timeline

Thursday’s NBA Draft may have been the most anticipated draft since 2003—when LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were selected in the top 5.

That’s not to say the 2017 talent pool was as wide (the suits are certainly thinner), but the hype was real. As pre-draft coverage reached a crescendo, it seemed draft pundits and league executives were singing the same tune: for this year’s class of prospects, the ceiling is the roof.

Generally, there are one or two guys in a draft class whom experts suspect could become a franchise player—Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid in 2014. Sometimes scouts aren’t sure if there are any (in 2013, the Anthony Bennett year, the best player—Giannis Antetokounmpo—fell to No. 15). In 2017, depending on whom you asked, there were as many as four or five potential franchise guys.

It was not only the talent of the players, however, that made Thursday such an exciting night. The NBA itself has never been this popular.

With an ahead-of-its-time international expansion strategy and shrewd use of media—coupled with compelling storylines like the Warriors-Cavs rivalry and Russell Westbrook’s mission to destroy the earth—the league has the NFL looking over its shoulder. The NBA draft and free agency period are now just as looked forward to as the league’s biggest playoff games. Fans are glued to their phones in June and July.

Draft night is like Christmas for avid hoops fans, and on this special evening, Twitter is your best friend. Woj and his wunderkind, Shams Charania, tweet every pick before it’s announced. Trades fly with reckless disregard like J.R. Smith hoisting 40-footers. People freak out. The GIFs appear seemingly the second after the footage airs on TV.

It’s sports entertainment at its finest.

Get your popcorn ready because, in association with Axe Hair, we’ve compiled the ultimate NBA Draft Timeline, furnished with the most entertaining, informational, and hilarious reactions to everything that popped off Thursday night.

Before the draft, as ESPN’s coverage focused on LaVar Ball, NBA players made their opinion of him clear. LOL @ Jo Jo Embiid.

Every year, prospects show up to the event dressed to the nines. This year was no exception. They spent the cash and brought the heat.

Naturally, having strong hair game was a priority for the prospects on their big night. The biggest hair drew the most attention.

Surprising no one, Philadelphia took smooth, crafty Washington guard Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 pick. Philly is starting to look dangerous. #TrustTheProcess

Then LaVar’s prophecy came true. He really spoke it into existence. The Lakers took Lonzo Ball No. 2.

Though the early picks went as expected, the NBA world was shocked as the Timberwolves pulled off a big-time trade for Jimmy Butler, who was a sought-after target for a number of teams. Twitter certainly didn’t think Chicago got enough in return for the third-team All-Pro.

The Suns stole dunk machine Josh Jackson at No. 4, adding to their super-talented young core.

The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski had every pick and transaction ahead of the TV coverage—par for the course.

The Bulls took Arizona big man Lauri Markkanen No. 7. Jay Bilas made the astute observation that Markkanen has to be careful when he drives in Finland now, because speeding ticket rates there are determined based on income.

Freshman after freshman went off the board. The top seven picks were freshmen. The previous record was four.

Knicks fans had a mixed response to their selection of French point guard Frank Ntilikina at No. 8.

Everyone seemed to think NC State’s Dennis Smith, Jr., whom the Mavericks took at No. 9, was a steal.

And Kentucky sharp-shooter Malik Monk, who was once considered one of the top prospects in the draft, somehow slipped all the way to Charlotte at No. 11.

As usual, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was the emcee for the night. He drew his fair share of praise and roasts.

And, of course, what’s an NBA Draft without plenty of talk of “wingspan?”