Oklahoma State University Athletics
San Antonio Spurs Pick Anderson
June 24, 2010 | Cowboy Basketball
June 24, 2010
Stillwater, Okla. — Oklahoma State's James Anderson was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft Thursday night, closing the collegiate career on one of the most prolific scorers in Cowboy Basketball history.
Anderson became the eighth player to be selected in the first round in school history, and the fourth since 2000. His selection as the 20th overall pick makes him the fifth-highest Cowboy chosen in NBA history.
He is also the second-consecutive Oklahoma State player to be drafted after declaring himself as an early-entry possibility as JamesOn Curry went pro following his junior year in 2007 and was chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the second round.
Anderson was the third shooting guard and the sixth guard overall chosen in the 2010 NBA Draft. He was also the fifth player from a Big 12 school selected in the first round.
During his third and final season with OSU, Anderson scored 735 points, the second-most ever by a Cowboy trailing only Bryant Reeves' 797 points in 1994-95. Anderson's 1,811 career points rank fourth in school history.
The unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year, Anderson was also named the District IV Player of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. He garnered several All-America honors, and was a consensus second-team All-American.
San Antonio went 50-32 last season and lost to Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals. Only one other former Cowboy has worn a Spurs uniform as Melvin Sanders played 16 games during the 2005-06 season.
OSU Cowboys in the NBA Draft (since 1991)
2010 James Anderson (San Antonio Spurs, 1st round, 20th overall)
2007 JamesOn Curry (Chicago Bulls, 2nd round, 51st overall)
2005 Joey Graham (Toronto Raptors, 1st round, 16th overall)
2004 Tony Allen (Boston Celtics, 1st round, 27th overall)
2000 Desmond Mason (Seattle Sonics, 1st round, 17th overall)
1995 Bryant Reeves (Vancouver Grizzlies, 1st round, 6th overall)
1994 Brooks Thompson (Orlando Magic, 1st round, 27th overall)
1992 Byron Houston (Chicago Bulls, 1st round, 27th overall)
Corey Williams (Chicago Bulls, 2nd round, 33rd overall)
1991 Richard Dumas (Phoenix Suns, 2nd round, 46th overall)
Von McDade (New Jersey Nets, 2nd round, 53rd overall)
