The 2010 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2010, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. This draft set a record with five players being drafted from the same school in the first round. The players were John Wall (first), DeMarcus Cousins (fifth), Patrick Patterson (fourteenth), Eric Bledsoe (eighteenth), and Daniel Orton (twenty-ninth), all from the University of Kentucky. This draft also marked the second time an NBA D-League player was drafted, with the first case coming in 2008.
The Washington Wizards, who won the draft lottery on May 18, 2010, used their first overall draft pick to draft John Wall from the University of Kentucky. The Philadelphia 76ers, who also beat the odds in the draft lottery to obtain the second pick, selected Evan Turner from Ohio State University. The New Jersey Nets, who had the worst win–loss record in the previous season, used the third pick to select Derrick Favors from Georgia Tech.
The 2010 NBA draft was the last draft conducted at Madison Square Garden. The 2011 and 2012 NBA drafts were temporarily moved to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, while the 2013 NBA draft would be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York as the Garden underwent renovations during those summers of 2011–2013. After 2014, the draft would continue being hosted by the Nets instead of the Knicks, this time at the Barclays Center, despite the renovations for the Madison Square Garden being done by the 2014 deadline, with the only deviation since that time being in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This draft class had no Rookie of the Year because Blake Griffin, who was drafted first overall in the previous year's draft, missed his first season with an injury, but played in the 2010–2011 season and won the award. As of the 2025–26 season, Paul George is the only player from this draft that is still active in the league.
Draft selections
PG Point guard SG Shooting guard SF Small forward PF Power forward C Center
Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team School/club team 1 1 * PG Washington Wizards Kentucky (Fr.) 1 2 SF/SG Philadelphia 76ers Ohio State (Jr.) 1 3 PF New Jersey Nets Georgia Tech (Fr.) 1 4 SF Minnesota Timberwolves Syracuse (Jr.) 1 5 * C Sacramento Kings Kentucky (Fr.) 1 6 C Golden State Warriors Baylor (Jr.) 1 7 C Detroit Pistons Georgetown (So.) 1 8 SF Los Angeles Clippers Wake Forest (So.) 1 9+ SF Utah Jazz (from New York via Phoenix) Butler (So.) 1 10* SF/SG Indiana Pacers Fresno State (So.) 1 11 C New Orleans Hornets (traded to Oklahoma City) Kansas (Jr.) 1 12 SG Memphis Grizzlies Kansas (Fr.) 1 13 PF Toronto Raptors North Carolina (So.) 1 14 PF Houston Rockets Kentucky (Jr.) 1 15 C Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago) VCU (Jr.) 1 16 SF Minnesota Timberwolves (from Charlotte via Denver, traded to Portland) Nevada (So.) 1 17 PF Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee, traded to Washington) Cholet Basket (France) 1 18 PG Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami, traded to LA Clippers) Kentucky (Fr.) 1 19 SG Boston Celtics Texas (Fr.) 1 20 SG San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma State (Jr.) 1 21 PF Oklahoma City Thunder (traded to New Orleans) Iowa State (Jr.) 1 22 SG Portland Trail Blazers Memphis (So.) 1 23 PF Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah via Philadelphia, traded to Washington) Clemson (Sr.) 1 24 SF Atlanta Hawks (traded to New Jersey) Texas (Sr.) 1 25 SG Memphis Grizzlies (from Denver, traded to Dallas) USF (Jr.) 1 26 SF Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix, traded to New Orleans) Washington (Sr.) 1 27 SG New Jersey Nets (from Dallas, traded to Atlanta) Xavier (So.) 1 28 PG Memphis Grizzlies (from L.A. Lakers) Maryland (Sr.) 1 29 C Orlando Magic Kentucky (Fr.) 1 30 SF Washington Wizards (from Cleveland, traded to Minnesota) Marquette (Sr.) 2 31 C New Jersey Nets (traded to Oklahoma City via Atlanta) Brose Baskets (Germany) 2 32 C Miami Heat (from Minnesota via Oklahoma City) Texas (Sr.) 2 33 C Sacramento Kings Marshall (Fr.) 2 34 PG Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State) Nevada (Jr.) 2 35 PF Washington Wizards (traded to Minnesota) Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) 2 36# SG Detroit Pistons Ole Miss (So.) 2 37 SF Milwaukee Bucks (from Philadelphia) New Mexico (Jr.) 2 38 SG New York Knicks Syracuse (Sr.) 2 39 SG New York Knicks (from L.A. Clippers via Denver) Stanford (Sr.) 2 40 SG Indiana Pacers Cincinnati (Fr.) 2 41 PF Miami Heat (from New Orleans) Mississippi State (Sr.) 2 42# SF Miami Heat (from Toronto) West Virginia (Sr.) 2 43 SF Los Angeles Lakers (from Memphis) West Virginia (So.) 2 44 C Milwaukee Bucks (from Chicago via Portland and Golden State, traded to New York) Tulsa (Sr.) 2 45# C Minnesota Timberwolves (from Houston) CB Murcia (Spain) 2 46 PF Phoenix Suns (from Charlotte) Georgia Tech (Jr.) 2 47# PF Milwaukee Bucks Oklahoma (Fr.) 2 48# SF Miami Heat (traded to Oklahoma City) Tulsa 66ers (D-League) 2 49# PF San Antonio Spurs CB Gran Canaria (Spain) 2 50 C Dallas Mavericks (from Oklahoma City, traded to Toronto) Florida State (So.) 2 51# PF Oklahoma City Thunder (from Portland via Dallas and Minnesota, traded to Indiana) Louisiana Tech (Sr.) 2 52 PF Boston Celtics Notre Dame (Sr.) 2 53 SF Atlanta Hawks STB Le Havre (France) 2 54 PG Los Angeles Clippers (from Denver) Oklahoma (So.) 2 55 PF Utah Jazz Western Kentucky (Sr.) 2 56 C Minnesota Timberwolves (from Phoenix, traded to Washington) Rutgers (Sr.) 2 57 PF Indiana Pacers (from Dallas, traded to Oklahoma City) Florida State (Jr.) 2 58 PF Los Angeles Lakers UTEP (Jr.) 2 59# SF Orlando Magic Connecticut (Sr.) 2 60# PF Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland) Miami (Sr.)
Notable undrafted players
These players were not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, but have played in at least one NBA game.
Player Position Nationality School/club teamSG/SFCalifornia (Sr.)PGKansas (Sr.)GConnecticut (Jr.) PGArkansas (So.)CCornell (Sr.)PGNew Mexico State (Sr.)PG/SGMichigan (Jr.)PFNorth Carolina State (Sr.)PGHarvard (Sr.)CKK Hemofarm (Serbia)SG/SFUAB (Sr.)PF/CBrose Baskets (Germany)PF/CSyracuse (Sr.)CEfes Pilsen (Turkey)PF/CLouisville (So.)PG/SGCSKA Moscow (Russia)PGTexas A&M (Sr.)GWake Forest (Sr.)GLouisville (Sr.)PFDuke (Sr.)SG/SFSiena (Sr.)PGTulsa (Sr.)
Trades involving draft picks Pre-draft trades Prior to the day of the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams. On February 12, 2004, Utah acquired Tom Gugliotta, New York's 2004 and 2010 first-round picks, a 2005 second-round pick and cash considerations from Phoenix in exchange for Keon Clark and Ben Handlogten. Previously, Phoenix acquired Antonio McDyess, Howard Eisley, Charlie Ward, Maciej Lampe, the draft rights to Miloš Vujanić, two first-round picks and cash considerations on January 5, 2004, from New York in exchange for Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway and Cezary Trybański. On February 18, 2010, Milwaukee acquired John Salmons, 2011 and 2012 second-round picks and the option to swap 2010 first-round picks from Chicago in exchange for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander. The option to swap 2010 first-round picks was exercised, hence Milwaukee acquired Chicago's first-round pick and Chicago acquired Milwaukee's first-round pick. On June 25, 2009, Minnesota acquired Charlotte's first-round pick from Denver in exchange for the draft rights to Ty Lawson. Previously, Denver acquired a first-round pick on June 25, 2008, from Charlotte in exchange for the 20th pick in the 2008 NBA draft. On June 23, 2010, Oklahoma City acquired Daequan Cook and the 18th pick in the 2010 Draft from Miami in exchange for the 32nd pick in the 2010 Draft. Previously, Oklahoma City acquired Etan Thomas and two second-round picks on July 27, 2009, from Minnesota in exchange for Damien Wilkins and Chucky Atkins. Previously, Minnesota acquired a second-round pick and cash considerations on June 25, 2009, from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to Nick Calathes. Previously, Dallas acquired a second-round pick, the 24th and 56th picks in the 2009 Draft on June 24, 2009, from Portland in exchange for the 22nd pick in the 2009 Draft. On July 9, 2008, Minnesota acquired Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, Utah's 2010 first-round pick and cash considerations from Philadelphia in exchange for a conditional second-round pick (which was top-55 protected and wasn't converted). Previously, Philadelphia acquired Gordan Giriček and a first-round pick on December 29, 2007, from Utah in exchange for Kyle Korver. On August 7, 2009, Memphis acquired Steven Hunter, a first-round pick and cash considerations from Denver in exchange for a conditional second-round pick. On July 20, 2007, Oklahoma City (as Seattle) acquired Kurt Thomas, 2008 and 2010 first-round picks from Phoenix in exchange for a 2009 second-round pick. On February 19, 2008, New Jersey acquired Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, Keith Van Horn, cash considerations, 2008 and 2010 first-round picks from Dallas in exchange for Jason Kidd, Antoine Wright and Malik Allen. On February 1, 2008, Memphis acquired Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, the draft rights to Marc Gasol, cash considerations, 2008 and 2010 first-round picks from L.A. Lakers in exchange for Pau Gasol and a second-round pick. On February 17, 2010, Washington acquired Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, the draft rights to Emir Preldžič and a first-round pick from Cleveland in a three-team trade with Cleveland and the L.A. Clippers. On June 22, 2010, Milwaukee acquired Corey Maggette and the 44th pick in the 2010 Draft from Golden State in exchange for Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric. Previously, Golden State acquired the 44th pick in the 2010 Draft and cash considerations on June 21, 2010, from Portland in exchange for the 34th pick in the 2010 Draft. Previously, Portland acquired 2009 and 2010 second-round picks from Chicago in a three-team trade on June 26, 2008. On February 18, 2010, Milwaukee acquired Primož Brezec, Royal Ivey and a second-round pick from Philadelphia in exchange for Francisco Elson and Jodie Meeks. On July 28, 2008, New York acquired Taurean Green, Bobby Jones and a second-round pick from Denver in exchange for Renaldo Balkman and cash considerations. Previously, the L.A. Clippers acquired Marcus Camby on July 15, 2008, from Denver in exchange for the option to swap 2010 second-round picks. The options to swap 2010 second-round picks was exercised, hence New York acquired L.A. Clippers' second-round pick via Denver and the L.A. Clippers acquired Denver's second-round pick. On June 25, 2009, Miami acquired 2010 and 2012 second-round picks from New Orleans in exchange for the draft rights to Marcus Thornton. On June 13, 2009, Miami acquired Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon, a future first-round pick and a 2010 second-round pick from Toronto in exchange for Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks and cash considerations. On February 21, 2008, Minnesota acquired Kirk Snyder, a second-round pick and cash considerations from Houston in exchange for Gerald Green. On December 10, 2008, Phoenix acquired Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a second-round pick from Charlotte in exchange for Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary. On June 25, 2009, Dallas acquired the draft rights to Rodrigue Beaubois and a second-round pick from Oklahoma City in exchange for the draft rights to Byron Mullens. On December 29, 2009, Minnesota acquired Alando Tucker, a second-round pick and cash considerations from Phoenix in exchange for Jason Hart. On October 10, 2008, Indiana acquired Eddie Jones, cash considerations, 2009 and 2010 second-round picks from Dallas in exchange for Shawne Williams.