The first NBA D-League player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, just happens to be a former Texas Legend. That’s right, it’s P.J. Hairston, and here’s a look at his rise from a troubled collegiate career, to his impressive D-League roots, and on to the NBA.
College Career: University of North Carolina
https://youtu.be/icBZBv5cmU0
Hairston was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, less than hour west of Chapel Hill, home of the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he would play two years under the tutelage of legendary coach Roy Williams. Averaging just 13 minutes of playing time as a frosh, Hairston still saw the court enough to be the eighth-leading scorer on the team, with 5.7 points per game. In what would prove to be his final year of college, Hairston started off with a bang, knocking down 23 points against UNC’s biggest rival, Duke.
All told, his final season would see him average over 23 minutes per and 14.6 points per game. A series of run-ins with the law would ultimately end Hairston’s tenure as a Tar Heel. Hairston was suspended, and North Carolina decided to not seek reinstatement of their star player. Although an undoubted low-point in Hairston’s career, this would pave the way for his professional debut with the Texas Legends.
Texas Legends: Hairston’s Professional Career Begins
Hairston was signed by the Texas Legends on January 14, 2014, and made his debut on January 18. Coming in off the bench, Hairston’s first foray into professional hoops was a notable one, as he racked up 22 points, with six steals.
In the notoriously offense-centric D-League, one game with 22 points does not a career make. However, over his 26 games with the Legends, he proved that was no fluke. Averaging 21.8 points per game (tied for ninth-best in the D-League) and sporting the eighth-best free throw percentage (87%), Hairston certainly proved that he belonged in the realm of professional basketball.
But would his breakout year with the Legends be enough for NBA teams to take him in the first round of the 2014 draft? Absolutely.
Charlotte Bobcats: The Beginnings of a Promising NBA Career
https://youtu.be/_Dx-s8TNnOE
In what was touted as a very strong draft class, P.J. Hairston was taken in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, with the 26th overall pick. The following day, Hairston was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for Shabazz Napier.
Hairston has seen his fair share of playing time during his rookie year with the Bobcats, playing in 34 games, including two starts. He’s scored 15 points on two occasions, once against the Atlanta Hawks and again versus the New York Knicks, and has reached double digits in points on six occasions, with the Bobcats winning four of those six games.
Thus far, Hairston has averaged a respectable 85% from the free-throw line, while contributing 5.8 points per game (12.9 points per 36 minutes) during his inaugural NBA season.
Once he becomes more familiar with the ins and outs of the league, and gains experience, there really is no doubt that P.J. Hairston has the potential to be an impact player for years to come. Indeed, the future is bright for the former Texas Legends phenom.
