2007 NBA Draft Players Still Active in the NBA
Veteran players gradually began to decrease in the NBA. Some decided to retire, some chose to move to a basketball league outside the NBA. The very tight competition in the NBA is one reason.
They also have to compete with a row of young players who are physically far superior. One of them is the players from the 2007 NBA Draft. Even though there are few left, some players from the draft are still playing competitively in the NBA today.
Who are the 2007 NBA Draft players who are still active in the NBA?
Thaddeus Young
Thaddeus Young started his journey in the NBA by being selected in 12th place in the 2007 NBA Draft. This power forward was chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers, the team he later played for for 7 years (2007–2014).
Young’s best achievement in the NBA was being selected for the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2008. The 34-year-old player has played for a number of teams in his career and is currently playing for the Toronto Raptors.
Mike Conley
Furthermore, there is a player who plays a point guard who was selected in fourth place in the 2007 NBA Draft, Mike Conley. Memphis Grizzlies became the team that chose the player who is now 34 years old.
Conley has high loyalty towards the Grizzlies. This is evident from the 12 years he spent in the Grizzlies uniform, before finally leaving for the Utah Jazz in 2019. Even though he is already in his head three, Conley has consistently recorded double-digit points.
Jeff Green
Jeff Green was chosen right after Mike Conley, who was fifth, by the Boston Celtics in the 2007 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, the 36-year-old was immediately swapped for the Oklahoma City Thunder (then the Seattle SuperSonics) on the same day.
Green spent 4 years at the Thunder before venturing into several teams. The player who can become a power forward and center is now in the Denver Nuggets uniform. Green himself is known to be quite consistent in terms of points and rebounds even though he is already a veteran.
Al Horford
Al Horford is the only non-US player on this list. The player from the Dominican Republic is now playing for the Boston Celtics. Even though he is 36 years old, Horford is still the center of the Celtics mainstay.
Horford was selected third in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Horford has won a number of awards during his career in the NBA, including being elected to the NBA All-Star, NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and others.
Kevin Durant
The last name is definitely familiar to NBA fans. Kevin Durant is known as one of the best basketball players in the NBA today. Durant himself was selected second in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although known as an unstoppable player in scoring points, Durant only felt the NBA title when he defended the Golden State Warriors, which was also reinforced by superstar Stephen Curry. Currently, Durant is defending the Brooklyn Nets.
Kevin Durant is definitely the most successful on this list. He has won many awards during his career in the NBA. Nevertheless, the other players should also be appreciated because they are still in the NBA to this day, although some have decreased in performance.