My first season as a true internet-educated NBA junkie was in 2010-2011. I was reading and listening to Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe religiously. Grantland (R.I.P.) launched. LeBron James and the Flying Death Machine Heat had the sports community in a frenzy. I was 16 going on 17 and fully immersing myself in a new, great era of professional basketball.
As a fan of a directionless NBA squad, I began looking to the NBA draft and the bevy of college and international prospects as possible saviors of the 76ers franchise. With the 16th pick in the 2011 NBA draft, the Sixers were just one pick away from a ball-hawking defender named Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State.