NESN

Thomas Robinson’s Feel-Good Story Starts New Chapter After Emotional NBA Draft Night

Sometimes, you have to remind yourself that basketball is just a game. Others, you realize how much more than a game it is to some.

The latter was on full display on Thursday night, when Thomas Robinson was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth overall pick. Failing to fight back tears, Robinson embraced his nine-year-old sister after his selection and relished the moment.

"I worked hard to get here and to see it all right in front of me, I got emotional," he said according to the Associated Press. "It was everything. Everything that I had been holding in came out."

It was the culmination of an emotional 18 months for Robinson, that began with tragedy, took a turn for the better just short of a national championship with Kansas and then came to a close with the draft. Robinson has been helping raise his sister since their mother passed away in January 2011 of a heart attack, followed in quick succession by the deaths of his grandmother and grandfather.

Robinson wore all that heartache on his tailored sleeve Thursday night, proving that sometimes, dreams do come true. And while ESPN's Heather Cox may insist otherwise, you don't need to travel to Disneyland to find that out.

The feel-good story of the draft wasn't hard to find this year. It was obvious to all who watched that for all the pomp and circumstance surrounding these prospects, they're still kids. And beyond that, they're people. People with pasts and people with stories.

And in the case of Thomas Robinson, people definitely worth rooting for.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/NBA

Photo of the night

Never change, Knicks fans. Never change.

Quote of the night

"I love you, and you are ready."
– Austin Rivers, on what his father Doc told him when he was selected by the New Orleans Hornets

Tweet of the night

Just give them time.

You can tell these guys aren't really pros yet because none of them have the lensless Elvis Costello glasses.

— tommy tomlinson (@tommytomlinson) June 29, 2012

Video of the night

Safe! Out! Safe! No, wait! What?!?