NBA to give Isaiah Austin job after graduation

By Bryan Rose | Jul 22, 2014

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Isaiah Austin (Baylor) wipes a tear from his eye after being selected as an honorary draft pick by the NBA during the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Austin was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome ending his career. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

You may not have heard of Isaiah Austin before the NBA Draft, though you certainly know his name now. The 20-year-old college basketball star was set to become the first partially blind player to play in the NBA but just days before his dream was to become reality, he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome.

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The diagnosis ended his hopes for an on-court career in the NBA, but commissioner Adam Silver wasn’t going to let his dream completely escape him as he decided to draft Austin into the NBA during the first round. It was a complete tearjerker and one of the best moments you’ll ever see in sports, but Silver wasn’t just trying to make headlines – he was serious.

That’s the word from Isaiah Austin himself who told TMZ he has a job waiting for him once he graduates from Baylor University.

"Austin — who was ceremonially drafted by the NBA at the Draft back in June — tells us Silver already hooked him up with a part-time gig with the league’s NBA Cares program … and promised full-time work once he gets his degree."

As if there wasn’t enough reason to be a fan of Adam Silver, he goes out of his way to do this.

In regards to Isaiah Austin, no, it isn’t playing basketball but it’s incredibly awesome of Silver and the league to extend their hand to the 7-footer who just a few short weeks ago though he’d never have an opportunity in the league.

Austin will be returning to Baylor this August where he’ll finish up school and begin his new job with the NBA.