Jitters to dejection: Behind the scenes of Nerlens Noel's draft day

• Nerlens Noel was selected with the sixth pick in the NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans
• The Pelicans later traded Noel to the Philadelphia 76ers
• Noel was a projected top 2 draft pick%2C but a knee injury caused suspicions

NEW YORK — With his hands covered over his head, Nerlens Noel let out a sigh of relief. His NBA draft day was finally over. It was 12:55 a.m. ET.

If Noel could have written his draft day script himself, it likely would have included a celebration party with his family and close friends instead of a 3-hour delayed media circuit answering questions that surely cut like razor blades.

Are you surprised?

Was it the knee?

Message to the teams that passed on you?

Noel answered the questions politely. But his body language said everything: Exhausted, frustrated, disheartened.

The 6-11 former Kentucky big man with a surgically repaired knee shook NBA commissioner David Stern's five picks too late, in his eyes. "I feel like I'm the best player in this draft," said Noel, who only met with the top three teams — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards. All of those teams, and the Charlotte Bobcats, Phoenix Suns and even the New Orleans Pelicans felt Noel wasn't their guy.

Ultimately, after hours of negotiations to finalize a deal that had already hit the Internet waves, Noel became a Philadelphia 76er when the Pelicans traded him for all-star Jrue Holiday.

"He's a top two pick," the head of his management team, Chris Driscoll said a day earlier. Most, if not all, NBA mock draft boards had Noel getting drafted by the Cavaliers or the Magic.

"It does bother me," Noel said of teams bypassing him. "It's something that makes you have a chip on your shoulder. I'm going to look back on this and use it as motivation."

When it was all said and done, Noel labeled Thursday "the longest day of my life." That wasn't just from the five teams on the clock that went a different direction.

9 a.m.: Noel's morning started with a foreshadowing moment. While eating breakfast on the 9th floor in the Westin Hotel in Time Square with his mother, Dorcina, his older brothers, Jim and Rodman, and his younger sister Nashdah, lottery pick Alex Len and his girlfriend, Essence Townsend, sit at an adjacent table. No words are exchanged, just silent eating.

When asked by a visiting reporter if he thought Len, a 7-1 Ukranian big man deserved to go No. 1 in the draft, he shrugged and let out a "maybe, he's a good player." His brother, Jim, shook his head with disapproval. Multiple projectors believed the Cavaliers would take Len with the top pick over Noel. Len went fifth overall to the Suns.

Then Noel's brothers kill the silence by talking about football. Everyone at the table, outside of a reporter, is a Patriots fan. The obvious what do you think about Tebow? question comes up. "It'll work, he's going to show everyone," Nerlens said.

12:30 p.m.: Noel and his family attended a luncheon with other lottery picks. There, commissioner David Stern visited with each future NBAer's table.

"It was cool, you know, to see the guy who's been at all the drafts, taking the time to talk to you," Noel said. "It means a lot to hear him say he's happy to have you be in the NBA."

The foreshadowing continues as Noel's seen chatting with fellow lottery pick Michael Carter-Williams, a high school teammate, for most of the day. He'd later say, after the Sixers drafted Carter-Williams at No. 11 and it was finalized that the two would become teammates again in Philly, "that's a best friend right there."

2:30 p.m.: Nerlens meets with USA TODAY Sports for a scheduled interview in which he discusses the transition from college to the pros.

"This day is going by so slow," Noel said. "The anxiety is through the roof."

Discussing what he needs to work on, he said: "I definitely think I can make an impact right away. Offensively, that's a part of my game I'm working on and it's coming along."

Noel talks about growing up in Boston idolizing Kevin Garnett and he confides that he cannot wait to talk trash to one of his idols once he gets in the league. He also named a player he'd love to dunk on: Joakim Noah. "I mean he hustles, but every time you play, you just wanna dunk all up on him, ya know?"

Noel is then asked about his top choice for a destination.

"I'm not cocky, but I do feel I'm the best player in the draft," he said. "I want to get a chance to show that. Whether I'm picked 2,3, 4, 5, I want to be the first pick obviously."

3:30 p.m.: Nerlens is escorted to the 43rd floor of the Westin to meet his stylist. There, he unveils the suit that his fans selected him to wear via social media. He chose a grey suit, titled The Look of Your Legacy designed by Jhoanna Alba.

"I love interacting with the fans," Noel said. "I figured they could help me decide this for my big night."

On the interior part of his suit coat, Noel had a Kentucky jersey stitched on. "I've gotta show love to the Big Blue Nation," Noel said.

Noel has to have help tying his tie, and the future millionaire admits he doesn't know how to tie a tie. "Doesn't matter much now," a cameraman mumbles.

5:30 p.m.: Player bus leaves from the Westin Hotel on a charter bus to get to Barclays Center, where all the draft picks meet in a concentrated green room closed off to all media.

6:30 p.m.: The nerves are starting to kick in for Noel and his table of supporters. A text from Kentucky coach John Calipari reads: "Right now I want to vomit!! Went back to pace but couldn't find a place."

Calipari is an NBA draft regular, having witnessed seven of his Kentucky players become top 10 picks. Noel became the 13th first round pick from Kentucky under Calipari, who will likely grace another draft table next year considering his recruiting class for 2013-14 is considered to be one of the best of all-time.

Noel's mother, Dorcina, couldn't be happier for her son, who's worked rigorously rehabilitating his knee in Birmingham, Ala.

"Growing up, his brothers played football, but Nerlens, he thought it was too cold outside. He liked basketball," Dorcina explained. "This is his dream, when he gets drafted, it will be like (pauses) a miracle sent from God."

7:30 p.m.: Calipari's nerves haven't faded. His next text reads: "Come on, pick already!!"

Finally, commissioner Stern walks across the draft day stage to a raucous Brooklyn crowd booing him on his final draft night.

"I can't hear you," Stern alerts the crowd.

Noel chuckles. His brothers smile.

With the first pick in the 2013 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select...

Anthony Bennett from UNLV.

Noel tries to stay relaxed in a stunned draft table. His brothers, less composed, roll their eyes.

7:45 p.m.: Stern returns to the stage to announce the Orlando Magic's selection.

With the second pick in the 2013 NBA draft, the Orlando Magic select...

Victor Oladipo from Indiana University.

Suddenly, a projected top 2 pick is out of the top 2 conversation.

"Any team from this point on is getting a steal," Jim Noel texts.

8:15 p.m.: The nightmare continues for three more picks. Finally, the New Orleans Pelicans are on the clock.

With the sixth pick in the 2013 NBA draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select Nerlens Noel from the University of Kentucky.

Noel's look of disappointment briefly transforms into a moment of joy when he can hug his mother. Calipari whispers something into his ear that Noel later said was to "stay positive and never stop outworking people. You're in a great position, make the most of it."

8:30 p.m.: Noel is escorted from the draft stage to a press conference room. On the walk, Noel is asked by a herd of trailing media members if he's excited to team up with former Kentucky star, last year's No. 1 pick Anthony Davis on the Pelicans.

In a short time alone with a reporter, Noel is reminded about Paul Pierce getting selected 9th overall in the 1999 NBA draft. He's then asked if he has that same hunger to prove the teams that looked passed him wrong. "Yeah, I'm going to make them pay," he confides.

Noel finally makes the podium of the press conference, wearing a New Orleans Pelicans hat. By this time, reports had surfaced that Noel had been traded to the 76ers. Consider that press conference the first time Noel found out he had been dealt.

"Definitely looking forward to blocking a lot of shots with a Wildcat," Noel said.

The next question: How do you feel about being a Sixer? "They've got a great organization," Noel said, still trying to process things. "This game is a business, but I'm definitely trying to stay positive."

The next question: Have you been in contact with the 76ers? "No I have not been in contact with them as of recent," Noel said.

8:45 p.m.: When leaving the press conference room, Nerlens is pulled into a hallway to take a phone call. From there, he's transported to a back room known as the Phone Room.

Calipari said it's "all good" even though Nerlens fell so low from projections. "So happy for this young man and his family. His mother deserves this for her family!" Calipari texted.

12 a.m.: Noel never left the room while negotiations were being finalized for his trade to the 76ers. "I was getting sleepy in there," he said.

"Think you're having a long day? Try being the sixth pick when you're supposed to be the first, then getting traded and waiting forever. So much for celebrating. That's the worst draft day ever right there," a Brooklyn Barclays security guard said in passing.

On the home stretch of an exhausting day, Noel runs through media circuits and answers the same questions over and over again.

Each question didn't need to be answered.

Are you surprised with how far you dipped, Nerlens? Obviously.

Was it the knee that swayed teams away, Nerlens? Most likely.

Noel, clearly disenchanted by both a long night emotionally, answered a lot of questions with fillers such as "it is what it is" and "I'm just trying to stay positive."

When reminded that he's a millionaire, Noel enters "blessed" and "fortunate" into the vocabulary.

Finally, Noel's asked how this night will drive him for the rest of his career. He didn't sugar coat that answer.

"Each of those teams saw something in me that they considered a weakness," Noel said. "If you think it was the knee, that's fine. You just gave me more motivation now. To the (teams that passed) all I've got to say is 'thank you.' I can't wait to get on the court even more now."

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Gleeson, a college basketball writer/editor for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.