Congratulations to my June Fan of the Month – Tiffany W. from Houston, TX!

“Dear Jalen, my name is Tiffany, and I am your biggest fan! I have always been a Raptors fan, so when you were traded to Toronto in 2003 I was really happy. Even though you only stayed for one or two years, I really came to admire you. On court you didn't seem to panic and you always made the right plays. Off court you were a great philanthropist, and your name was always in the newspaper. I watched every game I could on the weekends, and once my family even flew to Canada to see you! To bad you never played with Houston, because I would have loved to see that. It's great that your a commentator for ESPN, especially now during the playoffs when I watch the most basketball. Right now I'm cheering for the Nuggets. Oh yeah, you get your own fashion line, because you have a great sense of fashion. Good luck! Thanks for taking the time to read my letter. Your #1 Fan, Tiffany”             

by Peter Schrager
NEW YORK - Amidst a night of monumental trades, swirling rumors, and long-suffering Knicks fans bemoaning yet another first-round draft pick, there was a bow tie in Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Yes, Oklahoma City Thunder first-round draft pick James Harden wore a bow tie to the NBA Draft.
 
Draft pick James Harden brought the only real fashion excitement to draft day with his bow tie. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)

A nice one, too. It was pinkish, maybe purple, and he wore it with a striped shirt, a vest, and a swank blazer.

Don't be fooled. This was significant.

You see, for too long we've been devoid of creative wardrobe selections at the NBA Draft. Throughout the '80's and '90s, watching this event meant three things: the Dallas Mavericks screwing something up, TNT's Bob Neal announcing each pick, and absolutely absurd clothing choices.

Crazy get-ups and head-scratching accessories were the glue to the early years of the televised NBA Draft. Hell, they were the highlights.

Some examples?

How about Samaki Walker's nifty get-up to the 1996 NBA Draft? Sweet hat, Samaki.

Or Karl Malone's interesting "skinny tie" look at the 1985 Draft?

Jalen Rose's 1995 candy cane-striped tuxedo probably takes the proverbial Draft Day suit cake.

Comedians Randy and Jason Sklar, co-hosts of the ESPN Classic show "Cheap Seats", went to Michigan with Rose back in the mid '90s. On the now legendary '95 Draft suit, Randy jokes, "I think his suit came with a pimp cup. When he took the obligatory photo on stage, he actually handed David Stern his scepter so he could put on his hat."

If Rose's rosy red outfit was the George Washington of noteworthy Draft Day suits, Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon might be the other suits on that Mount Rushmore.