As any basketball fan knows, the best NBA action this week was over here in Asia as a group of eight NBA players came to play two exhibition games. Before the NBA guys arrived in the Philippines someone on Twitter posed the question of what Derrick Williams was doing on the team. At first glance he does not fit in. The other players are established NBA veterans with built in fan appeal (Harden's beard makes him a superstar in my book). But the connection that explains his involvement is very simple: Rob Pelinka. Williams shares the same agent as Kobe, Fisher, and Harden. Because I am on vacation though, I had the free time to continue thinking about Williams inclusion on the team. It was a brilliant move on Pelinka's part to have Williams play with these other stars, as it has helped Williams establish his personal image and brand. During most regular years incoming rookies are able to do this through promotional appearances in their new communities and by playing in the summer league. Rookies this year do not have those opportunities because of the lockout.

I thought it would be interesting to track Williams popularity during his trip to the Philippines by looking at his Twitter account and the growth in his number of Followers during the trip. By then comparing that growth to the growth in the number of Followers for other rookies during the same time period we can see the impact that the immediate impact that the Philippines trip had on Williams' popularity and his personal brand.

When I first checked Williams' profile about two hours before he arrived in the Philippines he had 37,668 Followers. At the time this post is going up 72 hours later Williams has 43,655 Followers. That is a 16% growth in only three days. During that same time period other first round picks have added between 100 and 300 Followers. To put it in other terms, Williams added at least 20 times more Followers during his stay in the Philippines than he would have if he had stayed at home. Williams name is now known by basketball fans across the Philippines. I would say Pelinka has put Williams in a nice position for future endorsement opportunities in this basketball-crazed country.

And because I am on vacation here are two fun little lists:

Top Ten Picks and Twitter Following
1) Kyrie Irving - 22,829
2) Derrick Williams - 43,655
3) Enes Kanter - 13,326
4) Tristan Thompson - 17,124
5) Jonas Valanciunas - NA
6) Jan Vesely - NA
7) Bismack Biyombo - NA
8) Brandon Knight - 44,004
9) Kemba Walker - 46,447
10) Jimmer Fredette - 47,607

Why have agents not started to have their international players create Twitter accounts? Is Twitter not used as much in Europe? If all the NBA guys have Weibo accounts in China, does it not make sense for international players to get on Twitter?

If Teams Had to Pick Based on Twitter Popularity
1) Nolan Smith - 50,010 (Had a nice spike today because it is his birthday)
2) JImmer Fredette - 47,607
3) Kemba Walker - 46,447
4) Brandon Knight - 44,004
5) Derrick Williams - 43,655
6) Isaiah Thomas - 25,109
7) Kyrie Irving - 22,829
8) Kyle Singler - 22,624
9) Josh Harrellson - 22,332
10) Marcus Morris - 20,557

Interesting that a Duke guard still goes first. And Kahn goes back to his roots with the 2nd pick and takes a point guard. But the big winner of the Twitter Draft has to be Isaiah Thomas, jumping from Mr. Irrelevant to a Lottery pick.