So this was how it felt.
If you'd ever watched the NBA draft - or any team selection process really - there had always been THAT player still waiting to be chosen at the end of the night.
Hoping this was just a bad dream and that someone would walk back out to the microphone to announce just one more name…
On Thursday night, Zack Te Puni experienced that emptiness firsthand, as 84 other names were selected ahead of him for the Sal's NBL Showdown.
"It's an interesting feeling and scenario, just seeing how the whole thing works," he confides to Newshub. "Just sitting there waiting and seeing everyone's name, with a lot of guys you know getting picked up.
"You're obviously happy for them and they get an opportunity to show what they've got, but it wasn't a great feeling.
"I know what they can do - they've all got game and deserve to be there, but it was frustrating knowing I could compete with all those guys."
Te Puni's track record suggests he wouldn't be out of place on an NBL roster, including a bench-riding cameo with the Super City Rangers as a teenager.
After an ill-fated stint with a US division two college, the former Rangitoto College power forward was preparing for a season in Perth, when COVID-19 forced him home.
With his NBL hopes dashed for now, Te Puni will refocus on Plan A, which will see him return across the Tasman sooner, rather than later.
"This was never really what I planned to do. I was obviously hoping for a better result, but sometimes that's how the ball bounces.
"This just allows me to focus more on Australia and gives me a point to prove."
One who sympathises with Te Puni's plight is NBL legend Dillon Boucher, now sitting on the league board and an instigator of this year's revamped post-coronavirus format.
With more than 450 enlisting for the league's first-ever draft, most were inevitably doomed to disappointment.
"There's a whole bunch of talented players that never got picked," Boucher tells Newshub. "That's the sad story of the draft.
"These are guys that I know can go and are ready to help rosters, particularly in Auckland, because there's such a huge talent pool.
"Other teams either don't know them or they've stayed loyal to the guys they've developed at the end of their roster, rather than picking a guy from outside their region."
Boucher advises Te Puni to keep his head in the game.
"Other leagues around the world will start coming out of COVID-19 as well, so just stay training and stay ready.
"Also, there are three games a week, there will be injuries and if you're in shape, ready to go, you'll just slot right in seamlessly to any of those rosters."
THE VISION
Boucher spent draft night chowing down on sponsor's product, so his experience was far more comfortable than Te Puni's.
As the later rounds unfolded and selections became more obscure, his knowledge of secondary schools basketball - after following son Jayden's career through Rosmini College - provided much-needed insight for fans watching on live stream.
"I thought the talent was spread across all teams," he says. "When I look across the rosters, it's awesome to see some big names on each team, some good firepower and great to see some young names that we haven't seen in a while, because they've been at US colleges.
"There were different motives for each team. A lot of them were being loyal to guys that will be on their rosters in the future and some were making plays for guys they want on their rosters in the future as well."
Casting an eye over the final team lists, Boucher doesn't see any clear favourites to win the title, but likes what the Canterbury Rams have achieved with their pre-selections.
"They're training right now, so they will be a real team by the time they play in the competition," he says. "They will be more prepared than any other team.
"Are they the best team on paper? Probably not, but we also don't know how strong someone like Jack Salt will be."
Two years ago, the 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tall Blacks centre became the first Kiwi to win a US college championship with University of Virginia and he will use the NBL to stake his claim for an NZ Breakers call-up.
"He could be a real dominant force in this league and an MVP candidate," says Boucher. "Or he could find the pace of the league is fast and a big body like him is not as useful as you think.
"There will be a lot of things that go into it, but I can assure you, there will be a lot of speed. It's a very guard-heavy league - there will be some big boys as well, but a lot of quick, speedy guards."
The selection process may not yet be over. Another wrinkle to this year's format provides a trade window that closes on Sunday.
"I haven't heard any inside information on what might happen there, but the coaches I've spoken to are already very happy with their rosters.
"I certainly think most teams got their first or second picks, and it was great to see general managers and coaches working overtime in their draft preparation."
THE COACH
With the draft's best free agent already on his books, Otago Nuggets coach Brent Matehaere couldn't believe his luck, when this next pick rolled around at No.14 in the traditional 'snake' format.
Adjudged as the weakest roster based on pre-selections, the Nugs were awarded first choice on draft night and immediately snapped up multi-talented forward Jordan Ngatai - Tall Blacks, NZ Breakers and winner of three NBL titles with Wellington Saints.
"When Jordan came into the draft late, he certainly changed our thinking," Matehaere tells Newshub.
"He gives us that ability to play all positions on the floor. He can handle the ball, he can organise the team, stretch the floor, post up… he's got a skillset that's the envy of all the other teams."
So, imagine Matehaere's excitement, when his original target was still available 13 spots later.
Veteran Jarrod Kenny, 34, has been one of New Zealand's best defensive guards for more than a decade and currently holds the NBL assist title, offering vast international and professional experience.
"To pick up our two top choices was a fantastic win for us," says Matehaere. "We're really excited to have JK on board.
"The leadership he will give on court and with our young guards won't be measurable."
Otago have used the draft to bolster a homegrown squad that Matehaere was preparing for an NBL comeback next year, before they were invited into the revamped format early.
"We went half and half," he says. "We pre-selected four players that were the core of the group down here.
"We also took Jack Andrew from St Kevin's College, who has been driving down from Twizel and back for training.
"Our last pick, Matthew Bardsley from Palmerston North Boys High School, has also been training with us, but we couldn't pre-select him, because he didn't meet the criteria."
Matehaere enjoyed the draft experience and recognises the benefits for the league, especially in such strange times.
"It's all everyone's talking about and they're saying we should have it every year.
"Obviously, we don't want a worldwide pandemic every year, but it was certainly a great show.
"All the predictions, people working out who the best players were, who would go where and who would have the best roster… as a concept, it was fantastic."
"Once the rosters are done, the coaching starts and we now look forward to that."
THE VETERAN
Tall Blacks forward Tom Vodanovich had little idea where he might end up, as the draft began, but didn't have to wait long to find out.
After Otago took Ngatai and Taranaki Mountainairs secured high-scoring guard Derone Raukawa with the second pick, Vodanovich learned he was headed to the Manawatu Jets.
"I didn't really have an inkling," he tells Newshub. "I'd had chats with a few coaches, so I thought everything was a chance.
"I knew some teams had pre-selected people, so as the order went down, I started wondering where I'd go.
"I was happy to go third - it was a bit of a surprise. That's quite high, and I'm very proud and grateful to receive this opportunity.
"Hopefully, I can do something with it."
Currently off contract with the NZ Breakers, the 2.01m (6ft 7in) power forward hopes his NBL performances will earn him another chance there or with another Australian club.
He now looks forward to playing for a coach - Tim McTamney - that helped him out when he first arrived back from his US college stint and has courted him ever since.
"I was struggling after surgery and it was 6-7 months before the league started, so before I began talking to anyone, I went to Palmerston North and had a run with them.
"I ended up playing for Southland, but we've kept in contact over the years. Tim's always been good to me and was keen to have me play under him, so now we have that opportunity."
Vodanovich has faced the Jets enough to know what lies in store for him.
"I know the way his teams have played - they're fast-paced, they like to get in your face and play real tough defence.
"If I can get my legs under me and looking at the other players, we should be able to get up and down, and we'll be a tough team to guard.
"The Jets have always had a really solid local base - it's tough for them to bring players in, I think, without a big fund of money.
"I've watched them grow and they have players who can not only compete on the court, but they like to talk a bit of trash, so it will be cool not to be on the receiving end for once."
