VIDEO: NBA selects Isaiah Austin with honorary pick in 2014 NBA Draft

Between the 15th and 16th picks in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver took the podium to announce a pick...on behalf of the league.

He announced that the league has selected Baylor center Isaiah Austin with an honorary draft pick in a very touching moment.

"It's one of the biggest blessings of my life," Austin said. "I've worked so hard to get to this point and unfortunately it was taken away from me. When God closes one door, another one opens."

Austin was expected to be a second-round pick, which is incredible considering he was rendered completely blind in one eye before his career at Baylor began. Unfortunately, pre-draft medical screening found he had Marfan syndrome, a condition caused by a genetic mutation that leads to problems in connective tissues throughout the body. It was determined that Austin was at too large a health risk to continue playing basketball.

It was an incredible moment, and Austin's positivity and resolve should stand as an inspiration to everyone. This man had his dream taken away from him, and he spent all of zero seconds wallowing or feeling sorry for himself. He has every reason to be negative and has been a pillar of strength. It's an inspiration.