Isaiah Austin, the Baylor center who had to end his professional basketball career before it started, was honored at the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.

Before the Chicago Bulls picked at No. 16, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Austin -- recently diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body's connective tissue -- was selected by the league

Isaiah Austin wipes a tear after being selected as an honorary draft pick by the NBA (USA TODAY Sports)

"Like the other young men here to night, Isaiah committed himself to endless hard work and dedication to a potential career as a professional basketball player," Silver said from the podium at the Barclays Center. "And we wanted to make sure he fulfilled at least this part of his dream."

Austin wiped tears from his eyes as he got on stage wearing a blue NBA hat.

"It's one of the biggest blessings of my life," Austin told ESPN after the standing ovation he received at the draft. "I worked so hard to get to this point and unfortunately it was taken away, but when God closes one door, he opens up another one."

Austin was projected to be a first-round pick before the diagnosis.