By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Technically the first European player of the draft in Ukrainian Alex Len (no5, Phoenix). However, after a season in Maryland, Len is not considered by the NBA as an “international prospect” and that left a 18 years old Greek of Nigerian origin being the flag bearer of the old continent.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (no15, Milwaukee) is the Greek player getting picked highest ever in the draft, breaking the record of former Sixers player Efthimis Rentzias who was picked in number 23 back in 1996. The German point guard Dennis Schroeder (no17, Atlanta) was the next Euro on the line, followed by Russian sharp shooter Sergey Karasev (no19, Cleveland, photo). French center Rudy Gobert, projected even as a lottery pick was selected by Utah (no27), his compatriot Jan Charles Livio will have plenty of French company in the Spurs (no28) and Nemanja Nedovic of Lietuvos Rytas was picked in number 30 by Golden State.
In the start of the second round, Alex Abrines of Barcelona was picked by Oklahoma City (no 32), his teammate Marco Todorovic followed him in number 45 (Portland), Joffrey Lauvergne who finished the season in Partizan heard his name in number 55 (Memphis), Valencia’s Bojan Dubljevic who was also Eurocup’s rising star ended up in Minnesota (no 59) and in number 60 Latvian Janis Timma of Ventspils was the lack pick.