By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Even in a year with much US talent available, international players and specially Europeans proved once again that they belong to the NBA. In total 12 European players were drafted, four of them in the first round.
Croatian Dario Saric in number 12 by Philadelphia (traded from Orlando), Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic in number 16 by Denver (traded from Chicago), Swiss Clint Capela in number 25 by Houston and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic in number 27 by Phoenix were the top of the crop. The first three names were projected to be picked in the first round and Saric was eventually the first to hear his name, despite already signing a contract with Anadolu Efes which has an NBA out at 2016. Nurkic emerged during the season as the best young center in Europe and Clint Capela’s talent was also noted. Bogdanovic was also not a surprise, as he won the Euroleague rising star award and led Partizan in the Serbian league title.
The really interesting picks were made in the second round. The biggest surprise was Louis Labeyrie (no57 Indiana). The French center played limited minutes in Paris Levallois, however he was efficient enough to get Indiana’s attention. The Serbian trio of Nikola Jokic (no41 Denver), Vasilje Micic (no52 Philadelphia) and Nemanja Dangubic (no54 Philadelphia and then traded to the Spurs) have a really interesting story as they have played all together for Mega Vizura. French forward Damien Inglis in number 31 from Milwaukee is a really intriguing prospect, being just 19 years old, while Spaniard Walter Tavares (no43, Atlanta) is a nice stash in Europe pick, while the gigantic center is still developing his game.
On the contrary Greek Thanasis Antetokounmpo, brother of Giannis, after a year in NBADL is expected to fight for a spot in the Knicks after being picked in number 51. Last, but not least, Italian Alessandro Gentile was picked in number 53 and he was traded immediately to Houston. Already the captain of EA7 Milano, Gentile has the physical tools to play in the NBA and the main think in question here is his mental maturity.
As it was also known during draft days, three European were traded. Turkish center Omer Asik is leaving Houston for New Orleans, French guard Evan Fournier is going to Orlando and Jose Calderon ended up in New York as a part of trade from Dallas.