The NBA Draft Showcases the League’s International Dominance

the recent NBA Draft made one thing clear, the league is the most international of the big four in the USA.

Four of the top five picks are guys who didn’t jump straight out of a LA college. NCAA to the NBAeven five of the first seven recruits have the same label.

Victor Wembanyamathe newest global basketball sensation and No. 1 pick in the Draft, hails from France; Scoot Henderson comes from the NBA G League; Brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson come to the NBA after playing in the Overtome Elite. The only selected one of the first five that did make the collegiate jump directly was Brandon Millerwho studied in Alabama.

“That the number one is international, follows the line of what the league is doing to develop basketball internationally and that there are more and more international players and that the league is that, the best in the world with the best players in the world. ”, pointed to RECORD Marc Pullesdirector of basketball operations for NBA Mexico.

In October of last year, prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season, the league announced that 120 international players from 40 countries and six continents were on the opening rosters. It was the first time the opening rosters had at least 120 international players in consecutive seasons and the ninth season in a row that had at least 100 international players. All 30 NBA teams featured at least one international player.

“We have been betting on international development and this is demonstrated in the issue of international players that there are more and more. Our basketball development programs such as Basketball Without Borders or youth development programs such as the Jr NBA are committed to the development of basketball in an integral way throughout the world, you can see that the number of international players continues to increase every year ”, admitted.

Marc believes that Victor Wembanyama has the potential to become a star, just like the likes of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo have.

“Everyone knows of his ability, talent and his privileged physique. I’m sure it will work like the others who have made the leap and have adapted to the league in an excellent way. Víctor has been a worldwide phenomenon and he will continue to be that way, ”he explained.

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2023-07-04 05:57:08
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