Croatian prodigy Dragan Bender has been selected by the Phoenix Suns as the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, highlighting this year’s European class.
The 18-year-old, 7-footer comes from Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv where he saw limited minutes, but that isn’t a huge cause for concern, given that players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and more recently Kristaps Porzingis had the same criticism coming into the league but have since shone.
Lithuanian star Domantas Sabonis was selected by the Orlando Magic as he looks to follow in the footsteps of his well respected father Arvydas, who is arguably one of the pioneers of successful European players in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to select LSU’s Ben Simmons, and they have duly chosen the Australian as the first pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
The 2016 NBA Draft:
The top 10 picks of the 2016 #NBADraft are in! pic.twitter.com/9328sPuqOV
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2016
Here they are: picks 11-through-20 of the 2016 #NBADraft! pic.twitter.com/Xxxt5hq2kb
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2016
Picks 21-30 of the 2016 #NBADraft presented by @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/WdKpM0tVjr
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2016
Picks 31-40 of the 2016 #NBADraft are in (via @NBADraft) pic.twitter.com/XOjzvRl15u
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2016
2016 #NBADraft picks 41-50 pic.twitter.com/PsYsiYld0Y
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 24, 2016
The final ten picks of the 2016 #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/rlKAAL7DVB
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 24, 2016