Aussie teen's NBA dream finally realised at draft
Australia's Johnny Furphy has finally realised his NBA dream, with the Melbourne teen selected in the second round by Indiana, after the Pacers reportedly sent cash to the San Antonio Spurs to move up one spot.
The Pacers were initially at pick No.36 but moved up to snare the Aussie at pick No.35.
Furphy, 19, will join a young and impressive Pacers team who made the Eastern Conference finals this year.
Furphy made an impression on NBA scouts after one season with the Kansas Jayhawks, averaging nine points.
The Aussie's blend of size and athleticism makes him a valuable asset and he's shown promise on defence, while his smooth shooting stroke from the perimeter is a massive plus in today's three-point heavy NBA.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1806428119613726963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1806427549800501343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/ScottAgness/status/1806428049497260082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/DraftDeeper/status/1806427969155743757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/zhedrickTV/status/1806427770483794415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Furphy was invited by the NBA to the "green room" for Thursday's draft but was made to wait until night two of the draft, which is a first for the NBA, which usually stages its annual draft on one night.
The 206cm shooting guard Is viewed as a late bloomer in the sport and did not feature in the Victorian representative side until he was 17 years old.
Johnny Furphy
Yet that was enough for the US College team the Kansas Jayhawks, who recruited Furphy, with the Australian going on to impress many keen judges in the basketball world in his first year of college hoops.
MORE TO COME.