Aussies snubbed at NBA Draft

Australian basketballers hopeful of being drafted to an NBA franchise have so far been overlooked, despite several having performed strongly at college.

NBA draft

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (C) and the top prospects pose before the 2018 NBA Draft. (AAP)

Australia has endured a rough day at the NBA Draft with young stars Jock Landale, Deng Adel and Xavier Cooks all passed over despite strong US college stints.

Their NBA dreams, however, likely will not be over with teams expected to sign them as undrafted free agents and test them in next month's NBA Summer League.

Australia has enjoyed plenty of success at the annual draft in recent years, with Ben Simmons, Dante Exum, Thon Maker and Jonah Bolden all snapped up.

Landale, a 211cm tall, 22-year-old centre from Melbourne who was a star at California's St Mary's College the past four years, was considered Australia's best chance this year.

Fellow Aussies Cooks (Winthrop University), Adel (University of Louisville), Emmet Naar (St Mary's), Chima Moneke (UC Davis) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (Baylor University) will also attempt to sign with teams as undrafted free agents.

The top overall pick at the draft held in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday was Bahamas-born centre-forward Deandre Ayton who went to the struggling Phoenix Suns.


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Source: AAP



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