Johnny Furphy drafted by Indiana Pacers; Bronny James drafted by Lakers
Johnny Furphy’s dream of being drafted is a reality, while LeBron James’ son Bronny has joined his legendary dad on the Lakers. All the latest from the NBA draft!
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Australian sharpshooter Johnny Furphy is heading to the Indiana Pacers with the 35th pick, after being traded from the Spurs.
It isn’t the projected first-round he had hoped for, but Furphy’s dream of being drafted is now a reality.
There are no guarantees with a second-round selection, and it remains to be seen what NBA minutes he receives next season, but the Melbourne-born wing joins a long list of Australians to be drafted.
Indiana, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, is an ideal franchise for Furphy to develop his game.
There are now multiple options on the table for the talented 19-year-old, including NBA, G League or having his pick stashed to play overseas.
Former Cairns Taipans NBL Next Star Bobi Klintman was taken 37th overall and is heading to Detroit.
BRONNY JAMES DRAFTED BY THE LAKERS
Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, was selected 55th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft.
Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, the 39-year-old Lakers playmaker who is a four-time NBA champion, has said he would like to play alongside his son next season -- in what would be the first father-son combination in NBA history.
James, a guard for the University of Southern California, averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Trojans last season after a stellar high school career and also impressed scouts at an NBA combine.
At a practice session last July, USC freshman James collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest caused by a congenital heart defect.
The teenager was released from the hospital a few days later and doctors approved him playing both in US college basketball and, last month, in the NBA.
The younger James is seen as a top defensive prospect with elite athletic skills and strong instincts for the game but might need time to develop fully as an NBA player.
LeBron James has until Saturday to opt into the final year of his Lakers contract or become a free agent, which would not stop him from re-signing a new Lakers deal.
ESPN reported that agent Rich Paul was warning teams ahead of the Lakers in the picking order that Bronny James would play in Australia rather than deal with some clubs.
“Rich Paul (James’ agent) is calling teams, don’t take Bronny James ... if you take him, he’s going to Australia,” former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers said.
The Lakers owned the fourth-to-last NBA Draft selection and there was concern other clubs might use a higher pick on James, to see if they could swing a trade deal with the Lakers for James or the pick.
The Phoenix Suns, who didn’t own a second-round pick due to a free agency tampering violation, were the only team other than the Lakers to have a workout with Bronny James ahead of the draft.
Originally published as Johnny Furphy drafted by Indiana Pacers; Bronny James drafted by Lakers
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