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Johnny Furphy finally fulfils NBA draft dream and more Next Stars drafted in another successful day for NBL

Melbourne sharpshooter Johnny Furphy fulfils NBA draft dream, more Next Stars drafted and LA Lakers use NBL as a decoy in a bid to create history.

Matt Logue and amp; Michael Randall
4 min read
June 28, 2024 - 2:00PM

Australian sharpshooter Johnny Furphy fulfilled his NBA draft dream, the Next Stars program had two more draftees and the Los Angeles Lakers used the NBL as the ultimate decoy to secure Bronny James in a bid to create history.

That sums up a chaotic string of events in an eventful second round of the NBA draft on Friday morning.

The day started with Furphy 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 the young gun’s goal of being drafted in the NBA 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 given its proven development focus.

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.

Furphy was lost for words when asked to describe what it feels like to officially become an NBA player.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Furphy told ESPN.

“This is a dream come true. I’m just so excited.”

Furphy reflected on the personal phone call he received from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who has been coaching in the NBA for two decades.

“It was pretty crazy,” he said.

“He gave me a call and congratulated me. He is very excited with the way that I’ll be able to fit into their play style.

“He said we can’t wait to get to work and I’m going to be coached hard, which is good.”

Johnny Furphy had to wait for night two of the draft to realise NBA dream. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Johnny Furphy had to wait for night two of the draft to realise NBA dream. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Indiana’s GM Chad Buchanan can see the upside of selecting a raw yet gifted player like Furphy.

Buchanan believes the athletic Australian is a perfect fit for the Pacers’ fast and up-tempo style of play.

“I feel like he is a guy that has a lot of room to grow,” Buchanan said.

“Both his body physically, his game. He is obviously very young in age, but we liked a lot of things about him that we felt aligned with who we are as an organisation and how we play.

“We’re excited about where he could get to.”

Both Furphy and Duke big man Kyle Filipowski were invited to the green room in Brooklyn but sat through the entire first round without hearing their name called.

Each is represented by Priority Sports.

Two sources in the US, one an NBA executive, told Code Sports they believe Furphy erred in spurning workouts with several teams outside the lottery.

“Very strange, I thought he would go first round,” one source said.

“Agent promised him too much.

“Only worked out for lottery teams and that was a bad decision

“I also think he is a long way away to being able to play which might have hurt him.”

Another source said Furphy would “make it work” in Indiana and could end up being a steal for the Pacers.

“Long-term he’ll be fine … but he obviously got some pretty average advice - if you’re accepting a green room invite and not in the first round your agent probably doesn’t have a good grasp of where you’re heading and when.

“The two kids who were left sitting in the green room were actually from the same agency.”

The success of the NBL Next Stars program also continued during the second round of the draft.

Just a day after having Alex Sarr (No.2), AJ Johnson (No.23) drafted, fellow Next Stars Bobi Klintman and Ariel Hukporti were selected.

Klintman was selected with the 37th pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves but is set to start his NBA career in Detroit, after he was reportedly traded to the Pistons.

Hukporti is set to head to the bright lights of New York City, as he will begin his career with the Knicks.

He was the 58th pick by the Dallas Mavericks, before being reportedly traded to New York.

Nine Next Stars have been drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA, a remarkable achievement for the now globally respected program.

The four Next Stars picked is also the largest contingent to be selected from the program in a single draft.

Klintman is coming off a productive season with the Cairns Taipans, where he displayed his ability to influence the game on both sides of the ball.

Hukporti has become a force with Melbourne United over the past three seasons, showcasing his power as one of the best rebounders in the competition.

Despite going undrafted, former Adelaide 36ers’ Next Star Trentyn Flowers is reportedly signing a deal with the LA Clippers.

The biggest news of the day suggesting Bronny James – the son of the legendary LeBron James – could be headed to Australia was quickly dismissed.

Former Golden State Warriors GM turned commentator Bob Myers revealed a warning was issued to rival teams about potentially drafting James junior ahead of the Lakers.

“Rich Paul (James’ agent) is calling teams, don’t take Bronny James ... if you take him, he’s going to Australia,” Myers said on the draft broadcast.

Instead, Bronny James was secured by LA with the 55th pick, as the iconic franchise seemingly used the NBL as a decoy to distract rival clubs and pave the way for Bronny to one day play alongside his legendary dad.

A successful draft day for Australian basketball was capped off with undrafted Saint Mary’s guard Alex Ducas agreeing on a two-way NBA deal with the OKC Thunder.

SUCCESSFUL NBA DRAFT DAY FOR AUSTRALIA AND NBL:

Johnny Furphy (Kansas) - 35th pick to Indiana Pacers

Bobi Klintman (Cairns Taipans) – 37th pick to the Detroit Pistons

Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) – 58th pick to the New York Knicks

Trentyn Flowers (Adelaide 36ers) – undrafted but reportedly signing a deal with the LA Clippers

Alex Ducas (Saint Marys) – undrafted but agrees on two-way NBA deal with the OKC Thunder

Originally published as Johnny Furphy finally fulfils NBA draft dream and more Next Stars drafted in another successful day for NBL

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/johnny-furphy-finally-fulfils-nba-draft-dream-and-more-next-stars-drafted-in-another-successful-day-for-nbl/news-story/c6e2f7e9a6da40a811be89c3d096d6a3