Johnny Furphy overlooked in cruel twist of fate during NBA Draft first round

A rising Australian basketball star tipped to be selected in the opening round has been dealt a crushing reality check on Thursday.

James McKern

@jLmcKern

3 min read

June 27, 2024 - 1:49PM

Aussies snubbed in brutal American graphic

It wasn’t meant to be like this for Johnny Furphy.

The Melbourne teenager was in attendance at the Barclays Centre in New York as the NBA Draft’s first round kicked off on Thursday.

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The 19-year-old was invited into the green room, an invitation only handed out to prospects who are touted as being first round selections.

Furphy was tipped to go anywhere from as high as pick nine with Memphis to pick 27 with Minnesota.

But as the first round dragged on, Furphy’s name remained on the list of best available talent.

In the end the first round came to an end with Furphy still sitting at his table as one of only two players who were invited but weren’t selected.

Alongside Kyle Filipowski, Furphy had to sit and watch as 30 other players heard their names read out by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

USA Today’s Andrew Joseph wrote: “Can’t blame Johnny Furphy for leaving after getting consensus first round feedback, but man, this has not gone well at all for him tonight.”

Kansas Jayhawks beat writer Michael Swain wrote: “It’s a real bummer watching Furphy slide like this.”

Another user wrote: “Johnny Furphy received terrible advice from whoever told him to go pro. Absolutely terrible.”

Furphy in attendance at the Draft. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

What makes being overlooked even more painful for the teenager is the NBA split the draft over two nights. In previous years even if he slid down the order, Furphy would have been in attendance to walk onto the stage if his name was called in the second round.

Washington Post’s Ben Golliver wrote: “An incredibly unfortunate consequence of NBA Draft’s new 2-day format: Multiple green room invitees sat through the entire first round at Barclays Center (3+ hours) and were not picked. They must now wait until Thursday’s second round, which will be held in an ESPN TV studio.”

While Furphy’s shock non-selection left fans fuming, it was an early snub to Aussie draft stars that got under the skin of fans Down Under.

After the Atlanta Hawks selected French youngster Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick, ESPN flashed a graphic of international players who had been taken with the first overall pick.

The graphic plastered across the screen showed four players with Risacher pictured alongside fellow first picks Victor Wembanyama (2023 - France), Andrea Bargnani (2006 - Italy) and Yao Ming (2002 - China).

There was just one problem … America completely forgot about the fact that Australia is an international country.

Australia have had two players taken with the first pick in the NBA Draft with Andrew Bogut the first back in 2005 before Ben Simmons was the top pick in 2016.

One user on X wrote: “Andrew Bogut is Australian and went #1. So did Ben Simmons. Is Australia not international?”

A second added: “ESPN just put up a graphic of “International” number one overall picks. Yall must have forgot Andrew Bogut going first overall in 2005 he’s proudly Australian.”

Aussies snubbed in brutal American graphic

NBA DRAFT FIRST ROUND PICKS

1. Atlanta - Zaccharie Risacher

2. Washington - Alex Sarr

3. Houston - Reed Sheppard

4. San Antonio - Stephon Castle

5. Detroit - Ron Holland

6. Charlotte - Tidjane Salaun

7. Portland - Donovan Clingan

8. San Antonio - Rob Dillingham (traded to Minnesota)

9. Memphis - Zach Edey

10. Utah - Cody Williams