Ajay Mitchell became the third Belgian player in history drafted by the NBA, the North American basketball league. The 22-year-old guard was chosen Wednesday in New York by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 38th overall. He becomes the 2nd Belgian in the NBA after Toumani Camara, who plays for the Portland Trailblazers.
Son of former Ostend star player (1994-99), who also played for Ghent (1999-2000) and Liège (2001-02), Barry Mitchell, Ajay Mitchell plays at the guard position. The Liége native made his debut at Nanterre in France in 2019, then at Limburg United (2019-21) before joining the NCAA in the United States. He played three seasons at US Santa Barbara in the Big West conference. He was voted best rookie his first season and best player during the last campaign where he averaged 20 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game.
Two other Belgian players had the honour of being drafted before Mitchell and were taken in 52nd position: Axel Hervelle in 2005 by Denver, but he never played in the United States, and Toumani Camara, recruited by Phoenix last year before being traded to Portland where he played the entire past season. Another Belgian player has played on the NBA courts: Didier Mbenga. The pivot was never drafted but played between 2004 and 2011 in the big league with Dallas, Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Hornets. He won two NBA championship rings with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
2024-06-28 16:12:39
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