The 2024 NBA Draft will take place in Brooklyn on Thursday night. Two German basketball youngsters have registered for the talent draw – with justified hopes.
Will a dream come true for two German basketball talents on Thursday night? That’s when the NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in New York City’s Brooklyn borough.
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The best young players in the world are hoping to make it to the best basketball league in the world. The first round will start at 2 a.m. German time, the second round will start on Thursday evening at 10 p.m., with 58 picks available to the 30 teams – and a lot of up-and-coming basketball players.
In the middle: two German youngsters who have every reason to hope to be picked. The German-Brazilian Tristan da Silva is even considered a mid-range first-round candidate, while center Ariel Hukporti is considered a second-round candidate. SPORT1 introduces the talents.
Tristan da Silva – Samba on the Court
“NBA Draft – when you hear that, everyone thinks: crazy! I think the same thing and ask myself: how did I get here?”, da Silva recently admitted in an interview with BR. So how does one make it from the Munich district of Schwabing into the NBA?
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The simplest answer: probably turning his back on his Bavarian homeland fairly early. Da Silva, who is 23 years old and thus one of the older talents in the draft, has already played for the “Buffaloes” at the University of Colorado for the past four years.
The forward put up impressive numbers. The 2.06 meter tall da Silva particularly benefits from his shooting strength. He has shot 38 percent from the three-point line over 107 college games, with an average of five attempts from downtown. Catch-and-shoot threes, in which the shooter catches the ball and throws it directly towards the basket, are his specialty.
Last year, the forward was even selected for the All-Pac-12 team. And not without reason, because the German played 34 games during the season, was on the court for an average of 33.8 minutes and contributed significantly to the team’s performance with his average of 16 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Tristan da Silva in the jersey of his college team, the Colorado Buffaloes
Following in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki?
His percentage from the field of 49.3 percent is impressive. It’s downright absurd when you consider that da Silva had no plans to become a professional basketball player. “How many people dream of getting there…”, said the brother of national player Oscar da Silva in an interview with BR. He himself once played the trumpet and is part of two orchestras.
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But now the draft is coming up, and the entire family, including mentor Robert Scheinberg, has already made their way to New York City for the draft. Experts believe da Silva will be a first-round pick between positions ten and 20, but he himself doesn’t want to hear anything about it for now: “I don’t really care. I’m just trying to get in, that’s the biggest thing for me.”
Germany’s most successful basketball player, Dirk Nowitzki, also didn’t come to the 1998 NBA Draft expecting to be picked first. He was ultimately selected ninth overall, and his career speaks for itself. Tristan da Silva could be the next Bavarian forward export product to impress NBA teams. “Let’s see where the journey takes us,” said da Silva. Perhaps to the Wagner brothers in Orlando, which would be a possible 18th pick.
NBA Draft: Second German also has hope
The second German, Ariel Hukporti, can also imagine what it’s like not to end up as an undrafted free agent. NBA insiders predict that the center, who was born in the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, will be picked in the second round.
At 2.13 meters, Hukporti is a little taller than his compatriot – and has already traveled a lot more. The 22-year-old has already played in three different countries: In the 2019/20 season, the son of Togolese parents made his debut for Ludwigsburg in the BBL before moving to Lithuania to play for KK Nevezis Kedainiai.
After one season there, the center then moved to Melbourne United in Australia. Although the German missed the entire 2022/23 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, he reportedly fit in well with the team – and even caused laughter among his Australian teammates.
Ariel Hukporti played for the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in 2023/2024
BBL: “Fine-tuning” towards the NBA
“You also have schnitzel here, which reminds me a little of my home,” Hukporti is quoted as saying on Melbourne United’s website. Apparently the 22-year-old missed it, because in the spring of 2024 a comeback confirmation suddenly appeared on the Ludwigsburg website, albeit only on loan. The caption: “Welcome home, Ariel!”
This is once again only a stopover. In the 2023/24 season, Hukporti played a total of 35 games, was on the court for an average of 18.2 minutes and averaged 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. But the goal was already clear before the loan: the NBA.
In the “Welcome Home” message, Hukporti was quoted as saying that he wanted to “get the finishing touches in Ludwigsburg for the NBA draft”. The next two nights will show whether the refinement was enough for the best basketball league in the world.
2024-06-26 22:11:07
#Samba #Ludwigsburg #German #hopes
