NBA Draft Another German in the Orlando Magic team
Tristan da Silva last played college for the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder. Photo
© Julia Nikhinson/AP
Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner are among the most important players in the Orlando Magic – the world champions will receive support from a fellow countryman in the future. Tristan da Silva was selected 18th in the draft.
Munich-born basketball player Tristan da Silva will play in a team with German world champions Franz and Moritz Wagner. The Orlando Magic selected the 23-year-old winger 18th in the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday evening (local time).
The 2.06 meter tall brother of national player Oscar da Silva last played in college for the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder. At the event in the Barclays Center in New York, he wore a jacket with the Bavarian national colors and the Brazilian flag on the inside lining. Part of his family comes from Brazil.
He felt “incredible joy and great relief,” said da Silva in his first press conference and reported that he had a good mutual friend with the Wagners. “I’ve already been in contact with both of them.” National coach Gordon Herbert has high hopes for da Silva. “He’s a player who plays in all zones on the field, a very versatile player with a good basketball IQ.”
The Orlando Magic made it to the playoffs last season, for the first time in four years. In addition to the Wagner brothers from Berlin, the young team also includes Paolo Banchero, who was selected first in the draft two years ago. In the draft, teams take turns securing the rights to young players, but can also give up their positions or transfer rights to other teams as part of trade deals.
France’s young basketball players were in demand
The Atlanta Hawks chose 19-year-old Zaccharie Risacher first. Last year, a Frenchman was selected first: Victor Wembanyama, who was named the league’s best rookie last season. France’s young basketball players were in demand: the Washington Wizards secured Alexandre Sarr in second place, and the Charlotte Hornets chose Tidjane Salaun in sixth place.
Bronny James, the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, was not selected in the first round. Expert opinions on his class vary widely, with most predicting that he would be selected in the second round at best. Like the German Ariel Hukporti, who most recently played for the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in the Bundesliga, James is also on the list of available players on day two. The draft will enter its final round on Thursday (9 p.m. CEST).
dpa
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