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The NBA minimum wage was $US1.6 million this past season so that would be around the starting point for a contract, although some second-round picks who become stars can quickly qualify for bigger deals due to the shorter terms of their contracts.
Rather than having his name read out by NBA commissioner Adam Silver at the Barclay Centre in Brooklyn, New York, where the first round was held, Furphy had his name called by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum at ESPN’s studio in New York. This was the first year the draft had been split over two days.
The Maribyrnong Sports Academy alum, a 206-centimetre wing who didn’t make a Victorian team until he was 17, had expected to hear his name called anywhere from No. 9 with Memphis to No. 27 with Minnesota in the first round, with Orlando (18) and the New York Knicks (24) tipped by the draft experts to be particularly keen on the Kansas Jayhawk.
Despite being invited to the “green room”, suggesting he was to be selected, Furphy joined Duke star Kyle Filipowski in having to sit and watch as 30 other players heard their names read out on Thursday (AEST). Filipowski had his name called by the Utah Jazz on Friday.
Furphy’s fall to the second round is a major blow to the instant riches of about $3 million – for next season alone – he would have enjoyed had he been a first-round pick. However, the league is littered with players and stars, such as three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, who were taken in the second round.
The Spurs took Juan Nunez, a Spanish point guard, with the 36th selection. They had snared guard Stephon Castle with their first pick, fourth overall.
Furphy finished his freshman season having started 19 out of 33 games while averaging nine points, 4.9 rebounds and one assist.
NBL Next Star Alex Sarr, right, poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted by the Washington Wizards.Credit: AP
His name remained on the list of best available talent by host broadcaster ESPN through the final third of first-round selections, but he continued to be overlooked.
There was also intrigue when Rich Paul, arguably the NBA’s most powerful player agent who guides both LeBron, 39, and Bronny, had reportedly threatened franchises other than the Lakers on Friday that Bronny would be sent to play in the National Basketball League in Australia had they drafted him. That threat was avoided when Lakers basketball chief Rob Pelinka opted to take the young guard.
Bronny put up underwhelming numbers in his one season with USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals while shooting 36.6 per cent from the field and 26.7 per cent from deep. He also missed the opening month’s action after suffering a cardiac arrest during a pre-season practice.
While former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers praised the selection but warned it would take time for Bronny to develop, fellow ESPN NBA expert Stephen A Smith said LeBron, who has been to 10 NBA finals and is one of the greatest players of all time, deserved the right “to manipulate – quote, unquote – proceedings”.
The National Basketball League had a big night with 19-year-old Frenchman and Next Star signing Alex Sarr selected by the Washington Wizards with the second pick in the draft, and California-born AJ Johnson selected with the 23rd pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.
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