On the first day of this year’s NBA draft, a German also went off the board – and then to Orlando: Tristan da Silva is the 18th pick. The first pick was a Frenchman
Munich-born Tristan da Silva will play in a team with the German world champions Franz and Moritz Wagner. The Orlando Magic selected the 23-year-old wing player with the 18th pick 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 at the Barclays Center in New York, he wore a jacket with the Bavarian national colors and the Brazilian flag as lining. Part of his family comes from Brazil.
The 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 has Paolo Banchero under contract, who was selected first in the draft two years ago. In the draft, teams secure the rights to young players in turn, but can also give up their positions or transfer rights to other teams as part of draft deals.
The French are coveted
In the first place, the Atlanta Hawks opted for 19-year-old Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher. A Frenchman had already been selected first last year: Victor Wembanyama, who made it to the league’s best rookie last season. France’s young basketball players were in high demand: the Washington Wizards in second place secured Alexandre Sarr, while the Charlotte Hornets opted for Tidjane Salaun in sixth place.
As expected, Bronny James, son of LeBron James, has not yet been picked. He could join his father on the Los Angeles Lakers as the 55th pick
