Top American clubs of the National Basketball Association selected two Ukrainian players in the 2018 draft, the NBA website reported on June 21.
The Los Angeles Lakers picked Svyatoslav Mykhailiuk at No. 47. The Lakers’ general manager Rob Pelinka called the Ukraine native “one of college basketball’s deadliest shooters.”
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Born in Cherkasy, 21-year-old Mikhaliuk played for the University of Kansas and the Ukrainian Under-20 national basketball team.
“I feel like it’s just a blessing to be part of the Lakers and be part of the NBA,” Mykhailiuk said cited at the Lakers’ website. “With all of the Lakers’ history, it’s just a blessing to be part of the team.”
Another Ukrainian player Issuf Sanon was picked 44th by the Washington Wizards. 18-year-old native of Donetsk joined Slovenian club Olimpija in January and played for the Ukraine’s Under-18 national basketball team at the European championship.
Sanon will spend the next season in Olimpija before joining the Wizards.
“Issuf is a young player who will be able to continue to play at a high level overseas and develop his game as we monitor him,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld cited by the NBA website.
“His athleticism, size and competitive nature were all very intriguing and we feel he can be a player who will help us in the future after gaining more experience.”
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