Two international prospects that have taken different paths in their young careers are a couple months away from being in the same room at the same time for the 2016 NBA Draft. Dragan Bender, coming from overseas superteam Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League, and Domantas Sabonis, sophomore star coming out of Gonzaga University but with a famous Lithuanian last name, are both declaring for the 2016 NBA Draft.
Following from International reporter David Pick along with Fran Fraschilla and Jeff Goodman of ESPN.
Dragan Bender, I'm told, unlikely to work out for NBA teams. Maccabi's season could run till June 9 – time to watch him is NOW.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) April 6, 2016
Dragan Bender officially entered the 2016 NBA Draft this morning, says his NBA Agent Doug Neustadt.
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 6, 2016
Gonzaga big man Domantas Sabonis will declare for the NBA Draft, sources told ESPN. Will likely sign with an agent and head to NBA.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 6, 2016
Sabonis was recently named to the NCAA All-Midwest Region Team for the 2016 NCAA tournament, where he averaged 19.7 points and 14.3 rebounds in the three games. He also led the WCC with 11.8 rebounds per game and had 23 double-doubles while shooting 61 percent from the field. Bender is still a very raw prospect who will enter his first season in the NBA at only age 18. He needs some time to grow but much like Kristaps Porzingis last season, these two guys definetely have teams looking at them as the next big international stretch four in the NBA following in Kristaps footsteps.
Both players are projected to go in the top 10 in the 2016 NBA Draft.
