Cold photo exposes harsh reality of NBA Draft
An international young gun got a brutal taste of the harsh reality that is going up against Zion Williamson at the NBA draft.
Since the start of the college basketball season, the NBA draft has been all about Williamson, the 201cm tall, 130kg forward billed as the best prospect to enter the draft since LeBron James.
Another draft prospect learned that lesson the hard way during media availability on Wednesday.
Situated one table away from the presumptive number one pick, Georgian big man Goga Bitadze could only stare at the dozens of reporters swarming Williamson, while his table remained empty.
The good news for Bitadze is that plenty of people noticed the unfortunate picture, including several NBA stars, who reached out to him in the comments.
From Dwyane Wade: “Use it as fuel”
From Draymond Green: “He should frame this pic... look at it everyday and grind!”
From Bam Adebayo: “That’s Motivation”
Bitadze deserving of attention in his own right
Bitadze is not a household name unless you follow the draft closely, but he’ll hear his name called early in the draft. Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft has him going 18th to the Indiana Pacers.
The 19-year-old is an excellent ball-handler and passer for his size, and his range could eventually reach the NBA three-point line. While he doesn't have great lateral movement, he's a smart defender with shot-blocking ability.
Bitadze may be able to hit the ground running in the NBA, since he's been productive as a young player in the EuroLeague, so he could soon be known for more than being the guy everyone ignored for Zion.
Williamson, the 18-year-old North Carolina-born forward described by his Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski as "a gift from God", is all but certain to be selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the No.1 pick.
While NBA superstardom and a potential $US100-million shoe deal awaits basketball's next big thing, Williamson is quick to brush aside the LeBron James comparisons.
"I'm just trying to be the first Zion," Williamson told reporters on Wednesday.
The Memphis Grizzlies are expected to select Murray State point guard Ja Morant with the second pick and Williamson's Duke team-mate, guard/forward RJ Barrett, appears likely to be selected third by the struggling New York Knicks.
Anxious times for Aussie prospects
Aussie prospects Matur Maker, William McDowell-White and Harry Froling will endure nervous waits when the NBA Draft gets underway on Thursday (Friday 9am AEST) in Brooklyn, New York.
Maker, McDowell-White and Froling have been on the NBA draft workout circuit in recent weeks in an attempt to impress teams, but it is likely they will not have their names called out.
The Australians barely rate a mention on the countless mock drafts created by NBA analysts.
Fellow Australian Matthew Dellavedova proved in 2013 going undrafted is not the death knell for an NBA career with the Victorian securing a berth on the Cleveland Cavaliers' Summer League team, impressing enough to earn a contract, pairing with James to win an NBA title in 2016 and signing a four-year $US38-million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Maker, the 21-year-old, 208cm brother of the Detroit Pistons' Australian big man Thon Maker, held a workout with the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
The power forward also worked out with the Pistons where he swatted away comparisons to his 216cm older brother.
"We're different," he told reporters at Detroit's Auburn Hills practice facility.
"He loves the three, I love the midrange.
"I guard more guards, he guards more bigs.
"I'll say I'm quicker because I love guarding the guards."
Brisbane's McDowell-White, a 21-year-old, 196cm guard who had a short stint with the Sydney Kings and played in Germany the past two years, has worked out with recently crowned NBA champions Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets and Pelicans.
The 211cm, 21-year-old Froling, the NBL's reigning rookie of the year after a strong season with the Adelaide 36ers, has worked out with multiple teams, including three teams with an appetite for Australians - the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
With Yahoo Sports