[d-ravParticipant]

MELBOURNE-born Kyrie Irving was taken at pick No.1 in the NBA draft today, while an Australian was drafted by the Lakers.

The 19-year-old Irving played for elite American basketball college Duke University last year.

"I’m looking forward to getting to Cleveland and it feels good to finally put on a hat on," said the 188cm tall Irving, wearing a Cavaliers’ cap.

Sudanese-born Australian Ater Majok has a shot at basketball’s big time after being drafted by NBA glamour club Los Angeles Lakers.

The former refugee, who settled with his family in Sydney, was selected with the 58th overall pick by the Lakers.

The 208cm tall Majok was the last of the Lakers’ four second-round picks, so he’s likely to be seen as a development project.

But at least he gets to push his claims for future court time alongside the likes of superstar Kobe Bryant.
Majok played for the Perth Wildcats and Gold Coast Blaze in the last NBL season, averaging a moderate 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14 games.

 

The Blaze released Majok in March to allow him to prepare for the draft.

He was eligible for the draft through his time at the University of Connecticut, where he averaged just 2.3 points and three rebounds in 26 games with the Huskies, before leaving after one season to play professionally in Turkey and Australia.

Irving was born in Melbourne while his New Yorker father, Drederick,  was playing with the Bulleen Boomers.

He spent his first two years in Australia before his family moved back to the US, but he has dual Australian-US citizenship and carries both passports.

How many millions of dollars he will pocket is unknown as the NBA and the players’ union are locked in negotiations for a new labour contract, but the gifted point guard should sign a multi-year deal worth anywhere between $9 million and $28 million.

The media focus in the US has long been: Will the Cavaliers, still reeling from the departure of star LeBron James last year, use their top pick on Irving before other top candidates – Arizona forward Derrick Williams, Turkish centre Enes Kanter and Kentucky guard Brandon Knight?

Now that has been answered, the question in Australia is: Will Irving take up an offer to play in Australia’s Olympic team in London next year?

Boomers coach Brett Brown, a former college teammate of Irving’s dad in Boston, has said there are significant hurdles in getting the point guard to don the green and gold as he has already represented the US at a junior level.

But Irving has not ruled out playing for the Boomers in London, declaring he is “definitely keeping both options open”.

"I really think I’ll have a better chance of playing for Australia than the USA just because I’m going to be a young player in the league,” Irving said on ESPN. 

"Just to be able to play for Australia, for my country, it just would be a great opportunity.” 

When the ESPN reporter noted Irving referred to Australia as "my country”, he did not back away from the statement.

"When it applies to the Olympics, and making a decision, I have to claim Australia as my country,” Irving said. 

"I’m happy for the USA. I played for the USA under-18 team, won a gold medal. I have no problem with that either.”

When Irving was four, his mother, Elizabeth, died from sepsis syndrome, an inflammatory condition associated with infection.

He has mum’s name, along with a halo and angel wings, tattooed over his left pectoral muscle and her date of birth on his wrists.

His father narrowly escaped death on September 11, 2001, when he emerged from a New York subway station below the World Trade Centre towers at the same time that the first hijacked jet, American Airlines flight 11, slammed into the north tower.

The impact knocked Drederick over and shards of glass and metal rained down on him, but he ran to safety.

Irving was recruited out of high school last year by America’s top basketball college, Duke University, but a ligament injury in his right foot meant he played just 11 games in his lone season with the Blue Devils.

In the 300 minutes of court time he managed impressive statistics – 61.5 per cent shooting percentage and 46 per cent from behind the three-point line.

He averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game.

 

[sayounhParticipant]

I went to the same high school as Ater and while I think it’s an incredible accomplishment that he was drafted in the second round, his game was raw back then and his game is still raw even after a short stint at UConn and in the Australian league. I’m rooting for him but I realistically can’t see him staying in the Lakers roster.

[sayounhParticipant]

I went to the same high school as Ater and while I think it’s an incredible accomplishment that he was drafted in the second round, his game was raw back then and his game is still raw even after a short stint at UConn and in the Australian league. I’m rooting for him but I realistically can’t see him staying in the Lakers roster.

[natedogggParticipant]

im australian and as happy i am for majok i strongly doubt he ever sees the court for the lakers

[natedogggParticipant]

im australian and as happy i am for majok i strongly doubt he ever sees the court for the lakers

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Ater was mocked as a possible lotto pick? I do. He seemed like a freaking athletic beast, and he had this awesome video that made him seem like a future superstar. Remember, heart cannot be taught! That guy really sold us a nice line! I wish the best for Ater as well, but man, times have changed since 2006.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Ater was mocked as a possible lotto pick? I do. He seemed like a freaking athletic beast, and he had this awesome video that made him seem like a future superstar. Remember, heart cannot be taught! That guy really sold us a nice line! I wish the best for Ater as well, but man, times have changed since 2006.

[Author]

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