How to play basketball overseas after college

Amare Stoudemire

Amare Stoudemire won ROY with the Suns in 2003. He then went on to have a wonderful NBA career, averaging 18ppg and 7rpg. Amare signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2020 and won the Israeli league. He was also the league’s finals MVP.

Jeremy Lin

Linsanity!!! Jeremy Lin last played with the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-19 NBA season. He won a championship with the team that year. Jeremy Lin may be best known for a group of games in 2012 when he led the Knicks on s seven-game winning streak. He is now playing for the Ducks in the CBA.

Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe was last signed with the 76ers but is now playing in Russia with B.C. Khimki.

Agent

To play basketball overseas, you will need to sign with an agent. Agents are quite useful because they have been in the game longer than you are and they would have all the right contacts to get you started.

Highlight Video

A highlight video is very important. Your highlight video will help you to improve your chances of getting noticed by international scouts and coaches. Ensure that all your games are recorded and have your video professionally edited so that it comprehensively shows your talent.

After you have created your highlight video, make sure that you get it in front of your agent so they can have it sent to all of the scouts and coaches that they need to.

Exposure Camps 

Exposure camps are camps put on by International Teams, like overseas basketball tryouts, so that they can evaluate many players at one location. Attend exposure camps so that coaches and the scouts will have you honor their Radars. Choose your cams wisely so that you do not waste your time.

Join Basketball Academies

Do your research to find out what basketball academies are the most efficient in getting international players jobs in professional basketball leagues. Find an academy that seems worth it for you and then sign up with them. This investment will give you access to coaches, agents, and the facilities to get you prepared for a career overseas.

Network

Whenever you go to international basketball events, try to make as many friends as you can and get as much information as you can from them. Identify useful information and act on it.

Whenever you are introduced to players who have played overseas in the past or are currently playing overseas, try to build your relationship with them and ask them for help in getting your career started.

To play basketball overseas, you will need to associate yourself with the right people, go to the right places, and do the right training. Get a good agent, attend camps, and prepare videos of your best moments.

Did you find this helpful? Then also check out other basketball FAQ articles here.

> How to Get a Basketball Scholarship

> How to Get Better at Basketball: Tips & Drills

You Want A Career In Pro Basketball/ Overseas? Read This

After you read this, there is much, much more information on my Full Athlete Guides & Tips Page for playing pro basketball overseas. Check it out when you’re done.  

FOLLOW-UP To This Post: Your 10-Step Overseas Basketball Plan, Starting Today

Being that I came from a small college background and never played a second of AAU ball or was ever offered a scholarship, I get a lot of inquiries from players with similar situations as to how they can get their foot in the door of the pros. What follows is a sketch of what, in my opinion, is most important for such individuals to get into the professional ranks. If you agree and/or think this list can/will/did help you, great! Don’t even waste time telling me — get to work. If you disagree with my list, I don’t care.

[“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” – Tony Robbins]

I decided sometime late in my college years that I would be playing basketball after I graduated. I was 100% committed, even though I had no idea how or where or when I’d get there. There was no Plan B. A player that sits the bench at Duke or Michigan State for four years will get professional offers from teams just based on the fact that he/she was on the roster at one of those schools, even without expressing interest in playing professionally.

Get The Overseas Basketball Blueprint Free Now

Some of them can actually play, and some can’t — I have seen this with my own eyes. Some take the offers and some don’t. My point, however, is that a player with a ‘D3’ or ‘NAIA’ or whatever else there is out there on their resume will have to go and create their own opportunities to get a contract. I know many players from small schools who say they wanna play overseas, but their commitment is one of convenience. Meaning, if it is made easy enough for them, enough doors are left unlocked and cracked open, they’ll put in the necessary effort. When the going gets tough, their careers end quietly, and, as Porky Pigs says, ‘that’s all folks!’ I had to knock down doors, and in many cases, build my own, to get where I’m at. And I’m still building doors to this day. And, as that Tony Robbins quote says, the true mark of your decision is when you start taking some action. Sending someone (like me) and email saying, “I want to play overseas, can you give me some information?” is NOT taking action. Asking someone to tell you what to do is not an action step. Real action involves the other steps you learn as you read further…

If you played in college, collect film of every game you played in that you can get. Nowadays, most schools film their games — get the film ASAP! You never know what may happen — you transfer, fall out with the coaching staff, coach gets canned — make an ally in the athletic department and get your film. The person in charge of the video is usually very accessible. Don’t make a big deal about getting your film — coaches can get antsy about a player wanting his film in the middle of the season — quietly collect those tapes/ DVDs and keep them in a safe place. Never let the originals out of your sight. Make copies. Film is your job interview to pro teams — if they haven’t seen you play in person, and you have no film, your only recourse is to attend an exposure camp — for which you pay for travel, hotel, food and exorbitant camp entry fees (not to say that a camp could not be a great investment). When I was graduating in 2004, my school recorded some games but not all of them. My sophomore year coach had all the 2001-2002 games on film — but he gave the originals away to players when he lost his coaching job. I went online and found contact numbers for the teams we played against my last 2 years, and offered to mail self-addressed stamped envelopes to each them to get copies of game film. It’s that important. If you do go to an exposure camp, any one worth its cost offers film now, either streaming online, downloadable, or for purchase via DVD. Whichever format you prefer, get it and keep it.

Work On Your Fucking Game.

The simplest of all these bullet points. Practice. Train. Improve. Get better. I have stressed this over and over on YouTube to the point that you have probably heard me same that statement before in a video, multiple times. Think about Michael Jordan. He is arguably the best basketball player in the history of the universe. Even at the height of his greatness (the entire 1990s), MJ worked on his game. And he was better than me, you, and the person next to you. So if the best player in the world was still working on his game when he was at the top of the mountain, what makes you or anyone else think they don’t need to put the work in to improve (Don’t answer that.)?

(Pro Camp & Combines Guide) A lot of players come to me with their highlight films, as if I am a scout, asking for “contacts” — when the people you need to be showing your video are agents and coaches and managers. Having skills in basketball and not being seen is like having a bunch of money in cash locked in your attic or basement. Yes you are rich, but the power of money is in its use and circulation, not the act of possessing it. I’m not telling you that you have to play in every league or game that takes place. But if you are a good player, you want people to know that, right? Then show up where the other good players are and show ’em what you’ve got. Ask around for where the best players are — anyone that lives in a town that plays basketball at all knows where the best games are, whether they themselves play there or if they know better than to embarrass themselves trying. Point is, they know. Soccer players know where other guys play soccer. Lawyers know which bar other legal workers go to get drinks. Basketball players know where the tough games are taking place.

Sounds simple, but many players don’t do it. There are millions of people in the world who want to play basketball for money; not all of them will. You are not the only one. Ask around — your local gym; coaches you know; players in your weekly pickup games — there’s always somebody that knows somebody. Trust me. If you’re a male, female friends know other guys who play ball. Find out where good players work out or where they play pickup or what leagues they play in the summer. Diffidence or arrogance when it comes to approaching others won’t help you here — the simplest way to make a new friend is a smile and a “hello.”

Including me. When it is all over, whatever you accomplish (or don’t accomplish) is credited 100% to you. Not your college coaches, not your girlfriend or teammates, not your agent. No matter what anyone else does or doesn’t do for you, promises and doesn’t come through, ‘hates on’ you, it’s your life and career. I once heard a smart businessperson rhetorically ask, “What’s your IQ?” He wasn’t referring to intelligence — this IQ stands for “I Quit.” What has to happen for you to give up? How far will you go? How much can you take? If you reach out to someone for help and they decline to help you or let you down, is that your excuse for giving up? If you want to make it, you will. If you want to find an excuse, you will. If you need help, start by looking in the mirror. Ask yourself what you’ll do if (and when) no one helps you.

FOLLOW-UP To This Post: Your 10-Step Overseas Basketball Plan, Starting Today

READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER? Get my FREE book, The Overseas Basketball Blueprint Here

Also See:

• You Want A Career In Pro Basketball/ Overseas? Read This | FAQ
• How Does Overseas Basketball Work? A Detailed Guide
• How To Find An Agent For Playing Overseas Basketball
• I Want To Play Overseas / In The NCAA… But I Don’t Know Where to Begin! Help!!
• How Good Do You Have To Be To Play Overseas/Professionally?
• Can You Go Pro/Overseas Coming from a NCAA D3 School?
• How I Got My First Overseas Basketball Contract
• Choosing The Right Pro Exposure Camp or Combine | Follow-Up Post: What I Know About Pro Camps
• Professional Basketball Camp Reviews (Of Camps I’ve Been To)
• Overseas Basketball And Money: What You Should Know
• Advice and What to Expect at Your First Camp
• Working a 9-5 While Preparing to Play Pro/Overseas
• Do Not Give Money To Scam Artist John Jordan to Play Overseas. Ever.
• Videos On Overseas Basketball
• Full Athletes Resources Page (100+ Articles)

In this article we will give our point of view on the question that many parents who want to send their children to study and play sports in the USA ask:

" Where is it better for an athlete to go to a university in America, after graduating from school in Russia / in his own country, or is it better to go to school in America for at least 1-2 years and go to university after graduating from an American school? The center of the Russian team - Sasha Kaun as part of Kansas University (left) and Florida Air Academy (right, school team in the USA). We will try to consider this issue in detail and give our point of view on it.

(the article will be in 2 parts, because there is a lot of information).

Are you interested that your child, who goes in for this or that sport, enters a university in America, where he can play his sport at the highest level, fully combining sports with getting a quality education Unfortunately, in Russia it is impossible to combine sports and study (at least at the university level), because with us you either study or go in for sports, it is impossible to combine both. And the level of sports, as well as the level of education in our country in recent years, leaves much to be desired. Take any lists of the Top 100 best universities in the world - at least 70% of the list will be American universities, from Russian universities, God forbid, you can see Moscow State University, Baumanka or HSE (and then at the end of the rankings).

It's no secret that American university education is considered one of the most prestigious in the world, and ordinary students pay an average of $40,000-60,000 a year to study at American universities.

Many parents of athletes know that universities in the US can provide athletic scholarships, ie. provide partial or full funding to athletes for the duration of their studies at the university, in return for the fact that the athlete will represent the university team in a particular sport.

That is why the parents of many athletes dream that their children go to universities in the USA, because this is an opportunity to receive a high-class education for free (or with a large amount of funding), fully combining study with sports.

Where is it better for an athlete to try to enter a university in America, directly from Russia/his country after graduation, or first go to school in America for some time and enter a university after graduating from an American school?

We believe that it is much more expedient for an athlete to first unlearn at least 1 year at school in America, and then go to university. Let's explain why and give arguments in support of our point of view: - The level of sports in schools and universities in America.

The most popular collegiate sports in the USA (basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, football) are at a very high level and the teams are future professionals. Accordingly, in order to receive a full scholarship to a college or university in the United States, an athlete must perform at a really high level.

Euroleague Under 18 Video Stella Azzurra (Italy) - Cedevita (Croatia) Athletes from abroad who do not compete at the high school level in the US will only be judged by university coaches by their videos. A coach carries far more risks when he takes a person from abroad on video than a player he can see live at an American high school competition.

In schools in the US, the level of sports is slightly lower compared to the student level and, accordingly, it will be easier for foreigners to adapt in terms of sports. Also, the requirements for an athlete to receive a sports scholarship to school will be lower than for an athlete entering a university. A foreign athlete who will compete at the school level in the United States has the opportunity to light up live in front of university coaches. In addition, the athlete will develop in a much more competitive sports environment than in his own country, with high-level coaches, which will allow him to come to university more prepared in sports terms by the time he graduates from school.

An example of a basketball player from Russia who first spent 2 years at the school level in the US and then entered a prestigious university is Mark Tikhonenko.

Mark Tikhonenko (b. 1998, 206cm), son of Valery Tikhonenko, Olympic Champion in the USSR national team, is spending his 2nd year at the school level in the USA at Hamilton Heights School in Tennessee. At the beginning of the current academic year, Mark accepted an offer for a full sports scholarship from Arkansas State University and from next year he will play in the 1st division of the NCAA. A very important difference between studying in an American school is that in America they usually finish school at 18-19years. This is due to the fact that children go to the first grade later, and also study in their schools for twelve years. For this reason, for those who graduate from a Russian school at the age of 16-17, it would be more expedient to enter the senior classes of an American school for one or two years.

It will be very difficult for athletes from Russia, immediately after leaving school at 16-17 years old, to adapt to the level of training of American athletes in college / university, who are stronger and older. Because of this, it will be difficult to get enough playing time, as well as financial support (scholarship) from the educational institution. At school, there will be more game practice, which means that there is a high probability that the athlete will be noticed by coaches from good colleges / universities. In the second part of the article, we will highlight the rest of the nuances and arguments in favor of going to school in America to prepare for entering the university NCAA leagues. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Author: Alexander Skryagin If you have any questions about sports and study in the USA or you are interested in the possibility of entering schools, colleges or universities in the USA, you can contact me in the following ways:

My blog, where you can find out more information about sports in the US and Europe, as well as about players from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries playing abroad: vk.com/public77518496

You can contact me personally on Vkontakte or by email: VK: vk.com/alexskryaginFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/skryagin.sasha

Email : alex.skryagin.rus@ gmail.com

NBA Draft. How it works? - Blogg on the floor - Blogs

Everything you wanted to know about the draft but were afraid to ask.

The educational program was first published before the 2016 draft

Today is the NBA Draft, an event that appeals to many even more than the final series, especially fans of teams that didn't make the playoffs or were eliminated early on.

What is a draft?

Draft - translated from English as "call" - is held every year at the end of the season in the NBA. At the ceremony, which is traditionally held in New York (until 2010 the draft was held in the legendary Madison Square Garden, since 2011 - at the Nets' home arena, first in New Jersey, now in Brooklyn), NBA clubs take turns declaring their rights for young basketball players.

If you are familiar with the European sports system, where children are made into athletes in academies and clubs, you may not immediately understand the idea of ​​a draft. But in America there is a clear vertical of sports, which is integrated into the education system: schools - universities - professional sports. Different sports have their own nuances, but in basketball the scheme is the simplest. After school, the best players are offered sports scholarships at universities, the competitions of which are supervised by the NCAA association, and from there students are drafted by NBA teams.

From 2022, the NBA plans to once again allow a player to be drafted straight from school, bypassing college, as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and others did in 1995-2005.

How long has the draft been in existence?

The first NBA draft passed after the first season of the Association - in 1947. The NBA adopted the amateur draft system from the National Football League, where it had existed since 1936, with NFL teams allocating rights to players who were not yet professionals. If you dig deeper, the origin of the draft lies in baseball - from 19For 21 years, Major League Baseball teams have been drafting players from the minor leagues.

Why is it needed?

The main idea of ​​the draft is to give all clubs a chance to get a strong basketball player into the roster. The whole philosophy of the NBA is based on the fact that initially the opportunities of all teams are equal. The Draft makes impossible the situation we're used to in European sports, where rich clubs buy top stars and their academies and youth teams have a long line of promising athletes. In the NBA, any club can get a chance to win the rights to a future star by drafting her.

How are draft spots determined?

Based on how the club performed last season. The order of the draft is the reverse of the regular season table: the lower the place in the table, the higher the number in the draft (also called the "draft pick" or simply "pick"), and performance in the playoffs does not matter. However, the first four draft picks are played in the "draft lottery".

All clubs that didn't make the playoffs have a chance of picking one of the first four picks in the draft. To determine who gets to choose first, second and third, a lottery ceremony takes place in May. During this ceremony, four balls out of fourteen are drawn by lot. Combinatorics says that the number of combinations of four balls out of fourteen is 1001. For an even number, one reserve combination (“11-12-13-14”) is removed, and the remaining 1000 are distributed among teams. The bottom three clubs in the league have 14% to win the lottery, the fourth from the bottom has 12.5%, and so on; the best club that did not qualify for the play-offs has only a 0.5% chance of winning the toss. The number of wins does not affect the chances, only the place in the table. The procedure is carried out four times, determining the first, second, third and fourth numbers. If a reserve combination falls out or one that has already been (you cannot win the lottery twice in one year), then the balls are taken out of the lottery drum again.

What is the lottery for?

The system when the worst teams are chosen first is inherently flawed - some club can deliberately lose as many matches as possible in order to fall to the very bottom of the table and choose first. This strategy is called "tanking" in jargon. Prior to 1965, the NBA had a "territorial draft pick" rule, where clubs could select players from nearby colleges out of turn. But as the league expanded, that rule was dropped, and first pick was determined by a coin toss—the two bottom-place teams in their conferences had a 50% chance of being number one. So, a coin at 19'79 determined that Magic Johnson went to the Lakers, not Chicago.

In 1985, the league came to the decision that a blind draw would determine the order in which not only the last and penultimate teams in the league, but generally all teams that did not make the playoffs, would be selected. In 1987, the system was adjusted - non-playoff clubs still had equal chances for the first, second and third draft picks, but after the first three places were drawn, the rest were chosen in the standard reverse order.

In 1990, they approved the system that is still in force today, in which the probability of winning the lottery was the higher, the worse the place in the regular season table was. Probability percentages have fluctuated from year to year, the most recent system with the most even odds was introduced only this year and is designed to reduce the number of teams deliberately losing for the sake of a high number in the next draft (previously, the worst team received 25% chances for the first pick).

The reform is believed to have worked - only three teams did not win 20 games last season, of which only the worst - the New York Knicks - won the lottery, and still fell from first place to third.

How many people will be selected today?

The NBA Draft consists of two rounds (once their number reached ten or more - teams were chosen until they got bored, in 1988 the number of rounds was reduced to three, and the next year to two). Since there are 30 teams in the NBA, 60 people will be selected in the draft now. Each club is assigned a place in the first and second rounds.

Players from the first round of the draft receive guaranteed contracts for two years in certain amounts (clubs also have the opportunity to extend the contract for the third and fourth seasons), players from the second round sign with the club that selected them for any contracts, almost like free agents.

What happens to people who don't get drafted?

They become free agents and are free to sign with any NBA team if they are interested. Every year, about 20 undrafted rookies get a chance to play in the NBA.

So you can get into the NBA without being drafted?

You can get into the NBA without being drafted. But all the players were drafted - they were simply either selected and assigned to some NBA team, or not. How exactly basketball players get into the draft is described below.

Will drafted players play in the NBA next year?

Not at all necessary. The club is obliged to sign the player selected in the draft if the basketball player himself requires it, but the team can agree with the player that he will spend a year in another league, and sign in the NBA later. The rights to the players do not expire until the player signs a contract, so, for example, Atlanta still has the rights to 51-year-old Augusto Binelli, who was selected 30 years ago, but never came to the NBA, and Sacramento there are rights to the legendary Dejan Bodiroga, who ended his career back in 2007 and is considered the best player of our time, who never tried his hand at the NBA.

In most cases, the so-called “stash” basketball players (to stash) play in Europe (Latin America, China, Australia) until they are needed in the NBA: San Antonio has rights to a dozen Europeans, from young Milutinov and Lalanne to veterans Lorbeck and Printezis who will no longer come to North America. But in recent years, NBA clubs have occasionally begun to use their American Farm League (G-League) for these purposes.

But the player can no longer return to college after the draft - the rules of the student NCAA do not allow basketball players entering the draft to change their mind after a certain date (this year the date is before 29May). So a player who enters the draft is sure to become a professional after him - in the NBA or another league. He can continue his education in college (if he finds time for this in the busy schedule of the NBA), but will lose his athletic scholarship, will be forced to pay his own tuition and will no longer be able to play for university sports teams.

What if a player refuses to play for the club that chose him?

A basketball player has no leverage to choose a club - he either plays for the team that has the rights to him, or does not play in the NBA at all. But there have been no such scandals for a long time - not once in the 21st century. If a player for some reason does not want to play for the club that has chosen him, it is better for him to amicably agree with the team and his agent that he will then be exchanged to another club. And no one wants to risk their reputation and spoil relations with the NBA even before their debut. There is too much money at stake now to give it up so easily.

Why does Atlanta have six draft picks this year and the Lakers have none?

In the NBA, clubs do not buy basketball players from other teams, but exchange them for other players. Clubs in the NBA - like in other American leagues - have the opportunity to exchange future draft picks for existing players. So, last summer, San Antonio gave Kawhi Lenard to Toronto, and in return received not only two players, but also the right to choose in the 2019 draft under the Raptors pick in the first round. Last season, Toronto finished second in the regular season – and in 2019, San Antonio will choose not only under “their” 19-th peak, but also under the "Canadian" 29th. And the Lakers, as a result of various exchanges, gave up their picks in the 2019 draft in both the first (not yet official, but already negotiated trade of Anthony Davis) and in the second round, and therefore remained without draft picks at all tomorrow.

Every year about 10 first round picks and 15 second round picks change hands as a result of past exchanges. In addition, on the day of the draft itself, many picks also go in exchanges: someone wants to "rise" in the draft and exchange several lower picks for one higher one, someone wants to get a young player and exchange one of their basketball players for the right to choose another club in the draft.

How is the draft ceremony?

Representatives of all teams gather in one place and begin to choose players in turn. The choice of a player in the first round is given 5 minutes, after which the club's managers must make a decision and report it to NBA commissioner Adam Silver. After that, Adam enters the stage, announces his choice, invites the player to shake hands (if the player is present in the hall), and the 5-minute countdown begins for the other team.

In the second round, the tired commissioner is replaced by his deputy, only 2 minutes are given to choose, and the players are no longer called on the stage.

What is a green room?

In front of the stage where the NBA commissioner will announce the election today, there is an area called the Green Room where the NBA personally invites players to be selected with the highest numbers. Usually the number of invitations varies from 15 to 20. Each player is allocated a table "in the stalls", where he sits with his family.

How cool is it to pick number one?

Of course, the higher your draft number, the more likely you are to get the best player. At different times, such great basketball players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James (pictured) were chosen under the first number.

However, number one is no guarantee of success: of the last 30 first picks in the draft, only five have become champions so far, and only two (Kyrie Irving and Tim Duncan) are on the team that drafted him (LeBrona also once chose Cleveland, but he went to Miami, and returned as a free agent).

In addition, quite often there are cases when a basketball player is chosen with a high number who does not live up to expectations. Drafting and evaluating player prospects is not an exact science, and there are always misses because sports managers have not yet learned to look into the future.

Is it possible to choose a star with low numbers?

Of course. Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry was selected only seventh in 2009. Dirk Nowitzki - ninth in 1998. Kobe Bryant, one of the most popular athletes in history, once fell to number 13, as did the legendary Karl Malone. Defending champion and Finals MVP Kawhi Lenard was selected 15th, after lottery picks, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nikola Jokic and Draymond Green were selected only in the second round of the draft, where a basketball player appears every year who is capable of becoming a team leader in the future.

Who should be the star of the 2019 draft?

Forward Zion Williamson is recognized as the 2019 Player of the Year. Highly regarded also include two defensemen, RJ Barrett and Ja Morant. Some of them will be able to confirm expectations, someone will disappoint. And someone who wasn't even invited to the Green Room could shoot and make it to the All-Star Game in a few years.

How do players get drafted?

You can get drafted "automatically", or you can apply . Let's consider both options in more detail.

What is automatic draft entry?

There are two categories of players automatically drafted:

1. Those students who played four seasons in the NCAA - such were Tim Duncan (pictured) in 1997, Draymond Green in 2012, this year - the giant Taco Fall.
2. Previously undrafted players playing overseas who turn 22 in the year of the draft - that is, now they are basketball players from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, Africa, etc. 1997 year of birth.

Also automatically drafted are those who studied at an American school or university, and then moved to a professional contract abroad. After a year of playing professionally, such players enter the draft - rare cases, but not exceptional (Brandon Jennings in 2009, Emmanuel Mudiay a few years ago).

How do I apply for a draft?

If a player does not intend to study all four years or does not want to wait until he turns 22, he can apply for a draft called “early entry” . To do this, he writes an official letter to the league office with the nomination of his candidacy. The vast majority of players are just such early entry players, for example, this year there are 84 of them, and about fifty will be among the coveted 60 numbers.

To apply, a player must be at least 19 years of age in the year of the draft and must either be playing overseas or be a student. NCAA students can apply after their first year. In the last nine drafts, the first pick has been exclusively freshmen.

Schoolchildren have been banned from drafting since 2006, but in 2016, 19-year-old Ton Maker was able to circumvent this rule by proving that he graduated from school a year ago, and for 2015/16 remained in it of his own free will for additional training. Since then, a few other people, such as Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks, have moved to the NBA from their postgraduate years of high school, bypassing college.

A player cannot enter the NBA without being drafted. Each person either goes there automatically after graduating from college or by age 22, or wants to do it earlier and applies. All NBA players - and generally all people over the age of 22 - were in the draft, just someone was selected, and someone was not.

How many times can a player apply for a draft?

You can only be drafted once. But a player can submit an application, withdraw it before the deadline (May 29 this year for NCAA students, June 10 for international basketball players), then reapply in another year - and if desired, withdraw again and wait for automatic exit. This year there were 90 people who applied went to screenings, talked to club representatives, and then withdrew the application, feeling that next year their chances of being selected high would be better. Among them is the Russian Nikita Mikhailovsky from Avtodor.

Can I apply for a draft?

This year, of course, not anymore, the application deadline has long passed. But next - if you were born in 1998, 1999 or 2000, or graduated from high school in the US in 2019 - you can apply for the NBA draft. You don't really need to know how to play basketball. And at the age of 22, we all automatically were/will be in the draft, even without any applications.

Are there Russians in this draft?

Only those that come out automatically because they were born in 1997. None of them stand a chance of being selected.

Were the Russians chosen in the draft?

Back in 1975, Alexander Belov was selected in the tenth round of the draft. Of course, he did not leave the USSR for the NBA. In 1986, other legendary Soviet basketball players appeared in the draft - Sabonis, Volkov, Tikhonenko. But foreigners went to the NBA only at 1988, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the clubs began to draft our compatriots with the specific goal of inviting them to the NBA.

Here's who was selected in the draft:

• 1994 - No. 36, Andrey Fetisov, Boston (did not play in the NBA).
• 1999 - No. 24, Andrey Kirilenko, Utah (13 years in the NBA).

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