SunSport’s guide to the 2016 NBA Draft, ahead of Thursday night in New York City
Former coach Neal Meyer has his say as the lives of 60 budding basketball stars are set to be changed forever
IT'S that time of year again... The NBA draft.
No sooner have the electric NBA Finals finished, than once more the lives of 60 budding basketball stars will be changed forever.
Ahead of Thursday night's magical evening in New York, former NBA coach NEAL MEYER previews some of the major talking points.
60 young men chase NBA dream
ON the night of June 23 2016 the lives of many young basketball players will change forever when they are selected by NBA teams in the 2016 Draft to begin their professional careers in the most exciting basketball league in the world.
They will savour what it means to be part of an NBA franchise for the very first time as the media will be clamouring for an interview and fans will be vying for an autograph or a selfie.
This is the magic of the NBA Draft, which gathers the stars of tomorrow under one roof at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
It’s an important night for basketball during which each NBA team will pick who they think are the most talented young players, with the order of the picks determined by last month’s NBA Draft Lottery.
The Philadelphia 76ers will have the first overall pick, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.
Below are three players to look out for in this year’s NBA Draft...
Ben Simmons
SIMMONS is a 19-year-old from Melbourne, Australia.
He is a top prospect in this draft and heavily touted to shine in the NBA.
Simmons will likely play as a forward and has already been compared with current and former NBA stars the likes of LeBron James and Magic Johnson for his astonishing athleticism and innate passing ability.
Although he hasn’t yet played a single game in the NBA, he has already signed a large deal with Nike for five years.
Brandon Ingram
ANOTHER interesting prospect for the 2016 NBA Draft is 18-year-old Brandon Ingram from Kinston, North Carolina.
His ability to score and shooting skills resulted in him leading his high school basketball team to four straight state championships.
His talent and offensive skills means he has the tools to have a successful NBA career.
Jakob Poeltl
POELTL is a 20-year-old from Vienna, Austria who is set to become the first-ever Austrian player in the NBA.
Standing at 7-1, he is an interesting prospect in this draft, who has improved a lot in his two years at the University of Utah.
He is a promising center, very strong and yet very agile. He has the ability to run the floor and finish at the rim.
Poeltl is one of the few centers available in this draft which may boost his value on draft night.
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NBA Draft, legends edition
Michael Jordan - Drafted third overall in 1984 by the Chicago Bulls
LOOKING back, it’s hard to believe that Michael Jordan wasn’t the first overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft.
NBA Legend Hakeem Olajuwon (drafted with the first overall pick) and journeyman centre Sam Bowie (drafted second) were drafted ahead of six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan.
Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets did go on to win two NBA titles, however, Jordan’s unbelievable career resulted in many high profile sports journalists and players alike regarding him as the greatest of all time.
LeBron James – Drafted 1st overall in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers
THERE was no doubt that LeBron James would go first overall in 2003, despite a highly competitive draft that included future Olympic gold medallists Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
James, joining the league straight from high school, has already achieved celebrity status with his high school games being shown on national television.
LeBron hasn’t disappointed with three NBA championships to his name; most recent of which was this week’s thrilling and historic comeback victory against the Golden State Warriors.
Stephen Curry – Drafted seventh overall in 2009 by the Golden State Warriors
SON of former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Dell Curry, Steph was good in college but professional scouts worried his size and frame may negatively impact his influence at the professional level.
After a few injury-hit seasons, Steph has really come into his own in the last couple years.
He’s now a two-time NBA MVP, an NBA champion (2015) and the greatest shooter ever to play the game, able to finish the 2015-2016 regular season with an NBA record 402 three-pointers, breaking his own record for three pointers in a season by 116.
A bargain at just the seventh overall pick.
Kobe Bryant – Drafted 13th overall in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets
WHILE the 1996 NBA Draft is widely regarded as one of the strongest NBA Drafts ever, the fact that Kobe Bryant fell as low as 13 is still incredible.
That he was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers is equally incredible.
Neither, though, are as incredible as the 20-year career the five-time NBA champion enjoyed which came to an end this April to great fanfare.
NBA fans in the UK can watch the 2016 NBA Draft live from midnight (BST) tonight on BT Sport 2 or via