Cunningham emerges as first pick in 2021 NBA Draft, joins Detroit Pistons
Dosunmu, Garuba, Bassey all drafted into the NBA
At the 2021 NBA Draft, 19-year-old Cade Cunningham was selected by Detroit Pistons as the number one pick from Round One of the draft, emulating the likes of Anthony Edwards, Zion Williamson, and DeAndre Ayton in recent years, all of whom have gone on to become bonafide stars in their own rights.
Cunningham is a point guard who previously played basketball at College level before cancelling his college eligibility so as to be drafted into the NBA. The 19-year-old signed a deal with Sportswear giants Nike days before the Draft. He was an integral part of the USA’s 2019 FIBA U-19 winning squad, leading the scoring in the final against Mali. Cunningham comes into the NBA with a huge reputation as one of the best players of his class, and he has reiterated his desire to work hard and ensure that he succeeds in the division.
Three Nigeria-eligible players were selected in the draft; Charles Bassey, Usman Garuba and Ayo Dosunmu. Garuba, 19, represents Spain internationally and was the 23rd pick in the first round of the draft as he was selected by the Houston Rockets. Dosunmu was selected by his hometown franchise Chicago Bulls as the 38th pick, despite having spent time training with the Golden State Warriors. 20-year-old Bassey was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, before leaving the country for Kentucky and was selected as the overall 53rd pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. The seventh pick in the Draft was DR Congo’s 18-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, who left his home country as a 13-year-old to pursue his dreams away from his family in the USA. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors. Here is the full draft;
ROUND 1:
Cade Cunningham- Detroit Pistons
Jalen Green- Houston Rockets
Evan Mobley- Cleveland Cavaliers
Scottie Barnes- Toronto Raptors
Jalen Suggs- Orlando Magic
Josh Giddey- Oklahoma City Thunder
Jonathan Kuminga- Golden State Warriors
Franz Wagner- Orlando Magic
Davion Mitchell- Sacramento Kings
Ziaire Williams- New Orleans Pelicans
James Bouknight- Charlotte Hornets
Joshua Primo- San Antonio Spurs
Chris Duarte- Indiana Pacers
Moses Moody- Golden State Warriors
Corey Kispert- Washington Wizards
Alperen Senguin- Oklahoma City Thunder
Trey Murphy- Memphis Grizzlies
Tre Mann- Oklahoma City Thunder
Kai Jones- New York Knicks
Jalen Johnson- Atlanta Hawks
Kevin Johnson- New York Knicks
Isaiah Jackson- Los Angeles Lakers
Usman Garuba- Houston Rockets
Josh Christopher- Houston Rockets
Quentin Grimes- Los Angeles Clippers
Nah’Shon Hyland- Denver Nuggets
Cameron Thomas- Brooklyn Nets
Jaden Spring- Philadelphia 76ers
Day’Ron Sharpe- Phoenix Suns
Santi Aldama- Utah Jazz
ROUND TWO:
Isaiah Todd- Milwaukee Bucks
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl- New York Knicks
Jason Preston- Orlando Magic
Rokas Jokubaitis- Oklahoma City Thunder
Herbert Jones- New Orleans Pelicans
Miles McBride- Oklahoma City Thunder
JT Thor- Detroit Pistons
Ayo Dosunmu- Chicago Bullss
Neemias Queta- Sacramento Kings
Jared Butler- New Orleans Pelicans
Joe Wieskamp- San Antonio Spurs
Isaiah Livers- Detroit Pistons
Greg Brown- New Orleans Pelicans
Kessler Edwards- Brooklyn Nets
Juhann Begarin- Boston Celtics
Dalano Banton- Toronto Raptors
David Johnson- Toronto Raptors
Sharife Cooper- Atlanta Hawks
Marcus Zegarowski- Brooklyn Nets
Filip Petrusev- Philadelphia 76ers
BJ Boston- Memphis Grizzlies
Luka Garza- Detroit Pistons
Charles Bassey- Philadelphia 76ers
Sandro Mamukelashvili- Indiana Pacers
Aaron Wiggins- Oklahoma City Thunder
Scottie Lewis- Charlotte Hornets
Balsa Koprivica- Charlotte Hornets
Jericho Sims- New York Knicks
Raiquan Gray- Brooklyn Nets
Georgios Kalaitzakis- Indiana Pacers