By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Seven European upstarts were picked in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
With the 32nd overall pick, French Noah Penda was the first European selection removed from the board. The Orlando Magic secured the services of the Best Young Player of the 2024-25 edition of France’s Betclic Elite with Le Mans and gold medalist in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2024 with France.
The Milwaukee Bucks locked into Serbian Bogoljub Markovic with the 47th overall selection, their only pick of the year. The 19-year-old forward, the latest ABA League Top Prospect, extended the established link of Mega Superbet players in the annual draft.
Coming out of a solid season with Dolomiti Energia Trento in the BKT EuroCup and Italy’s LBA UnipolSai, 21-year-old Saliou Niang was picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 58th spot. The young center was recently capped with the senior national team of Italy.
France adds more draft entries
Complementing the most recent wave of French players entering the league based in North America, 22-year-old big Maxime Raynaud, coming out of a four-year NCAA run with Stanford, was selected with the 42nd overall pick by the Sacramento Kings.
A Cholet player in the Basketball Champions League Qualification Rounds 2024, 20-year-old French forward Mohamed Diawara placed 51st overall as a selection of the New York Knicks.
Celtics get two more European upstarts
With the majority of the second round focusing on veterans of college basketball in the United States, British Amari Williams followed the trend as the 46th overall pick by the Boston Celtics, after suiting up for Kentucky and Drexel in the NCAA.
A third European selection by the Celtics, combined with Hugo Gonzalez in the first round, Ukrainian Max Shulga was picked 57th overall, after five NCAA seasons between Virginia Commonwealth and Utah State.
Following the first round and nine European selections on Wednesday, the second round completed a two-day event in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Thursday.
NBA Draft 2025 Second Round
- 31. Phoenix Suns: Rasheer Fleming
- 32. Orlando Magic: Noah Penda
- 33. Charlotte Hornets: Sion James
- 34. Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner
- 35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome
- 36. Los Angeles Lakers: Adou Thiero
- 37. Detroit Pistons: Chaz Lanier
- 38. Indiana Pacers: Kameron Jones
- 39. Toronto Raptors: Alijah Martin
- 40. New Orleans Pelicans: Micah Peavy
- 41. Phoenix Suns: Koby Brea
- 42. Sacramento Kings: Maxime Raynaud
- 43. Washington Wizards: Jamir Watkins
- 44. Oklahoma City Thunder: Brooks Barnhizer
- 45. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky
- 46. Boston Celtics: Amari Williams
- 47. Milwaukee Bucks: Bogoljub Markovic
- 48. Memphis Grizzlies: Javon Small
- 49. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyrese Proctor
- 50. Los Angeles Clippers: Kobe Sanders
- 51. New York Knicks: Mohamed Diawara
- 52. Golden State Warriors: Alex Tooney
- 53. Utah Jazz: John Tonje
- 54. Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter
- 55. Chicago Bulls: Lachlan Olbrich
- 56. Golden State Warriors: Will Richard
- 57. Boston Celtics: Max Shulga
- 58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Saliou Niang
- 59. Memphis Grizzlies: Jahmai Mashack
* New York Knicks second-round pick forfeited due to tampering violation
Photo Credit: FIBA