NBA Draft: Two Canadian Stars Picked In Top 10
For just the second time in NBA history, two Canadians made their way into the top ten picks of the draft as basketball’s elite moulded their roster’s this week.
Bennedict Mathurin was the number six pick as the 20-year old was snapped up by the Indiana Pacers, before teenager Shaedon Sharpe was selected at number seven for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sharpe, 19, is widely regarded as one of the standout talents in the sport, and Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups was visibly excited by the announcement.
Sharpe joined the Kentucky Wildcats back in January, but failed to make a single appearance. Although surprising at the time, it made perfect sense in hindsight for the Ontario prospect to declare for the 2022 NBA draft.
His signing is a positive one for Portland, but Bodog’s NBA odds are still stacked against them as they currently sit at +6600 on the NBA 2023 Championship Winner odds board.
Sharpe himself was unable to contain his joy, admitting: “I’m really excited to get started. I can’t wait to get to Portland.”
Asked about his plans for his first NBA paycheck, Sharpe claimed that he was going to invest in crypto.
“I’ll probably invest my money into some type of crypto or something, or even just help my family out.”
Crypto betting is becoming increasingly popular, and our Bitcoin FAQ section has everything you need to know regarding cryptocurrency deposits. If it’s good enough for Sharpe, it’s good enough for us.
Impressing during the workouts, Sharpe’s lack of playing time doesn’t appear to be an issue with the Portland hierarchy, and the 6”6 star has all the attributes to become a successful finisher at the Moda Center.
Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin spoke with confidence on Sharpe’s arrival. He added: “I think he’s talented enough right away. Talent wise he’s very capable of producing.”
Canada’s influence is becoming increasingly prominent, particularly this year with the back-to-back picks of Sharpe and Mathurin, with the latter claiming to already feel on top of the world.
“I feel like I’m a winner,” the Montreal man proclaimed. “I’m a really competitive guy. Off the court, I feel I’m a pretty funny guy. I like doing a lot of fun stuff.”
He may feel like a winner right now, but odds of +30000 for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Championship betting suggest he may have to wait for glory.
Mathurin became the first Canadian to attend the NBA Academy in Mexico City, before completing two seasons at the University of Arizona, averaging 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this year.
He also starred as Arizona beat Texas Christian University in overtime, netting 30 points to lead his side’s charge.
Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard and Caleb Houstan joined the Pacers at pick 31 and Orlando Magic at 32 respectively, meaning four Canadians were drafted this year.
It’s a fact not lost on Team Canada Head Coach Nick Nurse. He said: “Four in the top 32? And two in the top seven? So really good. Another great night for Canada and basketball in the country.”
Canada has had 37 players chosen since the inception of the two-round draft in 1989, a tally only beaten by the US.
With Team Canada having such an impact on the NBA, we can’t wait to see how the season unfolds, and you can have your say on the action over on our NBA odds section.