The Milwaukee Bucks is becoming the new home for Greek players in the NBA after selecting Greek player Georgios Kalaitzakis in the NBA draft on Thursday.
Also selecting Sandro Mamukelashvili of Seton Hall, the Bucks made these moves a week after their parade that celebrated their first NBA title since 1971.
Milwaukee started the night with the 31st overall pick, the first selection of the second round. The Bucks selected 6-foot-10 forward Isaiah Todd but traded his draft rights to the Indiana Pacers. Todd, who played for the NBA G League Ignite this past season, later got traded to Washington.
The Bucks got two of the last seven picks in this year’s draft – No. 54 and No. 60 – as well as two future second-round picks. Mamukelashvili went 54th. Kalaitzakis was taken with the 60th and final pick in the draft.
Kalaitzakis is a 6-7 forward who spent the 2020-21 season with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League. The 22-year-old averaged 2.6 points, 1 rebound and 8.2 minutes in 27 games in the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague.
He’ll join the new NBA title winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with his brothers Thanasis and Kosta.
Giannis recently tweeted that he would be bringing the NBA trophy back with him to Greece during the season break.
He said: ”We’re coming, and we’re bringing the cup with us!”
Source: Associated Press
