Baba Miller and Jack Kayil lead European second-round draft selections

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

The 2026 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm, concluded on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, wrapping up a two-day event that culminated in the 30 selections of the second round. Following Tuesday’s opening round, the evening combined a massive influx of international talent and rapid-fire front-office maneuvering, with European prospects dictating the draft board.

Spanish basketball experienced a historic night, fueled heavily by the Los Angeles Clippers selecting Spain’s Baba Miller with the 36th overall pick. Born in Mallorca, the 22-year-old small forward developed within the prestigious Real Madrid youth system before moving to the United States. His selection marked the first time since 2009, and only the second time in NBA history, that three Spanish players were chosen in the same draft, following first-round selections Aday Mara and Sergio de Larrea.

The Atlanta Hawks also tapped into the Madrid pipeline by completing a trade with the Clippers, sending cash considerations and the 57th pick to secure the 52nd selection. They used the pick on agile Estonian stretch-forward Henri Veesaar, who rebounded from early injury setbacks at Arizona before transferring to North Carolina. Veesaar’s selection marks the first time an Estonian player has been drafted into the NBA since 1996. The Clips used their newly acquired 57th pick to draft 21-year-old French center Narcisse Ngoy.

The New York Knicks orchestrated a trade with the Houston Rockets. They dealt the 31st and 55th picks in exchange for the 39th and 53rd selections, along with a 2029 second-round pick via the Sacramento Kings. With the 39th pick, they selected German combo guard Jack Kayil. The Berlin native, who opted out of his commitment to Gonzaga to stay in the draft pool, arrives with an impressive resume as the Best Young Player of both the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, and Germany’s easyCredit BBL. Kayil is expected to join the defending champions immediately for the 2026–27 Regular Season. Meanwhile, the Knicks traded the 53rd pick to the Detroit Pistons for cash considerations.

European ties and international heritage influenced several other selections throughout the second round. The Sacramento Kings used the 45th pick on Emanuel Sharp, who previously represented Israel in the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. British prospect Tobi Lawal joined the Dallas Mavericks as the 48th overall pick. The Mavs also acquired the 56th selection from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for cash, using it to draft Russian guard Vsevolod Ishchenko. The Lakers had briefly acquired that 56th pick earlier in the night by sending cash to the Chicago Bulls.

Family roots and previous overseas experience played a prominent role in several domestic selections. Otega Oweh, whose mother was born in London, went 41st overall, while Tyler Bilodeau, who possesses French and German roots, was taken with the 43rd pick. The Clippers remained active late into the night, sending cash considerations to the Rockets to secure the 55th selection, which they used on Nick Martinelli, a player boasting deep Italian roots. With the final pick of the night, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Malique Lewis 60th overall, a prospect who spent 2021 through 2023 playing for Urbas Fuenlabrada in Spain’s Liga Endesa.

The draft’s final shifts were facilitated by minor asset trades. The Miami Heat secured the 37th pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder by returning the 41st selection and cash. The Orlando Magic traded the 46th pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for the 51st and 60th selections, with the Wizards later sending that 60th pick to the Bucks for cash.

Despite the deep international field, several notable global prospects ultimately went unselected. France’s Zacharie Perrin, Iranian wing Mohammad Amini, who spent time playing in France for AS Monaco and SLUC Nancy, and Milos Uzan, whose father is of Serbian descent, all bypassed the draft board and will look to carve their paths as undrafted free agents.

NBA Draft 2026 selections

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