Having said Paolo Banchero to the Orlando Magic, there are 2 other Italians who were chosen at the NBA Draft: Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo. The former was almost called in the first round because he went sixth in the second, while the Real Madrid-owned player was selected with 50 by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The boy from Cantur was initially selected by the Portland Trail Blazers, but he will basically play for the Detroit Pistons because that pick had already been “sold” to the Motor City team in the trade that brought Jerian Grant to Oregon. This can be good and bad for Procida.: good because, the way Detroit is set up, they might even decide to put him in the 15, bad because today’s Pistons are probably the worst team to happen upon. There would, however, be a similarity to another Italian, Gigi Datome, who began his career in Detroit before transferring and doing fairly well in Boston.
For former Vanoli Cremona player Matteo Spagnolo, there is honestly little chance of staying on Minnie’s roster. He will most likely do at least one more year between EuroCup and EuroLega so he can grow physically and prove his full value in Europe before landing in the NBA.
Here all the picks from 1 to 58:
1st Round:
1. Magic draft Paul Banchero (Duke)
2. Thunder draft Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
3. Rockets draft Jabari Smith (Auburn)
4. Kings draft Keegan Murray (Iowa)
5. Pistons draft Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
6. Pacers draft Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)
7. Blazers draft Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky)
8. Pelicans draft Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite)
9. Spurs draft Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)
10. Wizards draft Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)
11. Knicks draft Ousmane Dieng (New Zealand Breakers) – Traded to OKC
12. Thunder draft Jalen Williams (Santa Clara)
13. Hornets draft Jalen Duren (Memphis) – Traded to DET in 3-team deal
14. Cavaliers draft Ochai Agbaji (Kansas).
15. Hornets draft Mark Williams (Duke)
16. Hawks draft A.J. Griffin (Duke)
17. Rockets draft Tari Eason (LSU)
18. Bulls draft Dalen Terry (Arizona)
19. Timberwolves draft Jake LaRavia (Wake Forest) – Reportedly traded to MEM
20. Spurs draft Malaki Branham (Ohio State)
21. Nuggets draft Christian Braun (Kansas)
22. Grizzlies draft Walker Kessler (Auburn) – Reportedly traded to MIN
23. Sixers draft David Roddy (Colorado State) – Traded to MEM
24. Bucks draft MarJon Beauchamp (G League Ignite)
25. Spurs draft Blake Wesley (Notre Dame)
26. Mavericks draft Wendell Moore Jr. (Duke) – Reportedly traded to MIN
27. Heat draft Nikola Jovic (Mega Mozzart)
28. Warriors draft Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee)
29. Grizzlies draft TyTy Washington Jr. (Kentucky) – Reportedly traded to MIN
30. Thunder draft Peyton Watson (UCLA) – Traded to DEN
2nd Round:
31. Pacers draft Andrew Nembhard (Gonzaga)
32. Magic draft Caleb Houstan (Mich.)
33. Raptors draft Christian Koloko (Arizona)
34. Thunder draft Jaylin Williams (Arkansas)
35. Lakers draft Max Christie (Michigan State)
36. Blazers draft Gabriele Procida (Fortitudo Bologna) – Reportedly traded to DET
37. Kings draft Jaden Hardy (G League Ignite) – Traded to DAL
38. Spurs draft Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) – Traded to MEM
39. Cavaliers draft Khalifa Diop (Gran Canaria)
40. Timberwolves draft Bryce McGowens (Nebraska) – Traded to CHA
41. Pelicans draft EJ Liddell (Ohio State)
42. Knicks draft Trevor Keels (Duke)
43. Clippers draft Moussa Diabate (Mich.)
44. Hawks draft Ryan Rollins (Toldeo) – Reportedly traded to GSW
45. Hornets draft Josh Minott (Memphis)
46. Pistons draft Ismael Kamagate (Paris Basketball) – Reportedly traded to DEN
47. Grizzlies draft Vince Williams Jr. (VCU)
48. Timberwolves draft Kendall Brown (Baylor) – Reportedly traded to IND
49. Cavaliers draft Isaiah Mobley (USC)
50. Timberwolves draft Matteo Spagnolo (Vanoli Cremona)
51. Warriors draft Tyrese Martin (UConn) – Reportedly traded to ATL
52. Pelicans draft Karlo Matković (Mega Mozzart)
53. Celtics draft JD Davison (Alabama)
– Milwaukee (forfeited)
– Miami (forfeited)
54. Wizards draft Yannick Nzosa (Unicaja Malaga)
55. Warriors draft Gui Santos (Minas) – Reportedly traded to MIL
56. Cavaliers draft Luke Travers (Perth)
57. Blazers draft Jabari Walker (Colorado)
58. Pacers draft Hugo Besson (New Zealand Breakers) – Reportedly traded to MIL
