Friday 22 June 2018 10:08, UK
The Phoenix Suns chose 7-foot, 19-year-old Deandre Ayton of Arizona with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft
After him, the Sacramento Kings selected 6-11 Marvin Bagley III of Duke second overall, starting a run on big men at the top of the Draft. Ayton and Bagley are the tallest tandem of 1-2 picks since 2006 (Andrea Bargnani and LaMarcus Aldridge).
"The fans out there are amazing, the best fans in the world," Ayton said shortly after the announcement of the selection in New York.
"I'm really happy to be a Phoenix Sun and start a winning legacy with Devin Booker and Josh Jackson and all the other guys. We're a young team and we're ready."
In all, five of the first seven selections are 6-10 or taller, with the Memphis Grizzlies grabbing Michigan State's 6-11 Jaren Jackson Jr. at No 4, the Orlando Magic tabbing Texas' 7-foot Mo Bamba at No 6, and the Chicago Bulls latching onto Duke's 6-10 Wendell Carter at No 7.
The only non-big men among the top seven, coincidentally, were traded for one another when Dallas acquired 6-foot-8 international star Luka Doncic, picked third by the Atlanta Hawks, in exchange for high-scoring Oklahoma point guard Trae Young, selected fifth, and the Mavericks' 2019 first-round choice.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made the most highly anticipated selection of the lower lottery, using the eighth pick, which they acquired from the Boston Celtics (originally owned by the Brooklyn Nets) in the Kyrie Irving trade last August, on Alabama point guard Collin Sexton.
Sexton wasted little time going on the recruiting trail, sending a message to LeBron James to bypass free agency and return to the four-time defending Eastern Conference club.
"LeBron, let's do it," the Southeastern Conference's Freshman of the Year pitched when given a chance on ESPN's national telecast of the draft. "I see you need a few pieces. Let's do it. Let's go back to the Finals. Let's do it."
The New York Knicks took Kentucky forward Kevin Knox at No 9, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers' selection of hometown product Mikal Bridges of national champion Villanova to round out the top 10.
Bridges' career as a 76er was short-lived, however, as he was dealt to Phoenix for Texas Tech shooting guard Zhaire Smith, the No 16 selection, and the Miami Heat's 2021 first-round pick.
