Cavs make Bennett first Canadian picked No. 1 overall
Canadian basketball history happened a year earlier than expected Thursday, in a stunning turn of events that surprised even Anthony Bennett.
The freshman forward from UNLV became the first Canadian selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I’m just as surprised as everybody else,” Bennett said moments after he strode across the Barclays Center stage in his scarlet and grey suit — UNLV colours. “I didn’t really have any idea who’s going No. 1 or who was going No. 2. I heard everything was up for grabs. But I’m just really happy, glad that I have this opportunity, and I’ve just got to thank God for everything.”
The 20-year-old from Brampton, Ont., has starred for Canada’s junior national team and was the Mountain West Conference player of the year, but was rarely mentioned as a top-pick possibility in the lead up to the draft. He’s also been sidelined since he had rotator cuff surgery in May, but said on the eve of draft day that he wasn’t concerned his injury would affect his draft stock. Turns out, he was bang on.
Tristan Thompson of Brampton was selected No. 4 by the Cavs in the 2011 draft, making him the highest Canadian draft pick before Thursday.
The historical selection comes amid heady days for Canadian basketball, and a year ahead of when many projected it would happen. Teen phenom Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ont., who’ll play for the Kansas Jayhawks next season, is touted as the probable first overall pick in the 2014 draft.
“Yeah. It’s just crazy. Made history. I can’t really complain about that,” said Bennett, who had between 25 and 30 family members with him in New York — he lost count. “It’s just like a long time dream that I had since I first started playing basketball, even though it was six or seven years ago. It’s just crazy.”
Steve Nash of Victoria held the Canadian record before Thompson, going 15th overall to the Phoenix Suns in 1996. The L.A. Lakers star, who’s also the general manager of Canada’s men’s team, retweeted the NBA’s announcement adding: “Proud on Proud!”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also took to Twitter, writing “Congrats to [AT] Anthony-Bennett for being the first Cdn ever drafted #1 overall in the NBA draft. Good luck in Cleveland, we’re all behind you.”