Former NZ Breaker Hampton realises NBA dream with Denver
AUCKLAND: RJ Hampton has found his home in the NBA.
The 19yearold guard, who spent the 201920 Australian NBL season with the New Zealand Breakers, is set to join the Denver Nuggets after being selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2020 draft.
The pick initially sat with the Milwaukee Bucks, who then traded it to the New Orleans Pelicans yesterday as part of a wider package. That pick was again swapped on draft night with the Nuggets, and Hampton was taken by the Colorado franchise.
It brings an end to a long wait to fulfil a lifelong dream for the teenager. Had the Covid19 pandemic not affected the NBA calendar, Hampton would have been celebrating such an occasion in June instead of November.
He joins a team that just two months ago was contending in the NBA's Western Conference finals against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately going down in five games.
The trade to Denver remains in principle, as it is yet to be officially cleared by NBA legal.
Hampton will join perennial AllNBA talent Nikola Jokic and star guard Jamal Murray, as well as a host of noteworthy role players including Michael Porter Jr, Paul Millsap, Jerami Grant and Torrey Craig.
He will play under wellrespected coach Michael Malone, who has a coaching record of 162108 across the last three seasons with the Nuggets.
The Texasnative's ability on the offensive end has been revered, and many predraft experts raved about his mixture of speed and length, making him an asset in the paint. His shooting could do with some work, but that is likely to have improved after working out with former NBA champion and threepoint sharpshooter Mike Miller leading up to the draft.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas spoke highly of Hampton after he was selected, mentioning his decision to play downunder last year.
‘‘He's a blur in the open court, he's going to be one of the fastest players in the NBA from the day he steps foot in this league. He's 6ft 6, he's explosive,’’ Bilas says.
‘‘[He] really benefited from his season out in New Zealand, he told me it allowed him to grow up. He's already been through that rookie hurdle, so he's going to be more wellsuited to join the NBA game.’’
Hampton did slide somewhat, falling outside the top 20 where he himself believed he would be selected. Several outlets predicted he would be selected in the teens as well.
His one year in the NBL delivered statistics of 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes a game, in a total of 15 appearances. Bear in mind he was a fivestar recruit coming out of high school, and his experiences in a professional league as opposed to college will be unique to him and LaMelo Ball out of this year's draft.
Ball, the other player to be drafted having spent last season in the NBL (with the Illawarra Hawks), was taken third by the Charlotte Hornets.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected first overall, taking guard Anthony Edwards out of Georgia. Golden State Warriors grabbed centre James Wiseman out of Memphis with the second pick. —