USA - YI makes surprise landing in Milwaukee; Belinelli to Warriors

NEW YORK (NBA) – Chinese star Yi Jianlian was as surprised as anybody when the Milwaukee Bucks made him the sixth overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft in New York.

Disappointed might be another word for it. Not keen on taking the 7ft forward to a small media market, Yi's representatives had prevented the Bucks from working out their client during the NBA pre-draft camps.

Yi's selection highlighted another good showing for the international contingent at the draft.

Joakim Noah, who has French, American and Cameroonian citizenship followed closely behind as the Chicago Bulls drafted him eighth. Italy's Macro Belinelli was taken 18th by the Golden State Warriors while Portland traded to land the 24th pick and a chance to grab Spain's Rudy Fernandez.

Brazilian Tiago Splitter's long on-off relationship with the draft finally reached a conclusion with the 28th pick as his name was called by the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs.

The Philadelphia 76ers rounded out the first round by drafting Finnish player Petteri Koponen.

As expected, Team USA prospects Greg Oden and Kevin Durant were selected first and second by the Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics respectively.

But as draft night came to a close at Madison Square Garden, there was still mystery surrounding the immediate future of Yi. Reports suggested that the Bucks were working to prevent Yi's camp going through with a threat not to show up in the Wisconsin city.

Publicly at least, Yi said he was happy to be a Buck.

"It's a surprise to me because when I was in China, Milwaukee didn't come to watch me play or to work out,” he said.

“Myself, I'm not really familiar with the city, but I'm happy to play with the team and I'm happy to play in the NBA.”

Yi, a member of the Chinese national team, has heard his name mentioned alongside Yao Ming countless times in the build-up to the draft, but aside from nationality the two have little in common as players.

“It's a beautiful thing for Chinese players,” Yi said of his selection. “Chinese players in the NBA at the moment – there are not that many. I'm looking forward to playing with (Yao) on the court and it will be fun to play with him in the NBA.”

Yi possesses a very nice shooting stroke, which he can extend out to at least 22 feet.

Despite being rather thin, Yi has spent enough time in the post to know how to use his height against shorter opponents.

The league has seen plenty of perimeter-oriented big men have success, including reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki of Germany. However, even Nowitzki had to get used to the NBA's physical style, shying away from taking the ball to the basket.

Yi, who has a very similar body type, is very weak and has played his entire career in Asia, where finesse has always trumped strength. He will find out quickly - as Nowitzki did - that successful NBA players use a combination of skill and strength in their play.

Noah, son of former French tennis star Jannick Noah, had to wait until the ninth overall pick to hear his name, having been projected as high as fourth.

Noah's evident frustration at the wait was matched only by his relief when the announcement came.

“I'm at a loss for words right now,” he said. “I'm playing for an organization that I really wanted to play for. I look at the top 10 and I feel like

“Chicago definitely is one of the only teams that really has a chance to be a contender to win a championship and to be a part of that right away and to learn from great players like Ben Wallace, Ty Thomas and the great backcourt that they have with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, I'm just so excited right now. I feel very fortunate and very blessed.”

Noah grew up a fan of the New York Knicks, Chicago's major rivals, and had previously admitted he “hated” Michael Jordan and the Bulls as a kid.

Those alliegances will now change.

“The Chicago Bulls have a lot of tradition,” Noah said. “They are a team that isn't satisfied unless they win the championship because I think that the city expects the championship because they won six in 10-year span.”

Noah was the third and final member of the Florida Gators two-time national championship team to be selected.

Al Horford went third to the Atlanta Hawks, and Corey Brewer was selected seventh by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Noah is an exceptional athlete who happens to be nearly seven-feet tall. He can run the court like a small forward and can impact games on both ends of the court as an offensive rebounder and a shot-blocker.

With Fernandez and Splitter, there are question marks over how soon either play will make his way to the NBA, as both have heavy buy-out clauses in their contracts in Spain.

There were several more international players selected in the second round.

Ukrainian center Kyrylo Fesenko was selected by the 76ers with the 38th overall pick.

Soon after the Miami Heat drafted an international player for the first time by selecting Bosnia's Stanko Barac, but Barac will not actually play in Florida as he was quickly traded to the Indiana Pacers.

A second Chinese player heard his named called with the 40th pick as the Los Angeles Lakers drafted guard Sun Yue. Sun recently drew the ire of national team coach Jonas Kazlauskas when he skipped the Four Nations Tournament in China to work out with the Washington Wizards.

Spain international Marc Gasol, younger brother of Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol, was taken 48th by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lithuanian guard Renaldas Seibutis was picked 50th by the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs added to their already considerable international contingent by selecting Greek forward Giorgos Printezis 58th.

Brad Newley, who played for Australia at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, was selected 54th by the Houston Rockets.

The draft was completed when the Dallas Mavericks called the name of Serbia's Milovan Rakovic with the 60th and final pick.

Ian Parker
FIBA