“They preferred to draft a European with an unpronounceable name rather than me. It pissed me off “

By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist

As the debate over Europeans in the NBA becomes more and more heated, certain statements no longer go unnoticed. In this case, Josh Hart took an honest position regarding a draft friend from the Old Continent.

Although European players now regularly appear among the top draft picks, this has not always been the case. For a long time, they represented more of a bet on the future for NBA franchises and this therefore meant that they were selected quite late. Tony Parker or Rudy Gobert, for example, waited until the very end of the first round before seeing their name called, in 2001 and 2013 respectively.

What should be noted is that athletes from the Old Continent do not always make the jump across the Atlantic. In hindsight, certain choices may therefore seem like a waste of resources, especially in the eyes of certain American players drafted later. Coming from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, fullback Josh Hart, for example, missed the opportunity to play for the Sixers even though it was his dearest wish:

Josh Hart frustrated by the Sixers on draft night

I wanted to go play there. They were in 25th position (after a trade with the Magic, editor’s note). But they decided to do a draft-and-stash, they took a European guy with an unpronounceable name instead. But it was the place I really wanted to go. It was right around the corner for me, but they preferred to do a draft-and-stash. So on draft night, I was a little upset when my name didn’t appear next to pick No. 25.

This is in no way an attack on the Europeans, but the guard’s frustration is obvious. And that is understandable when we know the NBA career of Anžejs Pasečņiks, who ultimately never wore the colors of Philadelphia. Instead, the Latvian waited two years before joining the big league but under the colors of Wahsington, wearing the Wizards jersey 28 times before disappearing in 2020.

On the other hand, Hart also has no reason to complain about his career since he first made his debut with the Lakers before being traded to the Pelicans in the deal for Anthony Davis. He is now with four franchises in seven seasons, but that has not stopped him from becoming a player with an excellent reputation. All in all, he did well.

Josh Hart was trained at Villanova in Pennsylvania and he was logically determined to play for the Sixers. Unfortunately for him, the franchise then chose to bet on a European… all so that he would never join them. Disappointment was obviously huge on draft night.