Next Star King drafted by Lakers, traded to Pacers

Mojave King has become the fifth former Adelaide 36ers player to be selected in the NBA Draft on Friday.

King, who spent one season at the 36ers as a Next Star during the NBL22 season, was selected with the 47^th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers.

But King’s draft rights were traded almost immediately to the Indiana Pacers.

After his selection on Friday, ESPN NBA Draft analyst Bobby Marks said the Pacers got a swingman who can play both ends of the floor.

“He’s a big, powerful, combo guard, who can rebound,” Marks said.

“He has question marks on his three-point shot, shot just 24 per cent this G-League season, but shot 4-from-5 in the pre-draft camp.

“Look for a two-way guy in Mojave King.”

The 196cm swingman is the second member of the Next Stars program to be selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, with Rayan Rupert picked at selection 43 by the Portland Trailblazers.

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A team fit for a King! ?

Former NBL Next Star Mojave King becomes the 4th New Zealand-born player to be drafted into the NBA #NBADrafthttps://t.co/N2kR78Mjyh

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) June 23, 2023

During his stay at the 36ers, King averaged 3.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per night across his 26 games.

King joined the NBL in NBL21 as a member of the Next Stars program. After completing one season with Cairns Taipans he moved to Adelaide before spending last season with NBA G-League Ignite.

Indiana’s new recruit becomes the fifth Adelaide 36ers player to be selected in the NBA Draft after Paul Rogers (pick 52 in 1997 to the Lakers), Brad Newley (pick 54 in 2007 to Houston), Terrance Ferguson (pick 21 in 2017 to OKC Thunder) and Josh Giddey (pick six in 2021 to OKC Thunder).