New York - Teen big man Karl-Anthony Towns was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, while Satnam Singh Bhamara made history as the first India-born selection.
Towns averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game last season for a University of Kentucky squad that went unbeaten until losing to Wisconsin in the national college tournament semi-finals.
"This is what you live for," Towns said. "I'm going to go in right away and be as versatile as I can be. I'm coming with a winning attitude. I'm not coming to look for individual success. I'm coming to look for team success."
The Timberwolves, who won last month's NBA Draft Lottery to claim the top overall pick, have not reached the playoffs since 2004.
Bhamara, a 19-year-old center from a small Punjab village, went 52nd overall to the Dallas Mavericks, the same NBA club that in 2001 made Wang Zhizhi the first Chinese player in an NBA game.
Bhamara, a 7-foot-2 (2.18m) big man, became the first player in a decade taken after not playing for a US college or overseas pro team, instead playing for the IMG Academy squad.
AFP
