After buying and selling back from the No. 21 picks to the No. 23 chosen in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected wing prospect Darius Bazley. Standing at 6’nine” with a 7’0″ wingspan, Bazley is an exciting player both on and off the courtroom.
Taking the street less traveled, Bazley has one of the unique backgrounds of any draft prospect in the 2019 magnificence. Here are four things you want to recognize as the latest member of the Thunder roster.
From High School to the NBA
Darius Bazley took the road less traveled sk,ipping college and going instantly into the NBA. As a senior at Princeton High School in Ohio, ESPN ranked him the thirteenth satisfactory excessive faculty participant in the Class of 2018.
Upon receiving multiple gives from many top faculties within the country, such as Florida, Georgetown, Louisville, Ohio State, and Syracuse, Bazley ultimately determined to decide to Ohio State. He later would de-commit from Ohio State and signal a letter of rationale to play at Syracuse.
As one of the nation’s first-class players, Bazley was participated in activities like the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit. At the quiet of his senior 12 months, Bazley announced that he might forego his college eligibility, cross straight to the NBA, and be part of the G-League as a substitute.
In August of 2018, Bazley all over again modified his plans and determined he could now not be a part of the NBA G-League and would, as an alternative, spend a year training, in my opinion, earlier than entering the 2019 NBA Draft. Although this path to the league is not commonplace, he felt it changed into an excellent decision. Ultimately, this might furnish his eligibility to go instantly into the NBA without playing in university or the NBA G-League.
Klutch Sports Client
Upon his preliminary selection to go instantly from high faculty to the NBA G-League, Bazley signed with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. Paul represents the various maximum-quality players within the NBA, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, John Wall, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, and many others.
This was a large step for a player like Bazley, who could want credibility and steering to make this precise transition into the NBA. Who better than Rich Paul to help him make this huge soar and achieve sponsorships off the courtroom in addition to an NBA contract upon being drafted?
New Balance’ Internship’
In October 2018, Marc Stein of the New York Times announced Bazley signed a professional endorsement agreement with New Balance. This deal could be based on an ‘internship,’ which could pay him a minimal $1 million and attain $14 million if he hits performance incentives.
This became a massive deal for Bazley, who could be getting paid much more than the $125,000 he may want to have earned in his one season playing within the NBA G-League. Coming into the NBA, Bazley has the backing of New Balance and could look to prove them right on signing him at simply 18 years antique.
Connection with Mike Miller
Before his internship with New Balance, Bazley wanted to train with Memphis-based total basketball teacher Raheem Shabazz. Using his connections, Rich Paul all over again worked his magic, making this take place. After a one-week education session, Bazley decided to stay in Memphis to keep training.
For that to occur, he had to discover a person to assist in maintaining to polish his sport. Paul contacted former NBA sharpshooter and contemporary assistant college basketball instructing Memphis University to look at what he may want to do.
Not best turned Miller willing to help Bazley work on his recreation, but he also supplied Bazley to live with him and his family until his New Balance internship started. This is simply some other part of the exact historical past of Darius Bazley that ultimately led to him being drafted in the first spherical of the 2019 NBA Draft.