Brampton’s Tristan Thompson chosen fourth overall at NBA draft
Posted June 23, 2011 8:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have drafted Canada’s Tristan Thompson fourth overall at the NBA draft.
Thompson’s selection makes him the highest Canadian draft selection in the modern era of basketball.
The Brampton, Ont., native beat Phoenix star Steve Nash’s 15th overall spot in the 1996 draft.
Bob Houbregs of Vancouver was holds the record after being taken second overall by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1953.
Thompson, a six-foot-nine, 230-pound forward from the University of Texas, averaged 13.1 points and 7.8 rebounds in his final NCAA year.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors have selected Lithuanian centre Jonas Valanciunas with the fifth overall pick of the NBA draft.
The six-foot-11 centre played in his country’s top league last season.
It was the Raptors’ highest draft selection since they took Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick in 2006.
Toronto does not have a second-round selection this year.
That pick was traded to the Detroit Pistons back in 2007.
The Raptors are coming off a dismal 22-60 campaign.
