For the third time in the last four years, Michigan State basketball didn’t have a single player selected in the NBA Draft.
The second round of the NBA Draft wrapped up on Wednesday night without a Spartan being selected by any team. This marks the third time in the last four years this has occurred, with the lone selection during that stretch being Jase Richardson in the first round of last year’s NBA Draft.
Michigan State didn’t come into this year’s NBA Draft with many expectations of any selection occurring. Both Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper got some buzz from NBA teams with pre-draft workouts but neither were expected to be selected. It is assumed both will get a chance to play their way onto a G-League roster through the NBA Summer League.
While the statistic of going without a Spartan drafted often in recent years may be surprising, it actually is somewhat expected given the new nature of college basketball. For instance, both Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr would have most likely entered the draft and been selected as at least second round picks had NIL not existed. But, there is no longer the need to risk leaving early for financial gains if you aren’t certain you’ll be a first round pick.
It’ll be interesting to see what next year’s draft looks like considering Michigan State should have a few players in position to be selected. I would anticipate this recent trend to flip next year for the Spartans.
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Did any Spartans get selected in this year’s NBA Draft?
Reporting by Robert Bondy, Spartans Wire / Spartans Wire
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By Robert Bondy, Spartans Wire | USA TODAY Network
