Canadians Benedict Maturin and Shedon Sharp have taken many different paths to the NBA, but their professional dreams came true only by a minute difference on Thursday.
Maturin, a 20-year-old from Montreal who attends the University of Arizona, was selected sixth by the Indiana Pacers. A moment later, the Blazers risked Sharpe, a 19-year-old from London, Ont., Who didn’t play a single game in college with the seventh pick.
“I feel like a winner,” Maturin said. “I’m a really competitive person. Off the court I feel like a pretty funny person. I like to do a lot of fun things.”
This is only the second time in history that two Canadians have entered the top 10 in the NBA Draft. In 2014, Andrew Wiggins was taken first place in the complex by Cleveland, and Sacramento took Nick Stauskas with number 8.
Two more Canadians lined up next to each other in the second round. Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard headed for the Indiana Pacers at number 31, while Caleb Houston was selected at number 32 from Orlando.
Canada has had 37 players selected since the draft went through in two rounds in 1989, the second highest country after the United States.
Maturin joins the Pacers team, which finished low 25-47 last season.
Six feet and six guards / strikers became the first Canadian to visit the NBA Academy in Mexico City in 2018. The broadcast of the draft showed live footage of how the current players of the academy applauded him.
Maturin then played two seasons at the University of Arizona, winning the most notable Pac-12 awards and averaging 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this year.
He scored 30 points in a big game in the second round of March Madness, helping Arizona beat Texas Christian University in overtime.
Broadcasters compare Maturin’s game to OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.
“We have a pretty good team and I look forward to acting immediately,” Maturin said. “The staff was really good to me when I went there for my team training. I feel like they believe in me. Trusting the people in my game is great.”
Maturin, whose parents are from Haiti – he speaks English, French, Spanish and Creole – hugged his mother and sister before going up to the stage of the Barclay Center. He received rave reviews for his costume in burgundy and black flowers.
Sharpe, a 6-6 winger, was a five-star rookie when he signed up in Kentucky in January. But he never played for the Wildcats, and although that was expected to change in 2022-23, he raised his eyebrows, announcing the draft instead. He did not play significant five-on-five action after a high school game in October.
“Going from high school to college and not playing the season in college and then straight to the NBA is a big trip. But every step of the way, I just fought and had fun, “Sharpe said.
Sharpe is looking forward to playing with star defender Damien Lillard.
“He’s a great guard himself and he’s been in this league for a while, so I just can’t wait to really learn from him,” Sharpe said.
Nembhard, who played for Canada’s national team at the 2019 World Cup in China, spent four years in the NCAA, moving from Florida to Gonzaga for the past two years. Gonzaga remained undefeated in the 2020-21 regular season before losing to Baylor in the NCAA Finals. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the third round this year.
The 22-year-old from Aurora, Ontario, did well in the draft last month, dominating a five-on-five battle with 26 points and 11 assists.
Houston, a 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., Averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists from the University of Michigan this season.
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