Weak draft dominated by internationals

Associated Press

Newark, N.j.

Kyrie Irving traveled just a few miles down the road to become the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

The players that followed him came from across the globe.

Three of the first six players taken were from Europe, capitalizing on the absence of some American college players who might have gone in their spots and made this a stronger draft. It was the first time four international players who didn’t play at a U.S. college were selected in the lottery.

Even Irving has international ties. He was born in Australia while his father, Drederick, played professionally there and said he might be interested in playing for the Australian national team.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the No. 2 pick. The Utah Jazz then took Turkish big man Enes Kanter third with their first of two lottery selections.

The league’s uncertain labor situation hung over the draft, and likely weakened it. Potential top-10 picks such as Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Harrison Barnes were among those who decided to stay in school, without knowing when their rookie seasons would have started.

Stern, who could lock out his players next week if a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached, was booed when he came onto the stage at the Prudential Center, which is hosting the draft while its usual home, Madison Square Garden, is undergoing summer work.

New Yorkers made the trip across the river to join the sellout crowd of 8,417, cheering loudly when Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette were taken in the top 10 and booing when the Knicks made Georgia Tech guard Iman Shumpert the No. 17 selection.

The draft was filled with question marks, with a number of unknown European players expected to go in the first round. Kanter hasn’t played competitively in a year, forced to sit out last season at Kentucky after being ruled ineligible for being paid to play in Turkey.

Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas went fifth to Toronto and Jan Vesely of the Czech Republic was taken sixth by Washington.

“Basketball in my country is not so popular, but after this night, I think — I hope — that the basketball will be more popular,” Vesely said. “I will do my best to help that.”

Bismack Biyombo of Congo went seventh to Sacramento — a pick that will be traded — as the record of nine international first-round picks in 2003 quickly became threatened.

The 18-year-old forward will end up in Charlotte as part of a three-way deal agreed to earlier that also included Milwaukee, a person familiar with the deal Thursday.