The 2019 NBA Draft was a watershed moment for Canadian basketball.
Six Canadians were drafted last year, setting a new record for any non-U.S. country in a single draft class, and among those six were No. 3 overall pick R.J. Barrett as well as standout rookie Brandon Clarke. Two more players were able to sign with teams as undrafted rookies — Luguentz Dort, who became something of a cult hero in the playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Oshae Brissett, who signed with his hometown Toronto Raptors.
Unfortunately, this year’s draft class doesn’t appear to be quite as loaded with Canadian talent. The NBA’s most recent list of draft entrants includes only three Canadian players, each of whom are projected as second round or undrafted candidates.
With that said, if there’s one thing consistent to Canadian prospects over the last few years, even the unheralded ones can punch above their weight, and with two-way contracts and the G League, there are more paths to the NBA than ever. Here are the Canadians in this year’s draft class.
Karim Mane, G, Vanier College
Let’s start with the most interesting player: Quebec’s Karim Mane, who is trying to make the NBA straight from Saint-Laurent’s Vanier College. No player has ever made the jump from Quebec’s JUCO basketball system to the NBA, but Mane, a consensus five-star recruit, is considered the most likely Canadian to get drafted this year.
With his athleticism and handle, Mane excels at getting to the rim. He played for Canada's FIBA under-19 team last year, and it would definitely be cool to see a homegrown Canadian talent reach the NBA from the college ball system here.
Nate Darling, G, Delaware
With an average of 21.0 points per game for the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens — yes, the Fightin’ Blue Hens — Darling was a top-20 scorer in the country, as well as the top scoring Canadian. He’s vying to be the first player from Halifax to reach the NBA, and with his profile as a sharpshooter, he certainly has a chance.
Isiaha Mike, F, SMU
Interestingly, Scarborough-born Isiaha Mike has already signed his first pro contract with BM Chemnitz 99 in Germany, as some other draft prospects have also done as a result of the coronavirus pandemic pushing the draft back into November.
So-called ‘draft and stash’ players often have appeal to teams who want to develop players without burning a roster slot, and Mike fits the profile of an athletic two-way wing who can shoot and defend. Players in that mold are in high demand these days, so perhaps a team will want to make the investment on developing Mike.
