All the Aussies drafted to the NBA

The Australian pipeline within the NBA has grown steadily in recent times, with 25 players selected in the draft since 1969, ten of those coming in the first round.

Andrew Bogut was the first Australian to be picked at number one in the 2005 NBA Draft, taken by the Milwaukee Bucks, but it was Luc Longley who was the initial first round pick out of Australia in 1991, taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Last year saw four Australians taken in the draft, with former Brisbane Bullets Next Star Rocco Zikarsky the first off the board at pick 45 to the Timberwolves.

NBL Champion Lachlan Olbrich was one of the best stories of 2025, culminating his incredible year by signing a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.

Former Adelaide 36ers Next Star Josh Giddey made waves in 2021, going from a late second-round projected pick before his NBL season began, rising to be selected at pick 6 by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The city of Melbourne has produced the most number 1 overall picks in NBA history, which includes Bogut, Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving.

Despite relocating to the United States early in life, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving was born in Melbourne, further strengthening the city’s claim as the birthplace of more No. 1 NBA Draft picks than any other city worldwide.

That list includes Bogut and Ben Simmons, who was picked by the 76ers in 2016.

List of all Australian NBA Draft picks

1969 - Carl Rodwell (20th round, 217th overall) - Atlanta Hawks
1974 - Eddie Palubinskas (3rd round, 61st overall) - Atlanta Hawks
1991 - Luc Longley (1st round, 7th overall) - Minnesota Timberwolves
1997 - Chris Anstey (1st round, 18th overall) - Portland Trail Blazers
1997 - CJ Bruton (2nd round, 52nd overall) - Vancouver Grizzlies
1997 - Paul Rogers (2nd round, 53rd overall) - Los Angeles Lakers
1997 - Ben Pepper (2nd round, 55th overall) - Boston Celtics
2002 - David Andersen (2nd round, 37th overall) - Atlanta Hawks
2005 - Andrew Bogut (1st round, 1st overall) - Milwaukee Bucks
2007 - Brad Newley (2nd round, 54th overall) - Houston Rockets
2008 - Nathan Jawai (2nd round, 41st overall) - Indiana Pacers
2009 - Patty Mills (2nd round, 55th overall) - Portland Trail Blazers
2011 - Kyrie Irving (1st round, 1st overall) - Cleveland Cavaliers
2011 - Ater Majok (2nd round, 58th overall) - Los Angeles Lakers
2014 - Dante Exum (1st round, 5th overall) - Utah Jazz
2014 - Cameron Bairstow (2nd round, 49th overall) - Chicago Bulls
2016 - Ben Simmons (1st round, 1st overall) - Philadelphia 76ers
2016 - Thon Maker (1st round, 10th overall) - Milwaukee Bucks
2017 - Jonah Bolden (2nd round, 36th overall) - Philadelphia 76ers
2019 - Matisse Thybulle (1st round, 20th overall) - Boston Celtics
2020 - Josh Green (1st round, 18th overall) - Dallas Mavericks
2021 - Josh Giddey (1st round, 6th overall) - Oklahoma City Thunder
2022 - Dyson Daniels (1st round, 8th overall) - New Orleans Pelicans
2022 - Luke Travers (2nd round, 56th overall) - Cleveland Cavaliers
2024 - Johnny Furphy (2nd round, 35th overall) - Indiana Pacers
2025 - Rocco Zikarsky (2nd round, 45th overall) - Minnesota Timberwolves
2025 - Tyrese Proctor (2nd round, 49th overall) - Cleveland Cavaliers
2025 - Alex Toohey (2nd round, 52nd overall) - Golden State Warriors
2025 - Lachlan Olbrich (2nd round, 55th overall) - Chicago Bulls