Four Australians hoping for NBA dream to come true

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• Josh Giddey's future is uncertain as Minnesota and Phoenix monitor Chicago ahead of the NBA Draft‍
• NBL Next Stars send global NBA message at 2026 adidas Eurocamp

Australians Oscar Cluff, Max Mackinnon, Ben Henshall and Anthony Dell’Orso are all in play on Day 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft as well as NBL Next Star Malique Lewis.

The second round of the NBA Draft has been described as the "Wild West" as teams trade up and down in an attempt to secure players with the biggest upside.

Cluff, Mackinnon, Henshall and Dell'Orso are all eligible despite not declaring.

Former NBL Next Star Karim Lopez has been selected by the Memphis Grizzlies via the Detroit Pistons with the 21st pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mexican-born Lopez, 19, is the 15th NBL Next Star taken in the NBA Draft.

Lopez played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers and is the first Mexican-born player taken the first round. He was expected to be a lottery pick but slipped seven positions.

BYU's AJ Dybantsa taken with the first pick by former NBL Next Star Alex Sarr's Washington Wizards.

Josh Giddey has two new teammates after the Bulls selected power forward Caleb Wilson from North Carolina with the fourth pick and guard Dailyn Swain out of Texas with the 15th pick.

Dyson Daniels' Atlanta Hawks selected point guard Kingston Flemings from the Houston Cougars with the 8th pick and SCU forward Allen Graves with the 19th pick.

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Nate Ament with the 13th pick after they traded two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including No.13 in the 2026 NBA Draft, a future pick swap and a second-round pick.

How to watch the 2026 NBA Draft

• Second Round: Today (June 25 at 10AM AEST)
• Broadcaster: Live on ESPN and streaming via Kayo Sports

2026 NBA Draft Tracker – 1st Round

2026 NBA Draft Tracker – 2nd Round

Cluff, 24, and Mackinnon, 22, staked their claims to late second-round consideration in front of NBA scouts at the adidas Eurocamp in Italy earlier this month, while Dell’Orso, 22, has worked out with Johnny Furphy’s Indiana Pacers, Josh Green’s Charlotte Hornets, the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

NBA rules state players aged 22 and over who have exhausted their college eligibility don’t need to declare to be drafted.

Cluff has also worked out with the Golden State Warriors and Mackinnon with the Portland Trail Blazers. Both players were part of the Next Stars team that swept the Eurocamp tournament 3-0, with Mackinnon named finals MVP.

Dell’Orso transferred from Campbell to Arizona before the start of the 2024-25 NCAA Men’s Division 1 season and developed a reputation as an elite three-point shooter, knocking down 100 threes at 37%, on a national ranked team in a power conference (Big 12).

The 1.98m shooting guard from Melbourne said it was a solid foundation, a catalyst for his draft workouts and a role that could make him an NBA player.

"I think Arizona did a good job getting me prepped for this part of my journey in terms of shooting and playing off the ball,” Dell’Orso said after his workout with the Pacers.

"Obviously the NBA has a bunch of superstars and being able to be a complementary piece to the guys that dribble a lot, and I can kind of space up, create space on the floor and shift defenses.

"That's something I think will always translate."

Four Australians were selected in the second round in 2025.

• ‍Pick 45 Minnesota Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets / Australia)
• Pick 49 Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyrese Proctor (Duke University / Australia)
• Pick 52 Phoenix Suns: Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings / Australia)
• Pick 55 Chicago Bulls: Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks / Australia)