Four Canadians taken in the 2022 NBA Draft

Bennedict Mathurin (MGoBlog, Wikimedia Commons)

There were four Canadians taken in the 2022 National Basketball Association Draft on Thursday. Two players were taken in the first round and two players were taken in the second round. They were swingman Bennedict Mathurin of Montreal, Quebec (sixth overall by the Indiana Pacers), shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe of London, Ontario (seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers), point guard Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ontario (31st overall by the Indiana Pacers), and small forward Caleb Houstan of Mississauga, Ontario (32nd overall by the Orlando Magic).

Mathurin played his university career at Arizona. He averaged 17.7 points per game in 2021-22. Sharpe was supposed to play last season at Kentucky. However, he only was a red shirt last season.

Nembhard played his university career at Gonzaga. He averaged 11.8 points per game. Houstan played his university career at Michigan. He averaged 10.1 points per game.

According to the Canadian Press, this was only the second time in NBA history that two Canadians were taken in the top 10. In 2014, the Cleveland Cavaliers took Andrew Wiggins of Toronto, Ontario first overall, and the Sacramento Kings took Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario eighth overall. Wiggins had a magical 2021-22 NBA season as he played in the NBA All-Star Game and won the NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors.

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