Britain’s Tobi Lawal says he is going to “live” in the gym as he bids to establish himself as an NBA player after being selected in the NBA Draft.
The 23-year-old was picked 48th overall by the Dallas Mavericks after two years as a starter in the college game at Virginia Tech.
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The 6ft 8in forward only began playing competitive basketball when he was 16 and developed his game with the City of London Academy.
He then left south London to play at high school in Maine before spending his first two years in college at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Like many prospects selected in the second round, he is viewed as a project player so will now focus on “getting a better feel for the game”.
“I hope this provides inspiration to young kids that anything is possible,” he said.
“I’m touching close to what I could be and how good I could become. I definitely believe that it can help me become as great as I want to be.
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“In London it is hard to get in the gym. Now the gym is right next to my house. I love being in the gym. I love growth – as a person, in my faith and as a player. Now I can do that, I’m going to live there.”
Lawal was one of 30 players picked during the second round of the NBA Draft in New York, which concluded on Wednesday.
The first 30 players were picked on Tuesday, with the Washington Wizards selecting former Brigham Young University small forward AJ Dybantsa first overall.
Who are the winners of the draft?
AJ Dybantsa was the leading scorer in the United States college system last season with an average of 25.5 points per game [Getty Images]
The draft can help NBA franchises turn around their fortunes, while relatively unheralded prospects can become NBA legends.
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Victor Wembanyama, for example, was the first overall pick in 2023 and he not only helped the San Antonio Spurs end their play-off drought this year but they went all the way to the NBA Finals.
They were beaten by the New York Knicks, with this year’s Finals Most Valuable Player being Jalen Brunson, a second-round pick in 2018. Others include Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green and Dennis Rodman.
The Washington Wizards had this year’s first pick and were expected to go for 19-year-old AJ Dybantsa instead of point guard Darryn Peterson after giving Trae Young a contract extension.
After a 17-65 record last season, the Wizards are expected to improve with the 6ft 9in Dybantsa joining a core which includes Young and Anthony Davis, and they hope to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2020-21.
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With the second pick the Utah Jazz had to choose between Peterson and power forward Cam Boozer, son of Jazz legend Carlos, who now works in their front office.
Yet they plumped for Peterson so the Memphis Grizzlies took Boozer, who won multiple awards as a freshman with Duke last season, with the third pick.
They also collected five future second-round picks to move back from 16 to 21 in the first round, where they made 19-year-old Karim Lopez the first Mexican-born player to be drafted in the first round.
The 6ft 8in forward was the highest-rated prospect in this year’s class from an international league having played for the New Zealand Breakers the past two seasons.
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The Grizzlies also acquired former first-round pick Isaiah Stewart and with the 32nd pick selected versatile guard Richie Saunders, who is 25 and was a late bloomer after serving a two-year church mission prior to starting college.
Despite finishing with the NBA’s top record for the second straight year, the Oklahoma City Thunder had two top-16 picks.
They were expected to challenge for back-to-back championships but were upset by San Antonio in this year’s play-offs.
The Spurs, led by the 7ft 4in Wembanyama, could be OKC’s biggest rival in the Western Conference for years to come so they remedied that by using the 12th pick on 7ft 3in Spanish centre Aday Mara. They then added point guard Bennett Stirtz with the 16th pick.
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Trades agreed for Antetokounmpo and Ball
Several teams traded picks and players this week as they aim to rebuild their roster for the 2026-27 season, with two big-name veterans set for blockbuster moves.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to join the Miami Heat, with the Milwaukee Bucks choosing Miami’s package over that of the Boston Celtics, which would have included their five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown.
The Bucks used one of the picks they acquired from Miami to select Tennessee forward Nate Ament 13th overall, shortly after taking Arizona guard Brayden Burries with the 10th pick.
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The 2021 champions then completed the draft by selecting Malique Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago with the 60th and final pick. The 21-year-old forward has spent the past two seasons playing for South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Miami’s anticipated trade for Antetokounmpo, though, has transformed them from afterthoughts to legitimate contenders, with their championship odds having been slashed in half this week.
Only Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Boston and the New York Knicks are seen as having a better chance of becoming the 2027 NBA champions.
This week’s other big trade has seen the Charlotte Hornets agree to send guards LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in exchange for Naz Reid and a host of draft picks, according to reports.
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Minnesota, who lost to San Antonio in the play-offs, made the moves after star player Anthony Edwards said he would ask for a trade if they did not build a championship-level roster around him.
