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The Denver Nuggets have ended RJ Hampton’s dramatic fall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Former New Zealand Breaker Hampton was widely projected to be one of the top 15 picks in Thursday’s draft (New Zealand time), but fell through the table.
It took him nearly two and a half hours to hear his name spoken by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, with the Nuggets gaining 24th from Hampton overall.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Former Breaker RJ Hampton was selected 24th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Hampton was chosen by the New Orleans Pelicans and quickly moved to Denver.
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The 19-year-old American dressed for the Breakers in the National Basketball League last season as part of the Next Stars Program, opting for the traditional US college basketball path.
It was a confusing state for Hampton in Rockwall, Texas, who was initially unsure whether to take a hat from the Milwaukee Bucks, Pelicans or Nuggets. With the draft done virtually, all draft prospects were sent the caps of all 30 NBA teams prior to the event and donned the one who drafted them.
Teams that draft within the top 20 appear to have walked away from Hampton with some concerns about his shooting accuracy and defensive toughness at the next level.
Hampton will have the opportunity to learn from the Nuggets’ star point guard Jamal Murray, who stood out in the NBA playoff bubble in Orlando.
Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images
RJ Hampton of the Breakers scored against LaMelo Ball of the Hawks last season. Ball was selected third in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
Denver advanced to the Western Conference finals this season, giving eventual NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers a tough test before losing the series 4-1.
Hampton will play with respected Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who has led the team since 2015.
It was an inconsistent season on the Breakers for point guard Hampton, who averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 15 games with the team. He struggled with his shots, landing just 40 percent from the ground, 30 from beyond the arc and 68 from the free throw line.
A hip flexor injury ended his season with the Breakers early, returning to the United States in February to prepare for the draft.
Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images
Former Breaker RJ Hampton took almost two and a half hours to finally hear his name in the 2020 NBA Draft.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Georgia guard Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick.
Center James Wiseman came second behind the Golden State Warriors, who found themselves in the unusual position of picking early after going with the NBA’s worst 15-50 last season, following long-term injuries to star escorts Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
His fellow NBL Next Stars Program graduate, point guard LaMelo Ball, who played for the Illawarra Hawks last season, was defeated by the Charlotte Hornets at three.
The top five were completed with forward Patrick Williams going to the Chicago Bulls with four and the Cleveland Cavaliers taking forward Isaac Okoro fifth overall.
