From the Congo to Israel to three players from Spain, there were fourteen international-born players selected in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The fourteen players ended a sex-year slide in which fewer and fewer international players were chosen, from a record high of 21 international players chosen in 2003 to 2008, when there were just thirteen players selected.

There were definitely some surprises, none bigger than Ricky Rubio slipping to fifth where many mock drafts had him going as high as #2, but no lower than #4. With the fourth pick, the Sacramento Kings decided to go with another 6-5 player, combo-guard Tyreke Evans, instead of Rubio.

In not so much of a shock, Hasheem Thabeet went #2 to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 7-2 center is seen as another Dikembe Mutombo, a player that can change the game on the defensive side of the court.

1. Hasheem Thabeet, Tanzania (#2 to Memphis) >
2. Ricky Rubio, Spain (#5 to Minnesota)
3. Victor Claver, Spain (#22 to Portland)
4. Omri Casspi, Israel (#23 to Sacramento)
5. Rodrigue Beaubois, France (#25 to Oklahoma City)
6. Christian Eyenga, Congo (#30 to Cleveland)
7. Sergio Lull, Spain (#34 to Denver)
8. Jonas Jerebko, Sweden (#39 to Detroit)
9. Henk Norel, Netherlands (#47 to Minnesota)
10. Sergiy Gladyr, Ukraine (#49 to Atlanta)
11. Goran Suton, Bosnia (#50 to Utah)
12. Nando de Colo, France (#53 to San Antonio)
13. Patrick Mills, Australia (#55 to Portland)
14. Emir Preldzic, Slovenia (#57 to Phoenix)

Fellow Spaniard Victor Claver was another surprise. The high-flying forward was the third international player selected in the draft, and picked much-higher than expected at #22. Claver was one selection higher than Omri Casspi (#23), the Israeli player slated to go third in many mock drafts.

Jonas Jerebko was primed to become the first Swede to be drafted in the NBA’s first round, but the 6-9, 22-year old forward fell to Detroit Pistons in the second round at #39.

Buoyed by Michigan State’s run in to the NCAA finals, 6-10 center Goran Suton was selected at #50, it’s no surprise that the Utah Jazz picked the Bosnian pivot up, Suton fits the bill for the Jazz perfectly.

One of the biggest shocks was how far Aussie Patrick Mills fell. As with Rubio, buzz was strong after Mill’s performance in the 2008 Olympics. He was booked as a late-first rounder in many mock drafts, but the 5-11 Aborigine point guard slipped all the way down the late-second round to #55, only five picks from the end of the draft.

Other international players selected were Rodrigue Beaubois, Christian Eyenga, Sergio Lull, Henk Norel, Sergiy Gladyr, Nando de Colo, and Emir Preldzic. Barring coming over and having great rookie camps, Claver, Lull, Gladvr, Suton, Mills, and Preldzic are all expected to stay/go overseas for more experience.

Links and Resources:  NBA Draft Second Round Picks (ESPN),  Just 13 International Players Chosen in the 2008 NBA Draft (Interbasket),  Rubio goes fifth, Thabeet drafted #2 (Interbasket),  International Players you should know in the 2009 NBA Draft (Interbasket), Spanish Basketball Forum (Interbasket), Patty Mills in, Greivis Vasquez out (Interbasket), Jonas Jerebko: First Swede drafted in NBA’s first round? (Interbasket), Patrick Mills, Joe Ingles among four Aussies in NBA Draft (Interbasket), Spain’s Victor Claver joins Rubio in 2009 NBA Draft (Interbasket), After UNC Loss, Goran Suton’s Future Looking Up (Interbasket)