Australian young gun Johnny Furphy has made it to the NBA, selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 35th pick in the draft. The 19-year-old former junior footballer joins the world’s top basketball league after just one year in the US college system with the University of Kansas. Furphy was actually selected by the San Antonio Spurs, but was then on-traded to the Pacers who had pick 36. Furphy’s selection followed former Perth Wildcats import Alex Sarr being taken by the Washington Wizards with the second pick and the Illawarra Hawks’ American youngster AJ Johnson joining the Milwaukee Bucks with the 23rd pick. Furphy received an exclusive invite to the green room for the first round of the draft but had to wait until the second round the following day to be picked. Furphy paid tribute to his fellow Australian basketballers with a custom-made suit for the big occasion. The selection puts the young gun in line to secure instant wealth, with last year’s 35th pick getting a partially guaranteed $US8 million deal over four years. Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze is already a massive fan of Furphy, saying he is a guy that hasn’t come out of nowhere, but it’s been a meteoric rise for someone now considered a first-round draft pick. Furphy believes his background in Australian Rules football helped him throughout his NBA career, saying it helped him absorb contact. Furphy’s brother Joe is an AFL player with Geelong but has yet to play a senior game, and was granted leave by the club to join his family in New York for the draft. The young gun is set to join the Indiana Pacers and start his NBA journey, following his dream to play in the league with top basketball players. The NBA draft has been a successful one for Australian basketballers, with several players being selected by top teams. Furphy’s selection is a testament to the growing talent of Australian basketball, and he is set to make a big impact in the league. Furphy is excited to start his NBA career and is looking forward to playing with his new teammates and competing against the best basketball players in the world. With his instant wealth and guaranteed contract, Furphy is set to become a household name in the NBA league.