Basketball: Australian is first pick in NBA Draft

The Milwaukee Bucks today selected Australian Andrew Bogut, a versatile seven-foot centre out of the University of Utah, as the overall number one pick in the NBA Draft.

The 20-year-old Bogut, a starter on the Australian Olympic team in the 2004 Athens Games, averaged 20.4 points last year as a sophomore for Utah.

New agency AAP reported that Bogut has made Australian basketball history by being chosen first in the draft. 

The 20-year-old Victorian surpassed Australia's previous highest draft pick Luc Longley, who was selected seventh by Minnesota in 1991.

The 2.13m centre is only the second non-American to be selected No.1 in the draft, following Houston's Yao Ming of China back in 2002, said the news agency.

Bogut should have an immediate impact for the Bucks, who finished in the basement of the Central Division last year with a 30-52 record.

He runs the floor extremely well for a big man and is a solid shooter and rebounder. Analysts say Bogut will need some work in the low post to become a star in the NBA.

The draft was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

- REUTERS