USL Charleston Battery

Bakersfield's Maduabum is Third NBA D-League Player Drafted by an NBA Team

Published on June 24, 2011 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Charleston Battery News Release


NEWARK, N.J. - The Los Angeles Lakers selected Chukwudiebere Maduabum of the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam with the 56th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, then traded his draft rights to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future second round draft pick. With the selection, Maduabum becomes the third player ever drafted from the NBA D-League by an NBA team.

A native of Nigeria, Maduabum (6-9, 210) appeared in three games with the Jam in the 2010-11 season, averaging 0.7 points in 7.0 minutes.

Maduabum's selection marks the second straight NBA Draft in which a player has been drafted from the NBA D-League. The Miami Heat, before trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder, selected Latavious Williams of the Tulsa 66ers with the 48th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, which made him the second player ever to be drafted into the NBA from the NBA D-League. Williams, who averaged 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 41 games with Tulsa this past season, was also the first player to ever enter the NBA D-League out of high school.

Mike Taylor was the first-ever player drafted into the NBA from the NBA D-League when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the 56th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

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