June 22nd, 2017

(New York) – The 2017 NBA Draft will be held at the Barclay’s center in Brooklyn, New York tonight (June 22nd) and three Native American Athletes are hoping to receive a phone call from at least one of the thirty NBA teams.

For Indian Country, Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk), Derek Willis (N. Arapaho), and Chance Comanche (Choctaw/Comanche) are not going to be in attendance tonight, those are generally reserved for the top 20 lottery picks as scouted by many draft boards. But despite not being there and hearing their names called, the aforementioned players still have a chance to earn a spot in the NBA if a team chooses them for the NBA’s summer league. If they all three get a chance and fair well enough in the summer league, that could earn them a spot in the NBA’s G-League (formerly D-League) where they could be called up at anytime.

Ron Baker (Citizen Potawatomi), with the New York Knick’s, went through this process last season and ended up with a rookie contract before the year was over with. Ron started in summer league because Knicks GM Phil Jackson took chance and put him into the then D-League, and fortunate for Ron, New York had a lot of injuries during the season that gave him the opportunity to get called up to the NBA where he finished out the season on the roster.

2017 NBA draft

When: Thu., June 22 (7 p.m. ET)

Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn

TV: ESPN/WatchESPN

Below are some draft board information on Bronson, Derek, and Chance:

Draft Profiles:

Bronson Koenig (Ho-Chunk Nation)

Height: 6-4

Weight: 192

College: Wisconsin

Classification: Senior

Birthdate: 11/13/1994

Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted

Pros:

Gifted shooter from all over the floor

Adequate scorer off the dribble

Decent playmaker

Adequate defensive player

Smart player that has a good feel for the game

Derek Willis (N. Arapaho/Pawnee/Creek)

Height: 6-9

Weight: 222

College: Kentucky

Classification: Senior

Birthdate: 6/21/1995

Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted

Pros:

Adequate shooter, especially off the catch

Adequate scorer off the dribble

Excels at scoring on the move

Fairly good playmaker

Good rebounder

Adequate defensive player that can get steals

Adequate shot blocker

Good athlete

Rock solid motor

Chance Comanche (Choctaw/Comanche)

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 218

College: Arizona

Classification: Sophomore

Birthdate: 4/14/1996

Projected Draft Range: 2nd Round to Undrafted

Pros:

Active finisher around the basket

Adequate low post scorer

Excels at scoring on the move

Good free throw shooter for a big man

Has very good hands

Good size to play inside

Solid athlete

Rock solid motor

​