Johnny Furphy, the newest NBA player from Australia, talked about his “tough” first-round collapse and the encouraging comments he received from his new head coach, the Indiana Pacers.
After other teams passed over the Victorian, who was anticipated to be selected in the second part of the first round, Indiana traded up to choose Furphy 35th overall in the draft.
Furphy was listed as the 18th best prospect by ESPN, while the 19-year-old was projected to go in the late 20s in mock drafts by The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, and CBS Sports.
In an interview with The Kansas City Star on Friday, Furphy opened up about his tumble down the draft board, calling the experience “tough.”
The former winger for the Kansas Jayhawks told The Star, “It was just very uncertain.”
It has a huge range and a lot of moving parts. Although it was difficult, in the end, you should go where you feel most comfortable.
After a lengthy wait in the green room on Thursday, Furphy said it was “pretty amazing” to finally hear his name called. The family decided to watch the second round in a hotel room.
Rich, Furphy’s father, said on “RSN Breakfast with Harf” on Friday morning that he was “emotionally and physically spent” the day before and that seeing his son drafted was a “huge relief.”
To get to this point, Rich remarked, “a lot of background conversations have been going on today.”
“Last night was quite challenging. It didn’t go according to plan, honestly, so it’s reassuring to be in the position we’re in now.
“To be frank, it was tough because you’re invited to participate, expecting a certain outcome based on strong indications from teams, but as events unfolded, it didn’t materialize as expected.
“The whole event is filled with excitement and anticipation, and sitting there at the front, only to see things play out differently, was draining. By the time it all wrapped up, we didn’t get back until 1am, and emotionally and physically, it took a toll on him, as well as on us. He handled it all remarkably well, but it was hard work.
“We ended up in a hotel room instead of staying for the entire ceremony, feeling somewhat exhausted by the whole experience. It was just his agent, his mom, a few others, and us trying to process everything.”
Johnny Furphy, after experiencing a challenging draft night where he was initially expected to be selected earlier, ultimately found a landing spot with the Indiana Pacers. His former coach at Kansas, Bill Self, described the evening as “very tough and humbling” for the Australian player.
The anticipation of being in the green room and receiving assurances from teams did not align with the outcome, which made it a difficult night for Furphy and his family. Despite this disappointment, Self praised Furphy for handling the situation maturely.
Furphy was one of two players invited to the green room who did not get selected in the first round, alongside Kyle Filipowski. Filipowski was eventually drafted by the Utah Jazz after initially being passed over by several teams.
Interestingly, the Pacers, who originally didn’t have a pick until the second round, traded up from the 36th spot to secure Furphy. Indiana’s head coach, Rick Carlisle, personally conveyed his excitement to Furphy, expressing that the team had been keen on him for some time and didn’t anticipate him being available at their draft position.
Carlisle emphasized that Furphy fits well with the Pacers’ style of play, which emphasizes pushing the pace and excelling in transition. Indiana ranked second in the league in possessions per game during the regular season and utilized fast breaks effectively, accounting for a significant portion of their scoring.
For Furphy, joining the Pacers represents an opportunity to contribute to a team that values his skill set and aligns with his capabilities on the court.
Furphy continued, “In the end, it’s about finding the best fit, and I think Indiana is the spot.”
Furphy would make a “good landing place,” according to Self, who agreed.
It’s a young, developing franchise. They have some very talented players,” Self remarked.
“They were enthusiastic about Johnny when I spoke with them this morning… They’ll do a fantastic job nurturing him, in my opinion.
Overall, the Pacers scored highly for the Furphy selection; ESPN’s Kevin Pelton called the Australian’s slip “legitimately shocking,” while Danny Chau of The Ringer and Kyle Boone of CBS Sports gave it a “A.”
“The Pacers are doubling down on their high-octane offensive strategy with the acquisition of Furphy,” Chau analyzed.
“Hailing from Kansas, this Aussie brings versatility that keeps offenses fluid—he’s a dynamic wing player. He excels at finding open spaces, using his size (around 6-foot-9 in shoes) and athleticism to capitalize on perimeter opportunities and drive to the basket for powerful dunks.
“While not yet an elite shooter, his ability to attack closeouts compensates effectively. At just 19, his potential is promising.”
Boone highlighted Furphy’s unexpected drop from the first round as a significant surprise. He emphasized that landing Furphy represents a smart move for the Pacers, providing them with a young prospect who offers both size and versatile scoring capabilities.
Based on his estimates using statistics, Pelton ranked Furphy as the fifth-best prospect in this year’s class in other places. More on his projections’ operation can be found here.
Rich Furphy, reflecting on his son Johnny’s journey and recent draft experience, highlighted the strides Johnny has made in the past year that propelled him up draft boards. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony labeled Johnny as a potential “steal,” particularly if he continues to develop his shooting and defensive abilities, fitting well alongside Pascal Siakam in the Pacers’ frontcourt.
Rich emphasized Johnny’s ability to perform under pressure and excel in crucial moments, traits that have been instrumental in his ascent. Despite the challenges of the draft process, Rich commended Johnny for consistently handling tough situations over the past few years.
Johnny’s development and resilience suggest he has the potential to make a significant impact in the NBA, leveraging his skills and determination to contribute effectively to the Indiana Pacers.
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