Jalen Pickett, former guard for Siena men’s basketball team, has been chosen by the NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA draft with the 32nd overall pick. Pickett was initially selected by the Indiana Pacers but is expected to be traded to the Nuggets.
Pickett, a native of Rochester, becomes the highest draft pick from Siena and the 10th former Siena player to be drafted. He played three seasons at Siena before transferring to Penn State for the past two seasons. In the current two-round draft format, he is only the second Siena player to be selected. The first was Jack McClinton in 2009.
Following Pickett’s selection, the Orlando Magic chose Andre Jackson from Amsterdam and Albany Academy at No. 36. Jackson’s rights are reportedly being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson, a guard, played a crucial role in UConn’s national championship win this season.
During his time at Penn State, Pickett earned second-team All-American honors and averaged 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. He also achieved great success at Siena, earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors in his freshman and sophomore years.
Jay Bilas and JJ Redick from ESPN commended Pickett’s skills and potential, praising his ability to facilitate the game and make great passes. They compared him to successful older players like Draymond Green and Jalen Brunson, who were second-round picks but turned out to be valuable assets in the NBA.
The Denver Nuggets, led by star center Nikola Jokic, recently secured their first NBA title by defeating the Miami Heat in the finals.
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