NEW YORK – Santa Cruz Warriors forward Alen Smailagic of Serbia (6-10, 215) was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the 39^th overall pick in the NBA Draft 2019 presented by State Farm.  He is the third international player drafted into the NBA from the NBA G League, joining Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Greece) and Chukwudiebere Maduabum (Nigeria), and the seventh overall to play in the NBA’s official minor league before being drafted by an NBA team.

Smailagic appeared in 47 regular season games (four starts) for the Warriors last season and averaged 9.1 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the field to go with 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.  He was selected by selected by the South Bay Lakers with the fourth overall selection in the 2018 NBA G League Draft before his rights were traded to Santa Cruz.  He made his NBA G League debut at 18 years and 77 days old, becoming the youngest player in league history.

Smailagic joins Mike Taylor (55^th overall, 2008), Latavious Williams (48^th overall, 2010), Maduabum (54^th overall, 2011), Glen Rice, Jr. (35^th overall, 2013), P.J. Hairston (26^th overall, 2014) and Antetokounmpo (51^st overall, 2014) as players with NBA G League experience to be selected in an NBA Draft.

About the NBA G League
The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, trainers and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory.  Featuring 28 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2019-20 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.  Fifty-two percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2018-19 season boasted NBA G League experience.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs.  NBA G League games are available on ESPN’s family of networks and NBA TV.