Basketball: Distinct Kiwi flavour to inaugural NZ NBL draft

The NBA Draft in the US is a glamorous, star-studded affair with a TV audience of over 15 million people.

It's a day where dreams become reality, and the lives of young basketball players are changed forever.

On Thursday night, the New Zealand equivalent takes place, but with a touch more understatement.

A feature of the NBA Draft is seeing the sport's future stars dressed to impress. That won't be the case here.

"I think I'll just be in the casual polo and the black pants, eh," says draft hopeful Sam Smith.

Some of the biggest names set to feature in the opening rounds include Mika Vukona, Jordan Ngatai, Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris, Marcel Jones, Tohi Smith-Milner, Jarrod Kenny, Jack Salt and Sam Timmins, who grew up in Dunedin and made his debut for the Nuggets as a 15-year-old.

All up, 19 current or former Tall Blacks are available to be drafted.

Watch the full story above