Sonics tab Vladimir Radmanovic with 12th pick in NBA draft

Vladimir Radmanovic smiles after he was drafted

New York, June 28 (SportsTicker) - The Seattle SuperSonics used the 12th pick of the NBA draft on Yugoslavian forward Vladimir Radmanovic, one of the most coveted foreign players.

Outside of Pau Gasol of Spain, who went third overall, the best foreign player was considered to be the 6-10, 227-pound Radmanovic, who was a member of the Yugloslavia Under-22 National Team and played for the gold medal-winning team at the 1998 European Championship.

The SuperSonics need size and Radmanovic offers that. But he also has a complete floor game. He participated in the 1999 Nike Hoop Summit and helped team win the 1997 Yugoslav Junior Championship.

In Saporta Cup play, Radmanovic averaged 13.1 points and 9.9 rebounds for FMP Zeleznik. In his first season of extended playing time in 1999-2000, he averaged 7.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 25.7 minutes.