By ADAM ZAGORIA & JOSH NEWMAN
NEW YORK — As the first round began to fade Thursday night at the NBA Draft, Kentucky big man Skal Labissiere remained in the Green Room at Barclays Center.
Time will tell whether or not Labissiere, who struggled in his one season in Lexington, made a mistake by leaving school early, but for now, the Haitian-born forward is a millionaire.
Once projected as the No. 1 overall pick by DraftExpress, Labissiere was selected 28th overall by the Phoenix Suns, who will send him to the Sacramento Kings. He was one of two Kentucky players to be selected in the first round after classmate and Canadian sensation Jamal Murray was chosen seventh overall by the Denver Nuggets.
“It was tough at first, but one thing about the league, one thing about all of us now, everything starts over for all of us,” Labissiere said. “We all start over once we get to that level. I’m excited to get to work. I know I have a bright future ahead of me.”
