Former Spartan Erazem Lorbek Selected In NBA Draft
6/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 29, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former Spartan Erazem Lorbek was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 16th pick of the second round (46th overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft June 28 in New York City. Lorbek played at Michigan State during the 2002-03 season, averaging 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds, starting 16 of 35 contests. He elevated his play during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and shooting 52.8 percent (19-of-36) from the field, including 50 percent (5-of-10) from the three-point line during MSU's run to the Elite Eight. He was selected to the 2003 NCAA All-South Region team. After the 2002-03 season, Lorbek left MSU to play professional basketball in Europe, playing in Italy for the past two seasons.
Lorbek is the seventh former Spartan to be selected in the NBA Draft in the last six years. In 2000, Mateen Cleaves (Detroit Pistons - 14th) and Morris Peterson (Toronto Raptors - 21st) were selected in the first round. In 2001, Jason Richardson (Golden State Warriors - 5th) and Zach Randolph (Portland Trail Blazers - 19th) were drafted in the first round, while teammate Andre Hutson (Milwaukee Bucks - 52nd) was a second-round selection. Marcus Taylor was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 52nd pick of the 2002 draft. Only Duke (9) and Arizona (8) have had more players selected in the last six drafts, while UCLA also has had seven players drafted.
