Former Jayhawk Brannen Greene selected 7th overall in D League draft

By Matt Tait     Oct 30, 2016

Nick Krug
Kansas junior guard Brannen Greene takes pre-game shots before the Jayhawks take on Oklahoma, on Jan. 4, 2016, at Allen Fieldhouse.

Former Kansas guard Brannen Greene, who left Lawrence after his junior season to pursue a career in the NBA, finally knows where it will begin.

Greene on Sunday was drafted No. 7 overall by Delaware in the first round of the NBA’s Developmental League draft, a six-round, 126-selection preseason event.

Greene is one of four players from last year’s team seeking work in the NBA. Cheick Diallo was selected No. 33 overall in last summer’s NBA draft and Perry Ellis (Charlotte) and Wayne Selden Jr. (Memphis) each signed camp contracts with their organizations prior to the start of the preseason. Although Ellis and Selden signed deals, both were cut by their respective teams and also are expected to begin their pro careers in the D League.

KU coach Bill Self, who had a tumultuous relationship with Greene throughout his three-year KU career, often called the 6-foot-7 sharp-shooter from Juliette, Georgia, one of the top pro prospects in the Kansas program because of his pure shooting and ability to hit from distance.

At the time Greene decided to forego his senior season, Self said he expected Greene would play pro ball “for many years to come” because of his talent and competitive nature.

The Delaware 87ers (the D League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers) will open the 2016-17 season Nov. 12 in their hometown of Newark, Del.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.