The reality is starting to sink in for Dragan Bender.
The 18-year-old has been on a whirlwind ride this year, beginning in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv before transitioning stateside for the run-up to the NBA Draft and finally to Phoenix after the Suns called his name with the fourth overall pick.
In New York earlier this month for the 2016 Panini NBA Rookie Photo Shoot, Bender had a chance to reflect on the big changes in his life when he sat down with USA TODAY’s Larry Berger.
“When you start to play basketball, you always dream about that moment when you become a part of the NBA organization,” Bender said of his draft night.