The Suns’ decision process to take a spindly, 7-foot-1 Croatian with their highest draft slot in 29 years began two summers ago.
Dragan Bender was a 16-year-old playing against older teens in the Under-18 European Championship in Konya, Turkey, with Suns assistant general manager Pat Connelly and Suns international scouting consultant Emilio Kovacic on hand.
Bender looked like a potential future No. 1 pick, posting two near triple-double performances and having a 34-point, 14-rebound, no-turnover game against Lithuania, which had another of Thursday’s first-round picks, Domantas Sabonis.
“He did some incredible things there,” Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said after picking Bender fourth overall Thursday night.