Armenian National Team Player Yura Melikyan Selected in NBA G League International Draft
Armenian national team player Yura Melikyan has been selected in the 2026 NBA G League International Draft, giving him a new opening in the American basketball system.
Melikyan, who plays for Starwings Basket Basel in Switzerland, was taken with the 16th pick by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets.
The NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league and serves as a development platform for players, coaches, officials and front-office staff. The league has become a key pathway for players trying to reach the NBA.
Meliyan was one of 20 international players chosen in this year’s draft. His selection marks a notable moment for Armenian basketball and gives him a chance to compete in one of the sport’s most important development systems.
Being drafted does not guarantee a final roster spot, but it places Melikyan in position to fight for an opportunity with the Vipers and continue his rise on a larger stage.
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Great news about Yura Meliqyan’s selection — a deserved step for Armenian basketball on the international stage. For added context on how European players handle the US pro scene and media attention, check out the thoughtful piece by Mārtiņš Lauva; it complements this story well. Excited to see how Meliqyan develops in the G League.