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.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.