Chinese American guard Brayden Burries goes No. 10 in NBA Draft

Chinese American guard Brayden Burries was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, becoming one of the highest-drafted players of Chinese descent in NBA history.

The 20-year-old Arizona freshman, who has described himself as being of Chinese and Hawaiian heritage through his mother’s side, emerged as a lottery pick in what many analysts regarded as one of the deepest draft classes in recent years.

Burries arrived at Arizona as one of the nation’s top recruits after earning McDonald’s All American honors, winning a California state championship and participating in the Jordan Brand Classic. He quickly emerged as one of college basketball’s most impactful freshmen, averaging 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while earning First Team All Big 12 and Big 12 All Freshman honors.

He accomplished that in a draft class widely regarded as one of the strongest in recent memory. Headlined by top prospects AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson, the 2026 class was frequently praised for its depth at the top of the board and the number of players viewed as potential franchise cornerstones.

Arizona’s deep NCAA tournament run further elevated Burries’ profile. The Wildcats reached their first Final Four since 2001, with Burries serving as one of the team’s primary offensive options throughout the season. By draft night, many evaluators viewed him as one of the safest prospects in the class because of his mature decision-making and ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

Burries has spoken openly about the heritage passed down through his mother’s family. In a previous interview with AMAZN HQ, he said, “My mom is of Hawaiian and Chinese descent,” adding that she introduced him to that side of his identity from an early age.

He has also emphasized the importance of maintaining ties to Hawaii, where much of his maternal family lives. “Every November we go to Hawaii because I get to see some of my family that’s from out there,” Burries said. “I’m proud to be Hawaiian.”

Purported genealogical research shared by the YouTube channel Find Your Roots traced Burries’ maternal lineage to Chinese immigrants from Guangdong province who settled in Hawaii during the late 19th century. The findings suggest his family’s roots in Hawaii stretch back multiple generations, reflecting the long history of Chinese immigration to the islands.

Burries’ selection also arrives during a period of renewed visibility for players with Chinese roots in professional basketball. Hall of Famer Yao Ming remains the most influential Chinese player in NBA history after helping transform the league’s popularity in China following his selection as the first overall pick in 2002. More recently, Chinese Canadian Zach Edey was selected ninth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and Yang Hansen became a first-round pick in 2025.

Among Chinese American players, however, the list is considerably shorter. Kyle Anderson became the most prominent active example after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft and later representing China internationally under the name Li Kaier.

In a pre-draft interview with Yahoo Sports, Burries described the type of player he hopes to become at the next level. “I envision myself as just like a complete basketball player, someone who can pretty much do it all, guard multiple positions, impact winning outside of just scoring,” he said.