2016 NBA Draft: Hardest names to pronounce, ranked

Finding that hidden gem in the NBA Draft can be an enormous challenge. Pronouncing their name at the podium can be just as hard.

With the 2016 NBA draft rapidly approaching, teams aren’t the only ones cramming to learn everything they can about each prospect. Analysts responsible for covering the draft—both on ESPN and live webcasts—need to brush up as well, particularly when it comes to the pronunciation of potential second-round picks.

While American-born prospects will largely dominate the early proceedings, international players will begin popping up in droves toward the middle of the first round. For every easy-to-pronounce name like Demetrius Jackson, Denzel Valentine or Henry Ellenson will be a Petr Cornelie, Rade Zagorac or Isaia Cordinier. Once the second round begins, it’s a mispronunciation minefield for announcers.

While nothing may rival Charles Barkley’s repeated butchering of Jonas Valanciunas’ last name, those tasked with pronouncing Andrey Desyatnikov, Zhou Qi or Guerschon Yabusele should probably start brushing up now. (Pro tip: DraftExpress videos don’t include voiceovers. Sorry, fellas.)

Which prospects will give analysts cold sweats once their names get called at the podium? The following 10 are particularly prime for mispronunciation based on the phonetic difficulty of their first and last names, the range in which they’re likely to be drafted and where they spent the past season playing.

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