Armenian basketball player Yura Melikyan selected in the NBA G League Draft

Yura Melikyan, the 20-year-old center of the Armenia national team, has officially been selected in the 2026 NBA G League International Draft. The Armenian basketball player was picked 16th overall out of 20 by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets.

This is an important milestone in Melikyan’s career and one of the most notable international steps for Armenian basketball in recent years. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are one of the most decorated teams in NBA G League history: the club has won the league championship four times — in 2010, 2013, 2019 and 2022.

What does Melikyan’s selection in the NBA G League Draft mean?

Being selected in the NBA G League International Draft does not mean an automatic contract with the Houston Rockets or a guaranteed move to the NBA. However, it gives Melikyan a real chance to enter the American development system, gain an opportunity to play in the G League, and be closer to NBA scouts, coaches and club executives.

For Yura, this could become a crucial stage in his career. The G League is the NBA’s main development league, where young players receive playing time, adapt to American basketball and remain under constant observation from league clubs.

If his development goes well, Melikyan can use this opportunity as a springboard for further progress — from earning a place on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers roster to fighting for a higher status within the NBA system.

However, at this stage there is still no guarantee that Yura Melikyan will definitely play in the NBA G League. Rio Grande only owns the right to sign him, and before that the Texas-based team may still evaluate the Armenian player in summer leagues.

Yura Melikyan will continue his development in the Houston Rockets system

Melikyan is 20 years old and will turn 21 in October 2026. The basketball player is 200 cm tall. Yura’s main position is center, although he can also play as a power forward.

Melikyan began his professional career in Armenia, but has spent the last two years playing abroad. He started the 2025/26 season in the Latvian championship with Latvijas Universitate, where he played 12 games. The Armenian center averaged 8.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game.

Melikyan spent the second half of the season in the Swiss championship with Starwings. There, he played 16 games, averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 21.2 minutes.

Strong performances for the Armenia national team

Melikyan was especially impressive for the Armenia national team in the EuroBasket 2029 pre-qualifiers. In four games, he averaged 11 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

Yura’s best game came against Bulgaria. Despite Armenia’s 80–100 defeat, Melikyan scored 22 points while shooting 87.5% from the field.

Melikyan was also the leader of Armenia’s youth national team, averaging 17.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in seven games at the 2025 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B, which was held in Yerevan.

Melikyan learned about his selection after the game against Norway

Yura Melikyan learned that he had been selected in the NBA G League International Draft immediately after Armenia’s final game against Norway, which took place on July 2 and ended in a 103–116 defeat.

According to eyewitnesses, his teammates told him the news late at night, at around 1 a.m. For the basketball player himself, it came as a surprise — Melikyan was shocked by the news, which could become a turning point in his career.

Now the Armenian center gets a chance to prove himself in the NBA G League system and continue his development within the structure of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — the affiliate team of the Houston Rockets.