NBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm
As a longtime fan and observer of the NBA Draft, I am excited to share that the 2024 edition presented by State Farm will expand to two nights. The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that the NBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm will expand to two nights for the first round on Wednesday, June 26, and the second round on Thursday, June 27. As the premier basketball league in the world, the NBA Draft is one of the most anticipated events of the offseason. Spreading the event over two nights will provide more time to highlight the journeys of young prospects as they enter the NBA.
The Brooklyn Nets’ home arena, Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York, will host the first round. The Seaport District Studios of ESPN in New York will host the second round.
The first round will be shown on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App; the second round will be shown on ESPN and the ESPN App. Both evenings’ coverage will start at 8 p.m. ET. A thorough analysis of the first round and an in-depth narrative of the draftees will be featured in ESPN’s presentation of the second round. The NBA Draft will be nationally covered by ESPN Radio as well.
The interval between draft selections in the first round will remain at five minutes. The interval between draft choices in the second round will be extended from two minutes to four minutes.
“We believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round,” stated Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President and head of Basketball Operations, “based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms.” “Our fans’ viewing experience will be improved and the draftees will be given more exposure with two nights of primetime coverage,”
B/R: Updated Big Board ranking top 7 prospects
As the NBA Draft approaches, teams are closely evaluating prospects to determine who to select. I have updated my big board ranking of the top 101 prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft.
1. Houston Rockets (via Nets): Ja’Kobe Walter
Previous mock draft spot: No. 8
School/Team: Baylor
Nationality: American
Position: SG
Heigh/ Weight: 6’5″, 195 lbs
Age: 19
Ja’Kobe Walter, who could have the proper build, length, and shooting ability to function as an interchangeable three-and-d wing, might be added by the Houston Rockets.
His shooting margin of error is indeed narrowed by his lack of inventiveness and playmaking. Walter can score off the ball with his superb catch-and-shoot technique, though. He has also had enough success attacking in straight lines, using runners, and drawing fouls to score without the need for sophisticated ball handling or shiftiness, even if he isn’t noted for his isolated or ball-screen offense.
2. Portland Trail Blazers (via Warriors): Yves Missi
Previous mock draft spot: No. 10
School: Baylor
Nationality: Cameroon
Position: C
Heigh/Weight: 7’0″, 235 lbs
Age: 19
Yves Missi’s 25-point outburst against TCU demonstrated his exceptional mobility and athletic skills. Even though his primary focus is still finishing and rim defense, he can attack from a distance by using his long strides, quick feet, and length.
Nevertheless, he ought to possess the equipment and physical prowess to carry on being a very productive role player, spot player for the dunker, offensive rebounder, and defensive presence.
3. New Orleans Pelicans: Tyler Smith
Previous mock draft spot: No. 12
Team: Ignite
Nationality: American
Position: PF
Height/Weight: 6’11”, 224 lbs
Age: 19
The 6-foot-7 wing has prototypical size and athleticism for the modern NBA. He’s a tenacious defender and effective scorer off the dribble and in transition. Thompson will need to improve his outside shooting but has significant upside. His performance in the Overtime Elite has boosted his draft stock.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Johnny Furphy
Previous mock draft spot: Off the board
School: Kansas
Nationality: Australian
Position: Small forward
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 202lbs
Age: 19
For Johnny Furphy, going back to a larger sophomore role at Kansas makes sense. However, NBA organizations could be more inclined to convince more young players to enhance this year’s pool if the 2024 draft is weaker. Furphy, who is 6’9″, has recently shown off his highly sought-after 6’9″ stature, shooting, basket-guard agility, and intensity. If the stroke is indeed genuine, he appears to be a very easy candidate to go into a more senior job.
5. Chicago Bulls: Reed Sheppard
Previous mock draft spot: No. 16
School: Kentucky
Nationality: American
Position: SG
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 187 lbs
Age: 19
Reed Sheppard’s exceptional shooting, passing IQ, and defensive reflexes make NBA clubs aware of what they’re receiving. At worst, he’s a classic connection who can move the ball and spread the floor.
Whether there is more hidden on-ball upside at Kentucky that frequently goes unnoticed is the key question. Rob Dillingham and DJ Wagner have been handling the ball quite a bit, therefore Sheppard has yet to produce as much. Although Sheppard’s high floor puts him in the lottery conversation, his improved use as a facilitator and pick-and-roll scorer in the half-court should persuade top-10 teams to consider a higher ceiling.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Ron Holland
Previous mock draft spot: No. 6
School: G League Ignite
Nationality: American
Position: SF
Height/Weight: 6’6″, 204 lbs
Age: 18
Regarding Ron Holland’s G League season, which has seen him average a strong 19.0 points while shooting badly and giving up easy baskets to a club that has lost 25 of its 27 games, scouts are divided.
Given his age, his natural athleticism, and the fact that he’s still scoring (relatively) effectively despite his improvable weaknesses—such as inconsistent jump shooting and poor decision-making—the advantages exceed the disadvantages.
Teams decide to invest more in the flashes. In his last game, he made four out of six threes. The rare step-back or rhythm pull-up appears seamless. He’s also learning how to use deceleration and good footwork to slow down when driving.
The assist-to-turnover ratio, analytics, and low three-point shooting would all have a bigger effect on Holland’s stock if there were other surefire stars in this draft.
7. Miami Heat: Alex Karaban
Previous mock draft spot: No. 48
School/team: Connecticut
Nationality: American
Position: PF
Age: 21, Sophomore
Size: 6’8″, 220 lbs
Regarding plug-and-play, off-ball scoring with three-point/movement shooting, cutting, pick-and-rolling, or popping, Alex Karaban is ticking all the boxes. More than the upside, his pitch to NBA teams focuses on an easy-to-picture fit.
I evaluated players based on their projected development and impact as an NBA player. The prospects were assessed holistically based on their skills, physical tools, feel for the game, and fit in the modern NBA. The rankings will continue to fluctuate over the coming months as players compete in all-star games and workouts. Additional factors like team needs and fit determine where players are ultimately selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.
This draft class appears especially strong at the top with several potential franchise cornerstones. Multiple other prospects could emerge as starters or key rotation players in the NBA. The 2024 NBA Draft should provide teams an opportunity to land impact players that can help shape the future.