The 2024 NBA Draft is one of the hallmark events of the NBA schedule. For the draftees, it represents the culmination of all their hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. It sometimes overwhelmed them, as several burst into real tears alongside their family on live television. For the NBA, it signifies where the league is heading as narratives for each team and player begin to take shape. As for the rest of us, the NBA Draft helps clear any confusion about what trade/player rumors were true and which “Experts” had the most accurate predictions. Check out my top NBA Draft takeaways as we prepare for the NBA Summer League to kick off.
Someone Drafted a Superstar
Someone drafted a superstar. We likely won’t know who for several years. The consensus going in was that this is a weak draft class. There was no consensus number-one pick, unlike last year’s number-one (French phenom Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs). The Atlanta Hawks snagged the number-one pick this year and selected Zaccharie Risacher out of France.
That’s exactly what I tell ppl about Risacher https://t.co/oizI6PFgjv
— Belly Up Sports Writer (NBA) (@thaherojoe) May 18, 2024
Historically, even the weak drafts have several serviceable veterans, and at least one star shines through. The 2013 NBA Draft had no consensus star (Anthony Bennett went number one to the Cleveland Cavaliers), but many great players emerged. The best of the bunch included Giannis Antetokounmpo at pick #15 and Rudy Gobert at pick #27. Off the top of my head, the weakest draft to my memory was the putrid 2000 NBA Draft. The NBA may have a disappointing crop of players once every quarter century, but there are some potential bright spots.
Risacher and Castle are tops on my list
— Belly Up Sports Writer (NBA) (@thaherojoe) May 30, 2024
Reed Sheppard, for example, jumped off the board analytically (and literally) and was selected third overall. Zach Edey proved his dominance for years in college, which translated into his NBA workouts. Edey went in the top ten. Several solid players were drafted as low as the second round.
The Last Olympic Summer
This summer is the last summer that the US will celebrate Olympic success. I predicted the failures of last summer’s international squad. This year should be fine, as the Olympic roster is stacked with former Olympians, MVPs, and future Hall-of-Famers. That’s not to say it will be easy. They may even lose a game. But they will show better than last summer. The problem is future tournaments.
The international rookies drafted this summer will flood international team rosters. Did you see that three of the first six NBA Draft picks were from France? Wembanyama is the next superstar, and he was drafted number one last year (his younger brother, Oscar is soon to follow). Canada (including Zach Edey) has a strong team, as does Australia. The most recent NBA MVPs are from different countries. The top three players in the running for MVP this past season were Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) and Luka Doncic (Slovenia). Prepare for some miserable Team USA showings.
I hate that the standard was set that a Team USA loss in a game means something is wrong. The game has become more global, and there is a direct correlation between the strength of international teams and the game’s growth. Everybody wins. Everybody doesn’t get a trophy though. Expect a long-term gold medal drought for Team USA.
Two-Night NBA Draft
Splitting the draft into two nights was a great idea. Historically, the NBA had its two-round draft in one night. Five minutes between selections in the first round (announced by the NBA commissioner) and two minutes between selections in the second round (announced by the deputy commissioner). This year’s draft modeled other sports where the rounds are split into separate days.
In the past, it was challenging to maintain the audience’s attention past the first round. Many of the names became unfamiliar by the second round, and that time was spent digesting trade news instead of focusing on the selections. Now, the selections can get the attention they deserve. Not to mention, the NBA can capitalize on multiple days of live draft coverage.
There are some things the NBA can clean up.
An incredibly unfortunate consequence of NBA Draft's new 2-day format: Multiple green room invitees sat through the entire first round at Barclays Center (3+ hours) and were not picked.
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) June 27, 2024
They must now wait until Thursday's second round, which will be held in an ESPN TV studio.
Overall, it worked out, and I expect to see this format again.
Bronny James
Rarely has a pick this low in the NBA draft been discussed, let alone a hot-button topic. Bronny James, son of future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James, made breaking news as the 55th selection of the NBA Draft (LA Lakers). Words like nepotism have been thrown around.
I’ll leave this Nick Wright video here in response.
I have found the Bronny James coverage to be so wildly disingenuous & dishonest, that I truly can’t believe it.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) June 28, 2024
This is one of the coolest sports stories ever & folks are letting their transparent dislike & jealousy of LeBron make them miss that point. pic.twitter.com/VRyddjdR6W
Photo Credit for featured cover image: Getty Images.
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