The NBA Draft saw a significant change in format this year, stretching the event over two days to allow for a more extensive celebration of basketball's future stars.
A New Format
The first round of the draft was held in prime-time on Wednesday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, a setting befitting the highly-anticipated selections. The drama extended into the second day at South Street Seaport studios, where deputy commissioner Mark Tatum continued the tradition of welcoming the new faces of the league. A total of ten hopefuls waited in the green room at the Seaport, filled with dreams and anxieties in equal measure.
Exhaustion and Excitement
Among them was Marquette's Oso Ighodaro, who recounted the whirlwind experience: "I got to New York, worked out for the Nets and then came and did all the media stuff the day before [the first round]. Wednesday, did more media, got to the draft and was there until almost 11, 11:30. And then did it all again today. Got ready, came here and they had this event for us."
Such rigorous schedules took their toll. Jaylen Wells of Washington State, chosen at No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies, summed it up succinctly: "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep." Wells' quick wardrobe turnarounds became a talking point as he revealed, "I just love this one so much, so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'"
A Series of Selections
The day saw numerous players realizing their dreams. The Phoenix Suns selected Oso Ighodaro at No. 40, while Philadelphia 76ers picked Nigerian center Adem Bona at No. 41. Speaking about the two-day format, Bona said, "The two days kind of makes it more stressful. If it's one day, back-to-back, I'm like, 'All right, I'm getting my name called today regardless.'"
Bona's gratitude extended to his diverse support system: "I have my family here. My immediate family couldn't make it. My mom, siblings couldn't make it. But my aunt, my uncle, my cousins from Canada, I have my girlfriend, I have my host family. I have a good group of people here."
International Stars
Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, taken at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons, experienced an emotional crescendo. "It was unbelievable. I didn't have no words. I didn't know what to feel. Like, I was trying to hold my tears in. I was really happy. Sharing the moment with the family, too, was big-time," he said.
A Family Affair
Cam Christie, selected at No. 46 by the Los Angeles Clippers, joined a unique club. He will now play in the same city as his brother, Max Christie of the Lakers, creating a sibling duo that adds another layer to the draft's narrative. "It's really hard to even put in words, honestly. It's extremely rare that two brothers are ever in the NBA, let alone have them in the exact same city. So it's super dope. We're really close, obviously," Christie shared.
Christie painted a vivid picture of the draft proceedings: "Obviously it's a lot of nerves. You don't really know what's going to happen. You don't know when you're going to get called, who's going to draft you, that kind of thing. But I think once I got that call, it kind of all just went away."
A Marathon Event
The entire event spanned 22½ hours from its 8 p.m. start on Wednesday, underlining the stamina required from both draftees and organizers. But for these players, every minute was worth the wait, as they took the first steps in their professional basketball careers.