Player Invitations
Twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room. This esteemed group includes Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Tidjane Salaun, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Devin Carter, and Ja'Kobe Walter. These individuals make up the first batch of 12 invites dispatched this Tuesday.
Another 11-12 invitations are anticipated to be sent out in waves starting next week, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding this year’s draft class.
Green Room Details
The green room is a staging area situated in front of the NBA Draft podium. It serves as a place where players, their families, and agents can gather and wait for the moment when Commissioner Adam Silver announces their selection. This year, each player will be allowed to invite six people to sit at their individual tables, a reduction from the 10 allowed last year. This policy change aims to create a more intimate and manageable environment for one of basketball's most significant nights.
Receiving an invitation to the green room is generally seen as a positive indicator of a player’s draft stock. However, there have been instances where prospects have experienced a drop in their expected draft position while sitting in the green room. Notable examples include Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, Nic Claxton, Maciej Lampe, and Rashard Lewis, among others.
Draft Details
This year, for the first time, the NBA Draft will span two days. The first round will take place on June 26 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, while the second round will be held on June 27 in lower Manhattan. This new format may add an extra layer of scrutiny and tension, particularly for the last set of players invited to the green room, as there is a potential scenario where an invited player and their family will have to wait an additional day to hear their name called. Last year, the final batch of invitations was not sent out until two days before the draft.
All 12 players from the initial batch of invites are projected to be lottery picks, which speaks volumes about their perceived value and potential impact at the professional level. However, the story is different for two other projected lottery picks who have yet to receive an invitation to the green room: Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
Rob Dillingham has encountered obstacles in completing the necessary requirements to be eligible for selection in the draft, as stipulated by the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. An ankle injury prevented Dillingham from participating in athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in mid-May. This injury has also hindered him from attending private workouts with NBA teams thus far. Thankfully, his ankle has recovered, and he plans on completing those requirements at the Lakers’ practice facility on Friday, according to his agent Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports.
Nikola Topic, the other notable projected lottery pick without an invitation, has encountered a more serious health concern. He was found to have a partially torn ACL at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, last week. This discovery will likely create significant uncertainty around his draft stock, as team doctors need to fully evaluate the injury to decide on the best course of action regarding surgery and a subsequent recovery plan. This has cast a shadow over his immediate prospects, though his long-term potential remains strong.
The inclusion of these top talents in the upcoming draft adds to the anticipation and excitement surrounding the event. The first round on June 26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn promises to be filled with memorable moments, while the second round on June 27 in lower Manhattan will offer additional opportunities for hopeful players to make their mark in the NBA. As we await further invitations and updates on players' statuses, the narrative of this draft continues to evolve, keeping fans and analysts alike on the edge of their seats.