Player Invitations
Twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room. This honor signifies their potential high selections, offering them a front-row seat to one of the most exciting nights in basketball. The first batch of 12 invites included names like 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. As anticipated, another 11-12 invitations are expected to be sent out in waves starting next week.
Green Room Details
The green room serves as a staging area located in front of the NBA Draft podium. Here, players, accompanied by their families and agents, await the moment when Commissioner Adam Silver announces their selection. This year's draft sees a slight modification: each invited player is allowed to invite six people to sit at their tables, a reduction from the ten allowed last year. Receiving an invitation to the green room is generally seen as a positive indicator of a player's draft stock. However, there have been notable instances where prospects fell to the second round while sitting in the green room. Some examples include Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, Nic Claxton, Maciej Lampe, and Rashard Lewis.
Draft Details
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 could lead to added scrutiny over the final set of players invited to the green room, aiming to avoid a situation where an invited player and their family have to wait an extra 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, highlighting the high stakes and excitement surrounding this year's draft.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
Interestingly, two projected lottery picks who have yet to receive an invitation to the green room are Kentucky's Rob Dillingham and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic. Dillingham has not completed all the necessary requirements to be eligible for selection in the draft, as stipulated by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. An ankle injury prevented him 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. However, 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.
On the other hand, Topic was found to have a partially torn ACL at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, last week. This discovery has created uncertainty around his draft stock until team doctors can fully evaluate the injury and decide on the best course of action regarding surgery and a subsequent recovery plan.
The 2024 NBA Draft promises to be an electrifying event, especially with the new two-day format. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see which players receive green room invitations in the coming weeks and how these selections impact each player's future in the NBA. With all 12 initial invitees projected as lottery picks and key players like Dillingham and Topic still in the mix, the draft is set to be a memorable showcase of young talent and potential NBA stars. As the clock ticks down to June 26, the anticipation continues to build, setting the stage for an exciting start to the 2024 NBA season.