Yahoo Sports 2024 NBA draft: Bronny James joins LeBron with Lakers as father-son duo makes history
NEW YORK — Bronny James heard his named called in the NBA draft, and history was made.
With the No. 55 pick in the second round, the Los Angeles Lakers selected James. Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced the pick from ESPN’s Seaport studio on the edge of lower Manhattan’s Financial District where the second round took place.
Bronny, and his dad, NBA star LeBron James, are the first father-son player pair in the NBA at the same time. Bronny, 19, was drafted nearly 21 years to the date after LeBron was chosen No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.
He is a 6-2 guard with exceptional leaping ability and a strong defensive disposition.
Bronny has had a scary and exciting year. He sustained a life-threatening cardiac arrest while working out on Southern California’s campus in July, leaving his basketball future unclear.
Before his cardiac arrest, Bronny had a strong senior season in high school and had become a potential first-round pick. The cardiac arrest, which was the result of a congenital heart defect, set back his development. He had surgery to repair the defect, was cleared to play for the Trojans and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists and shot 36.6% from the field and 26.7% on 3-pointers in 25 games during his freshman season in 2023-24.
The NBA’s Fitness to Play Panel also cleared James for NBA play.
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At one point, LeBron said he wanted to play alongside Bronny, but the elder James has distanced himself from that sentiment saying as far back as a year ago that what the son wants isn’t always what the dad wants.
“I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s, he’s brought it up a couple times. But yeah, I don’t think about it,” Bronny said at the draft combine in May.
WHERE ARE PLAYERS FROM? NBA draft's first two picks show league's global reach
Read on for USA TODAY Sports' analysis for all 28 picks from the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, news, trades and highlights:
Opinion: Bronny James achieving his dream is all about heart
NEW YORK – Heart. That’s what Bronny James’ selection in the second round of the NBA draft Thursday is about.
James’ physical heart, the one that sustained a cardiac arrest 11 months ago while he worked out on Southern California’s campus. And his metaphorical heart, the one that helped him get back on the basketball court and in position to be drafted after a life-threatening incident required a procedure to fix his congenital heart defect.
And our hearts, the hardened ones that can’t find the joy in a young adult reaching his dreams, and the warm hearts that can. Read Jeff Zillgitt's column.
A picture is worth …
Like father, like son.
Bronny James and LeBron James became the first father-and-son player duo in NBA history to be in the league at the same time. A photo shared on NBA’s official Instagram account highlighted just how amazing a feat that is. The photo from June 2, 2007, shows LeBron holding a young Bronny after the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron was 22 years, 5 months and 8 days and Bronny was 2 years, 8 months and 1 day. — Cydney Henderson
Teams told not to draft Bronny James, per ESPN
The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James with the 55th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft on Thursday.
The 19-year-old, 6-foot-2, 210-pound guard left USC after one season amid speculation about his future and possibly playing alongside his father, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. The superstar has until Saturday to inform the Lakers whether he is returning or opting out of his contract. Even if he opts out, he still could return to the Lakers.
OPINION: Bronny James must earn his spot with Lakers, but no one should question his heart
Rich Paul, the agent for father and son, said Bronny James ending up with the right team so he can develop was more important than where he was selected in the draft. According to ESPN, Paul even threatened that James would play in Australia and asked certain unnamed teams not to draft him.
Several teams, such as the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, had expressed interest in drafting James but according to reports, he only worked out for the Suns and Lakers. — Scooby Axson
No. 58 Dallas Mavericks, Ariel Hukporti, Riesen Ludwigsburg (Germany)
The Mavericks closed out the draft by selecting Hukporti, who averaged 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season on Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany. — Cydney Henderson
No. 57 Memphis Grizzlies, Ulrich Chomche, Cameroon
The youngest player in this year’s draft, turning 18 in December. He played a few games in the NBA Academy Africa, so his inexperience is a concern. But in the limited amount of games he’s played, he’s shown off his defensive presence. He will need tons of development and there’s uncertainty of how far his offensive game can go, yet he does have the tools to make it in the NBA. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 56 Denver Nuggets, Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
A semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award in each of the past three seasons, McCullar is a long wing who can guard multiple positions. He has natural instincts on both sides, but averaged 18.3 points and 6 rebounds per game last season. — Jordan Mendoza
∎ The Nuggets traded the No. 56 pick to the Knicks, via the Suns, per ESPN.
No. 55 Los Angeles Lakers, Bronny James, USC
The Lakers did the expected and paired LeBron James with his son, Bronny. Assuming Bronny plays in a game next season, it will mark the first-ever father-son player duo in NBA history. Bronny flashed speed, jumping ability, athleticism and defense in the NBA draft combine and pre-draft process. He’ll have to continue to polish his jump shot, but his quickest path to the court is as a willing, pesky defender in a “3-and-D” role. — Lorenzo Reyes
No. 54 Boston Celtics, Anton Watson, Gonzaga
The reigning champion Boston Celtics are adding Anton Watson to their squad with the No. 54 overall pick. He averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season. Watson led the Bulldogs in steals per game (1.5). — Cydney Henderson
No. 53 Detroit Pistons, Cam Spencer, Connecticut
Likely the best 3-point shooter in the draft, Spence shot 44% from deep during the national championship season. He’s better suited as a shooter coming off screens and he has great vision in finding the right spots to get open. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season. — Jordan Mendoza
∎ The Pistons traded the No. 53 pick to the Grizzlies, via the Timberwolves, per ESPN.
No. 52 Golden State Warriors, Quinten Post, Boston College
Post is a true big that can dominate near the basket with his frame, but what’s remarkable is his 3-point shooting ability; last season, he shot 43.1% from beyond the arc. He isn’t fast and can be exploited if he has to defend around the perimeter, but he gives Golden State another possible scoring threat off the bench. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 51 New York Knicks, Melvin Ajinça, Saint-Quentin (France)
Another French player is off the board. The Knicks picked up Ajinça, a 6-8 wing that shot 30.9% from three last season on Saint-Quentin. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists. — Cydney Henderson
∎ The Knicks traded the No. 51 pick to the Mavericks, per ESPN.
No. 50 Indiana Pacers, Enrique Freeman, Akron
The Pacers are looking to solidify the glass. After ranking 28th in the league in rebounding last season, Freeman should find minutes by collecting boards. He led the country with 12.9 rebounds per game, but he can also contribute on offense with high energy; last season, he tied the NCAA Divsion I single-season record for double-doubles (31). He is the first Zip to be drafted since 1987 and just the second to go in one of the first two rounds. — Lorenzo Reyes
No. 49 Indiana Pacers: Tristen Newton, Connecticut
The leader of the back-to-back national champion Huskies, Newton led UConn in nearly every statistical category, including points (15.1) and assists (6.2) per game. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four and one of his strengths is driving to the basket. There are concerns about his age and outlook, but he continued to grow in every college season. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 48 San Antonio Spurs, Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
Ingram is an impact player and spot-up shooter, shooting 43% from the field and 38.5% from three. He nearly averaged a double-double last season, with a career-high 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. He was named third-team All-ACC team. — Cydney Henderson
No. 47 Orlando Magic, Antonio Reeves, Kentucky
This is a pick made with scoring and experience in mind. As a senior, Reeves averaged 20.2 points per game, but it wasn’t just his pure 3-point stroke. Reeves can score from different levels on the floor, though going 44.7% from beyond the arc should get him instant playing time. — Lorenzo Reyes
∎ The Magic traded the No. 47 pick to the Pelicans, per ESPN.
No. 46 Los Angeles Clippers, Cam Christie, Minnesota
Lakers second-year player Max Christie is getting company in Los Angeles. His younger brother Cam Christie was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. The younger Christie is a threat from beyond the arc, shooting 39.1%. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists at Minnesota last season. — Cydney Henderson
No. 45 Sacramento Kings, Jamal Shead, Houston
The leader of a dominant run at Houston, Shead was a menace for one of the best defensive teams in Division I as he was named 2023-24 Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. He will be able to handle most defensive assignments in the perimeter despite being just 6-foot. Shead dished the ball effectively on offense and can be a pass-first guard. — Jordan Mendoza
∎ The Kings traded the No. 45 pick to the Raptors, per ESPN.
No. 44 Atlanta Hawks, Pelle Larsson, Arizona
The Atlanta Hawks selected Pelle Larsson out of Arizona with the No. 44 overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft. Last season, the Swedish basketball player averaged a career-high 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists, which led the Wildcats. — Cydney Henderson
∎ The Hawks traded the No. 44 pick to the Heat for the No. 43 pick, which was the Hawks’ selection from an earlier trade with the Houston Rockets for AJ Griffin, per ESPN.
No. 43 Miami Heat, Nikola Đurišić, Serbia
He’s a candidate to be stashed in the G League, but Đurišić is a versatile wing who thrived as a playmaker, though his play most closely resembles something seen in a traditional 2-guard. He has pure shooting mechanics, but he will need to work on his defense at the next level. — Lorenzo Reyes
∎ The Heat traded the No. 43 pick to the Hawks for the No. 44 pick, which was the Hawks’ selection from an earlier trade with the Houston Rockets for AJ Griffin, per ESPN.
No. 42 Charlotte Hornets, KJ Simpson, Colorado
NEW YORK — Simpson is a 6-0 guard who can score, rebound and pass. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists – just one of five Division I players to average at least 19-5-4 in 2023-24. He also shot 43.4% on 3-pointers and averaged 1.6 steals for the Buffaloes. — Jeff Zillgitt
No. 41 Philadelphia 76ers, Adem Bona, UCLA
A player all about hustle, Bona makes his presence known on the defensive end with his long, athletic frame, and he can bring explosiveness inside the paint on the offensive side. He was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and led the Bruins in blocks with 1.8 per game. He will give Philadelphia a true big to come off the bench for Joel Embiid and bring intensity to the second unit. Something he will need to develop in the pros is his discipline as he dealt with foul troubles throughout his two years at UCLA. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 40 Portland Trail Blazers, Osasere Ighodaro, Marquette
Ighodaro is a versatile big man that can score in a number of ways, averaging 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season. And Portland is in desperate need of scoring. Portland, who finished with the third-worst record (21-61) in the league, was also second-to-last in field goal percentage (43.9%) last season. — Cydney Henderson
∎ The Trailblazers traded Ighodaro to the Suns, per ESPN. Ighodaro is returning home — he’s from Mesa, Arizona, and attended high school in Phoenix.
No. 39 Memphis Grizzlies, Jaylen Wells, Washington State
The Grizzlies are joining the trend of taking athletic wings and stashing them. Wells led the Cougars in 3-point percentage last season at 41.7%, but he’s more than just a shooter. Wells chipped in on the glass, grabbing 4.6 rebounds per game. — Lorenzo Reyes
No. 38 New York Knicks, Ajay Mitchell, UC-Santa Barbara
NEW YORK — Mitchell is an efficient offensive player – he averaged 20 points 50.4% shooting from the field, 39.3% on 3-pointers and 85.8% on free throws in 2023-24. The 6-3 guard also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was the 2022-23 Big West player of the year. — Jeff Zillgitt
∎ The Knicks traded this pick to Oklahoma City who will acquire Mitchell, per ESPN.
No. 37 Minnesota Timberwolves, Bobi Klintman, Sweden
Klintman played one season at Wake Forest before going to Australia to play for Cairns Taipans. He had a productive season in the Australian National Basketball League with 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Klintman can space the floor and he is excellent in transition. His defensive prowess is another plus. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 36 Indiana Pacers, Juan Núñez, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Núñez has excellent court vision, is a great passer and a threat on the pick and roll. Núñez averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists last season at Ratiopharm Ulm, a professional club in Germany, where he played with Pacome Dadiet, the 25th overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft. — Cydney Henderson
∎ The Pacers traded Núñez to the Spurs for the No. 35 pick, per ESPN.
No. 35. San Antonio Spurs, Johnny Furphy, Kansas
Furphy, who played his junior basketball in Australia, runs the court well, finishes in transition and can knock down spot-up 3s. He was one of 21 players to receive an invite to the green room for the first round, but did not hear his name called. — Lorenzo Reyes
∎ The Spurs traded Furphy to the Indiana Pacers for the No. 36 pick, per ESPN.
No. 34, Portland Trail Blazers, Tyler Kolek, Marquette
NEW YORK — A playmaker and scorer, especially off the dribble, Kolek sees the court well, operates with savvy in the pick-and-roll and is clever with his finishes at the rim. He had six double-doubles in points and assists this season. He averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals and shot 49.6% from the field and 38.8% on 3-pointers. — Jeff Zillgitt
∎ The Trail Blazers will send Kolek to the Knicks for future second-round picks, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal was official.
No. 33 Milwaukee Bucks, Tyler Smith, G League Ignite
A versatile stretch-four that can shoot from just about anywhere on the court. He shot 36% from 3-point land last season, a big boost for a Bucks team that was a top 10 3-point shooting team. Smith started his professional career as a 16-year-old and opted to skip the final two years of high school. — Jordan Mendoza
No. 32 Utah Jazz, Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Filipowski averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season. Filipowski is a versatile low-post big who can pull up for a three or drive to the bucket. He will also add a defensive boost to the Jazz, who finished dead last in the league in defensive rating. Filipowski will team up with Lauri Markkanen, who Filipowski says he models his game after. — Cydney Henderson and Jeff Zillgitt
No. 31 Toronto Raptors, Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco
The Raptors start the second round with some experience, taking Mogbo, a senior forward. Mogbo is a two-way player who is comfortable in transition with the ball in his hands and is a double-double machine. He averaged 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, though he is not a 3-point threat. — Lorenzo Reyes
Bronny James is not among green room guests
NEW YORK — Bronny James was not among the 10 green room attendees, per the NBA. But that doesn’t mean Bronny is not at ESPN’s Seaport studio in lower Manhattan where the second round of the draft is taking place.
Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Kansas’ Johnny Furphy, who were first-round green room attendees and not drafted on Wednesday, are not expected to attend the second round in person. — Jeff Zillgitt
The 10 green room players for the second round:
Adem Bona, UCLA
Cam Christie, Minnesota
Nikola Djurisic, Mega (Serbia)
Boogie Ellis, USC
Oso Ighodaro, Marquette
Harrison Ingram, North Carolina
Bobi Klintman, Cairns (Australia) Taipans
Juan Nunez, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
KJ Simpson, Colorado
Jaylen Wells, Washington State
How to watch the NBA draft
The second round will be broadcast on ESPN.
When is the NBA draft?
The second round is Thursday at 4 p.m. ET
How to stream the NBA draft
The draft will be streamed on ESPN+, YouTube TV and fuboTV.
How many rounds are the NBA draft?
The draft has two rounds. The first was Wednesday, for picks No. 1-30. The second is Thursday, for picks No. 31-58.
What time does the draft start and when do teams pick?
The second round begins Thursday afternoon, at 4 p.m. ET. During the second round, each team will have four minutes to make its selection.
Where is the NBA draft?
The first round was at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The second round is at ESPN Seaport District Studio in Manhattan, N.Y.
How many picks are in the NBA draft?
The NBA draft usually has 60 picks. This year, there are 58 picks as the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers each forfeited a second-round pick for violating rules around free agency talks.
Second-round trades in motion
The Atlanta Hawks have reached a deal to trade AJ Griffin to the Houston Rockets for the No. 44 pick in Thursday’s second round, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal was official.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will trade Wendell Moore Jr. to the Detroit Pistons for the No. 53 pick Thursday, The Athletic reported.
Oklahoma City plans to trade Lindy Waters III to Golden State for the No. 52 pick Thursday, a a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal was official. — Jeff Zillgitt
NBA second-round draft order
31. Raptors (from Pistons via Knicks and Clippers)
32. Jazz (from Wizards via Pistons and Nets)
33. Bucks (from Blazers via Kings)
34. Trail Blazers (from Hornets via Nuggets, Thunder and Pelicans)
35. Spurs
36. Pacers (from Raptors via 76ers, Clippers and Grizzlies)
37. Timberwolves (from Grizzlies via Lakers, Wizards and Thunder)
38. Knicks (from Jazz)
39. Grizzlies (from Nets via Rockets)
40. Trail Blazers (from Hawks)
41. 76ers (from Bulls via Celtics, Spurs and Pelicans)
42. Hornets (from Rockets via Thunder)
43. Heat
44. Rockets (from Warrios via Hawks) — traded to Hawks
45. Kings
46. Clippers (from Pacers via Grizzlies and Bucks)
47. Magic
48. Spurs (from Lakers via Grizzlies)
49. Pacers (from Cavaliers)
50. Pacers (from Pelicans)
51. Wizards (from Suns) — traded to Knicks
52. Warriors (from Bucks via Pacers) — traded to Oklahoma City
53. Pistons (from Knicks via 76ers and Hornets) — traded to Timberwolves
54. Celtics (from Mavericks via Kings)
55. Lakers (from Clippers)
56. Nuggets (from Timberwolves via Thunder) — traded to Suns
57. Grizzlies (from Thunder via Rockets and Hawks)
58. Mavericks (from Celtics via Hornets)
* Suns and 76ers each lost a 2024 draft second-round pick due to league penalty.
Projected landing spots for Bronny James
Outside of the lottery picks, the most intrigue of the NBA draft will be to see which team takes a flier on Bronny James.
With his medical concerns behind him, the 6-foot-2 James certainly isn’t the first prospect to have an underwhelming collegiate career and was drafted strictly on future potential.
For someone who averaged less than five points a game during his lone season at USC with scouts and executives split on his actual NBA skills, James’ name being attached to certain teams and working out for others could be a smokescreen to keep other teams from really evaluating him. It also may have something to do with his namesake’s future employer. Read more here. — Scooby Axson
LeBron makes emotional social media post about Bronny
Twenty-one years ago, LeBron James strode across the stage at the 2003 NBA draft in an oversized, all-white suit and shook the league commissioner’s hand while flashing a wide, radiant smile.
This week, one of his children might get to do the same.
Among the players hoping to hear their name called is Bronny James, the oldest son of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who is attempting to enter the NBA after one season at USC.
For his father, a four-time NBA MVP who is coming off his 21st season in the league, it’s a full-circle moment, with the elder James taking to social media Wednesday to express those feelings.
“Not a feeling in the (expletive) world better than being around raising my boys to MEN!” James wrote in a post on Instagram. “Pops over here getting emotional as hell just thinking about yall journey so far! Thank you both for allowing me to be your DAD and be apart of your compass through life’s trials and tribulations!” — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK
NBA draft first-round highlights
Did you miss the first round Wednesday? Read our analysis of all 30 picks and catch up with these highlights:
NBA draft first-round picks
1. Atlanta, Zaccharie Risacher (JL Bourg-en-Bresse)
2. Washington, Alex Sarr (Perth)
3. Houston, Reed Sheppard (Kentucky)
4. San Antonio, Stephon Castle (Connecticut)
5. Detroit, Ron Holland II (G League Ignite)
6. Charlotte, Tidjane Salaun (Cholet Basket)
7. Portland, Donovan Clingan (Connecticut)
8. San Antonio, Rob Dillingham (Kentucky) — traded to Timberwolves
9. Memphis, Zach Edey (Purdue)
10. Utah, Cody Williams (Colorado)
11. Chicago, Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite)
12. Oklahoma City, Nikola Topic (KK Crvena Zvezda)
13. Sacramento, Devin Carter (Providence)
14. Portland, Carlton "Bub'' Carrington (Pittsburgh) — traded to Wizards
15. Miami, Kel’el Ware (Indiana)
16. Philadelphia, Jared McCain (Duke)
17. L.A. Lakers, Dalton Knecht (Tennessee)
18. Orlando, Tristan da Silva (Colorado)
19. Toronto, Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor)
20. Cleveland, Jaylon Tyson (California)
21. New Orleans, Yves Missi (Baylor)
22. Phoenix, DaRon Holmes II (Dayton) — traded to Nuggets
23. Milwaukee, AJ Johnson (Illawarra)
24. New York, Kyshawn George (Miami) — traded to Wizards
25. New York, Pacome Dadiet (Ratiopharm Ulm)
26. Washington, Dillon Jones (Weber State) — traded to Thunder (via Knicks)
27. Minnesota, Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)
28. Denver, Ryan Dunn (Virginia) — traded to Suns
29. Utah, Isaiah Collier (USC)
30. Boston, Baylor Scheierman (Creighton)
Opinion: Hawks don't need a savior in Risacher. They just need him to be good
ATLANTA — It would be difficult to have a strong opinion about Zaccharie Risacher, the NBA’s newly-minted No. 1 overall draft pick, unless JL Bourg of the LNB Élite league was somehow part of your basketball viewing menu last season. But there’s a reason that the people who actually get paid to pay attention to this stuff — and whose jobs depend on getting it right — have liked Risacher since he was 16 years old.
In the modern NBA, tall wings who can shoot from the perimeter and defend multiple positions are among the rarest commodities. Just ask the New York Knicks, who are about to pay OG Anunoby more than $200 million despite never averaging more than 17.1 points per game and just gave up a ransom of draft picks for Mikal Bridges. Read Dan Wolken's column.
Opinion: Knicks taking big swings. Risk is worth it
NEW YORK – The day before the first round of Wednesday’s NBA draft and just hours before the draft began, the New York Knicks dominated the league’s headlines.
On Tuesday, the Knicks acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, and the following day, they reached a five-year, $212 million deal with OG Anunoby, their own free agent, to remain with New York.
The opening of NBA free agency is Sunday, and the Knicks’ front office, led by former player-agent Leon Rose, sent a message: the Knicks are going for it. They see a window to play for an NBA championship, and they’re taking a big-league swing. That should be commended. Read Jeff Zillgitt's column.
NBA draft winners and losers
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The first round of the 2024 NBA draft wrapped up late Wednesday night, and though there's still one more round — comprising 28 selections — left, it's not too early to break down the implications from the night.
The biggest winner, arguably, wasn't a team or player or executive, but a country. France has had an unprecedented run of success in getting players drafted in the first round. No team made more selections than the Washington Wizards, who came into the night with two but aggressively added another in the middle of the round, and now they appear to have infused talent onto a roster that badly needed it. Read our winners and losers from the first round of the 2024 NBA draft here.
Three biggest surprise picks from first round
NEW YORK — The first round of the 2024 NBA draft produced expected results − a pair of French players in Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, for example, were selected in the first two picks.
But the first round also yielded picks that were total surprises, ones that drew audible reactions from the crowd in attendance at the Barclays Center after Commissioner Adam Silver read off their names.
Whether it was teams in win-now mode drafting prospects who are projects, or players seemingly taken too high, here are the three biggest surprise picks from the first round of the 2024 NBA draft. Read story. — Lorenzo Reyes
Historic draft for France
It’s been a big day for France with one of its most successful drafts in NBA history.
With Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr the first two picks in the draft, it’s the first time two Frenchmen went 1-2 in the NBA draft.
On top of that, with Tidjane Salaun taken sixth overall, it’s the first time three Frenchmen were selected in the top 10. It’s also the first time a country other than the U.S. has had three players drafted in the top 10. — Jordan Mendoza
ESPN cameras show incorrect player when displaying graphic
Dalton Knecht is at the 2024 NBA draft with his family and Tennessee coach Rick Barnes as he waits to live out a childhood dream of hearing his name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. But for a brief second ESPN's broadcast showed someone other than the Vols forward — the second production error for the network this week after missing the Florida Panthers hoist the Stanley Cup on Monday.
During the introduction of players at the 2024 NBA draft at the Barclays Center on Wednesday, ESPN broadcast a lower-third graphic with Knecht's name. However, the camera was trained on French forward Tidjane Salaun instead of Knecht. Salaun would go No. 6 overall to the Charlotte Hornets. — John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK
Donovan Clingan honors mom at draft
Donovan Clingan has dedicated his basketball career to his mother, and he made sure to have a piece of her with him when he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. Inside of his suit jacket he has pictures of his family, and on the other side are pictures of him and his mom.
Clingan’s mother, Stacey Clingan, died of breast cancer in 2018. — Jordan Mendoza
Teams with most, fewest picks in 2024 NBA draft
The Spurs and Trail Blazers are tied for most picks in the 2024 NBA draft with four picks each.
Spurs picks: 4, 8 35, 48
Trail Blazers picks: 7, 14, 34, 40
The Brooklyn Nets have the fewest picks in this year's draft as the only team with zero selections.
NBA draft eligibility requirements
Can anybody enter the draft? Here are the rules of eligibility for the NBA draft.
Age: The NBA's collective bargaining agreement says that all players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft.
One-and-done rule: The collective bargaining agreement says that "at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school)" in order for a player to be eligible for the NBA draft.
International players: According to the collective bargaining agreement, an international player is defined as one "(i) who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for at least the three (3) years prior to the Draft, while participating in the game of basketball as an amateur or as a professional outside of the United States; (ii) who has never previously enrolled in a college or university in the United States; and (iii) who did not complete high school in the United States."
Draft limits: A player seeking to be a part of the NBA can only enter two drafts. A player also cannot join the NBA unless he has met the eligibility requirements for the draft.
No. 1 NBA draft picks
Here are the No. 1 picks this century.
2024: Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
2023: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
2022: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
2021: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
2020: Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2019: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
2018: Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
2017: Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers)
2016: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2014: Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2013: Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2012: Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets)
2011: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2010: John Wall (Washington Wizards)
2009: Blake Griffin (LA Clippers)
2008: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
2007: Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers)
2006: Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors)
2005: Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks)
2004: Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
2003: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2002: Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)
2001: Kwame Brown (Washington Wizards)
2000: Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets)
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA draft tracker: Bronny James joins dad LeBron with Lakers
