Player Invitations
Twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room.
This initial group of draft hopefuls includes Zacharie 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 invitations were dispatched this Tuesday, signaling the beginning of an exciting journey toward the NBA for these young athletes.
Another 11-12 invitations are anticipated to be sent out in waves starting next week, completing the roster of elite prospects invited to the green room.
Green Room Details
The green room serves as a staging area situated in front of the NBA Draft podium. Here, players, their families, and agents await 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 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 instances where prospects, despite their invitations, fell to the second round. Notable 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 add 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, raising logistical concerns and emotional strain for the prospects and their families.
All 12 players from the initial batch of invites are projected to be lottery picks, reinforcing the prestige and high expectations bestowed upon them.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
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. Their situations present unique challenges and uncertainties.
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 hindered him from participating in athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in mid-May. This injury has also prevented 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.
Topic's situation is similarly complicated. He was found to have a partially torn ACL at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, last week. This discovery will likely create 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.
Both Dillingham and Topic face significant hurdles in the lead-up to the draft. However, their talent and potential remain undeniable, making them intriguing prospects despite the current challenges.
The anticipation surrounding the NBA Draft continues to build, with fans, analysts, and teams eagerly awaiting the announcements. The shift to a two-day event and the variations in green room invitations add layers of complexity and drama to an already exhilarating experience.
As the next waves of invitations are sent out and the draft date approaches, the stories of these young athletes will undoubtedly captivate audiences, embodying the highs and lows of their journey to the NBA.