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 invites was dispatched on Tuesday and includes prominent names who are projected to shape the future of the NBA.
The distinguished list comprises 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 twelve young athletes are widely anticipated to be lottery picks.
Green Room Details
The green room, a pivotal aspect of the NBA Draft atmosphere, serves as a staging area situated in front of the draft podium. It is here that players, along with their families and agents, anxiously await the moment when Commissioner Adam Silver announces their selection.
This year, each invited player will be permitted to invite six guests to join them at their individual tables, a notable reduction from the ten guests allowed in the previous year. Receiving an invitation to the green room is generally seen as a positive indicator of a player's draft stock, signifying that they are among the most sought-after prospects in the draft class.
However, history has shown that being in the green room does not guarantee an early selection. Notable examples of prospects who fell to the second round after sitting in the green room include Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, Nic Claxton, Maciej Lampe, and Rashard Lewis among others. Therefore, while an invitation is a prestigious nod, it is not an absolute assurance of a first-round selection.
Draft Details
In a historic first, the NBA Draft will span two days this year. The first round is slated to take place on June 26 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, while the second round will be held on June 27 in lower Manhattan. This change aims to provide a more comprehensive and immersive draft experience for fans and players alike.
With the draft extending over two days, there could be added scrutiny over the final set of players invited to the green room. The goal is to avoid a potentially awkward scenario where an invited player and their family might have to wait an extra day to hear their name called. Last year, the final batch of invitations was sent out just two days before the draft, making the timing crucial this year to ensure smooth proceedings.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
As of now, two projected lottery picks have yet to receive an invitation to the green room: Kentucky's Rob Dillingham and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic. Both players are currently navigating through obstacles that have hindered their formal invitation to this elite assembly.
Rob 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.
Meanwhile, Nikola Topic was found to have a partially torn ACL during 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.
As the days approach, the draft stage is set for an exhilarating blend of young talent, anticipation, and the unexpected. The green room invitations serve as a prelude to the multitude of narratives that will unfold, providing a glimpse into the promising futures of these potential NBA stars.
With the first group of invites already drawing significant attention, the basketball community eagerly awaits the next wave of invitations, which are expected to be dispatched in the coming week. The final roster of green room invitees will undoubtedly offer deeper insights into the upcoming draft and the young men poised to make their mark on the world's premier basketball stage.