The NBA Draft: A Two-Day Extravaganza
This year's NBA Draft took on a new format, spreading the event over two days for the first time. The first round commenced on Wednesday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, while the second round was held at South Street Seaport studios the following day. Over the course of 22½ hours, from an 8 p.m. start on Wednesday, numerous young athletes saw their dreams materialize as they were selected by the NBA's elite teams.
Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum had his work cut out for him, extending a welcoming hand to second-round picks at the Seaport. Among the hopefuls, ten athletes eagerly awaited their moment under the spotlight. Their perseverance through the extended format of the draft speaks volumes about their commitment and passion for the game.
Highlights from the Draft
Marquette's Oso Ighodaro was picked at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns. Recollecting the whirlwind experience, Ighodaro said, "I got to New York, worked out for the Nets and then came and did all the media stuff the day before [the first round]. Wednesday, did more media, got to the draft and was there until almost 11, 11:30. And then did it all again today. Got ready, came here and they had this event for us."
Just one spot ahead, Jaylen Wells of Washington State was chosen at No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies. Wells captured the exhaustion and slight surreal nature of the draft, remarking, "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep." Juggling the pressures and excitement, he even noted, "And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'"
For some, like Harrison Ingram from North Carolina, the draft was a blend of routine and anticipation. Selected by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 48, Ingram reflected, "Everything was the same but my socks."
Nigerian center Adem Bona, picked No. 41 by the Philadelphia 76ers, found the extended draft to be a test of patience and stress. "The two days kind of makes it more stressful. If it's one day, back-to-back, I'm like, 'All right, I'm getting my name called today regardless.'" Despite the distance, Bona felt a robust support system around him: "My immediate family couldn't make it. My mom, siblings couldn't make it. But my aunt, my uncle, my cousins from Canada, I have my girlfriend, I have my host family. I have a good group of people here."
Swedish forward Bobi Klintman's selection at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons was a particularly emotional moment. "It was unbelievable. I didn't have no words. I didn't know what to feel. Like, I was trying to hold my tears in. I was really happy. Sharing the moment with the family, too, was big-time," Klintman explained, highlighting how significant familial support can be in such milestones.
The Christie Brothers: A Sibling Dream
Family and support systems play a pivotal role for many draftees, but for Cam Christie, the draft had an added layer of significance. Selected No. 46 by the Los Angeles Clippers, Cam now joins his brother, Max Christie of the Lakers, in the NBA, making them one of the few sibling duos in the league. "It's really hard to even put in words, honestly. It's extremely rare that two brothers are ever in the NBA, let alone have them in the exact same city. So it's super dope. We're really close, obviously," Cam shared. Reflecting on the nerve-wracking experience, he said, "Obviously it's a lot of nerves. You don't really know what's going to happen. You don't know when you're going to get called, who's going to draft you, that kind of thing. But I think once I got that call, it kind of all just went away."
This year's NBA Draft has once again showcased the resilience, talent, and aspirations of young athletes as they embark on their professional basketball journeys. While the two-day format brought its challenges, it also highlighted the excitement and emotional depth of such a pivotal moment in these athletes' lives. The culmination of years of hard work, these selections mark the beginning of new chapters, filled with potential and promise.