Player Invitations
Twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room.
The first batch of invites, dispatched this Tuesday, includes the likes of 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. These players represent some of the best young talent entering the league and are expected to be high picks on draft night.
Another 11-12 invitations are anticipated to be sent out in waves starting next week, ensuring that every potential lottery pick has the chance to be present in 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 pivotal 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 10 allowed last year. This space is highly desired as it often signifies a strong likelihood of being selected in the first round.
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 fell to the second round while sitting in the green room. Notable examples include Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, Nic Claxton, Maciej Lampe, and Rashard Lewis, among others.
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 two-day format introduces 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, which minimizes the risk of extended waiting times for these individuals.
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. 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 Dillingham 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.
Topic's situation appears to be more 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 have undeniable talent, and their current predicaments serve as reminders of the uncertainties and physical risks that come with preparing for a professional sports career. Dillingham's efforts to meet NBA requirements and Topic's pending medical evaluations highlight the razor-thin margins that can affect draft status and future opportunities.
As the draft approaches, the basketball world will be closely monitoring any updates on these two players, alongside the anticipation for the next wave of green room invitations. Each decision, recovery, and completed requirement carries immense weight, underscoring the intense preparation and scrutiny these young athletes undergo on their path to the NBA.
The green room remains a symbol of success and promise, a place where dreams begin to solidify into reality. For those invited, it presents a stage to share a monumental moment with loved ones. For fans and analysts alike, it offers an early glimpse into the future of the league.