Player Invitations
Twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room. The initial batch of invitations dispatched this Tuesday includes: Zakcharie 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.
Another 11-12 invitations are anticipated to be sent out in waves starting next week, as the NBA aims to complete its list of invitees for this significant event.
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 10 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 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. Such instances serve as reminders that an invitation, while prestigious, does not guarantee a first-round selection.
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 change aims to provide a more expansive and detailed coverage of each selection, particularly for players and teams who might benefit from not being rushed through the traditional one-day format.
There could be 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, leaving little time for the players and their families to prepare.
This year, all 12 players from the initial batch of invites are projected to be lottery picks. It is a significant vote of confidence for these top talents as they prepare to transition to professional basketball.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
Interestingly, 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 yet 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.
Topic, on the other hand, 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. While these issues pose challenges, they do not entirely rule out the possibility of a green room invitation if the players can demonstrate their readiness before the draft.
Conclusion
As the NBA Draft approaches, the green room invitations mark an important milestone for these young athletes. For those who have received their invitations, it is a recognition of their potential and hard work. For those still waiting, it serves as a motivation to overcome the final hurdles and secure their place among the best.
The NBA's decision to extend the draft to two days is a testament to its evolving approach to better accommodate the players, teams, and fans. With the remaining invitations set to go out soon, the focus now shifts to the players' final preparations as they await their lifelong dream of hearing their name called by the Commissioner.
Whether invited or not, all these players have the potential to make a significant impact in the NBA. The journey to the draft is just the beginning, and the real test lies ahead as they strive to carve out successful professional careers.