Player Invitations
Twelve players have secured highly sought-after invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, earning a seat in the prestigious green room. The initial batch of 12 invites includes top prospects like 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 invitations were dispatched this Tuesday, with another 11-12 expected to follow in waves starting next week.
Green Room Details
The green room is a staging area located in front of the NBA Draft podium. It is within this area that players, their families, and agents await the life-altering moment when Commissioner Adam Silver announces their selection. Each player will be allowed to invite six people to sit at their individual tables this year, 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.
Historically, 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. Despite this, the invitation remains a symbol of recognition and prestige.
Draft Details
This year marks a significant change for the NBA Draft, which will span two days for the first time. 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 lead to added scrutiny over the final set of players invited to the green room 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 this year are projected to be lottery picks, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding their potential selections.
Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks
Despite the excitement surrounding the initial green room invitations, two projected lottery picks have yet to receive their invitations: 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 him from participating in athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in mid-May, and it 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 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 subsequent recovery.
The 2024 NBA Draft promises to be an event filled with suspense and drama as players, their families, and fans await the announcements. The anticipation of seeing which players receive their coveted invitations to the green room, coupled with the new two-day draft format, brings a fresh and exciting twist to this year's event. As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on the prospects and their journeys to the NBA, marking the beginning of new chapters in their lives and careers.