2024 NBA Draft Recap

June 28, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

The 2024 NBA Draft was one of the most unpredictable in recent years, but as always, there was drama. Let’s take a look at what happened over the last two days, focusing on the most interesting storylines.

Three Frenchmen Drafted in the Top 6

Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Tidjane Salaun were the three Frenchmen drafted in the top six. Risacher and Sarr went 1-2 in the draft, while Salaun went to Charlotte at No. 6. This is the second year in a row a Frenchman was the top pick in the NBA draft, following Viktor Wembanyama last season. As basketball continues to rise in popularity, expect more international prospects to go higher in future drafts.

Knecht, Filipowski Fall on Draft Day

Dalton Knecht and Kyle Filipowski had to wait longer than expected to hear their names called on draft day. Knecht, who was thought to be a top-10 pick, fell to the Lakers at No. 17. Filipowski fell out of the first round and had to wait until Thursday afternoon to see the Jazz select him at No. 32. Both players have the potential to be stars in the league, and the Lakers and Jazz hope they develop into dominant forces in the Western Conference.

Edey Goes 9th to Grizzlies

Zach Edey, the back-to-back winner of the Naismith Award, went in the top 10 to Memphis. Edey is the first Naismith Player of the Year to go in the first round since Obi Toppin was picked 8th overall in 2020. Edey joins a young Grizzlies team that had a year off from the playoffs after injuries derailed their season. Edey joins Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane on the up-and-coming Grizzlies.

Bronny James Joins Lakers

Bronny James went where we all expected him to go, at pick No. 55 in the second round. James joins his father, making the first father-son duo to play at the same time in NBA history. It remains to be seen how much of an impact Bronny will have on the Lakers this season, but he is in a great situation. Bronny joins other young Lakers talent, including Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht (No. 17 pick).

Best Trade?

Rob Dillingham might have been the biggest winner of the NBA Draft. A top-10 talent picked by the Spurs and traded to the Western Conference finalist Minnesota Timberwolves, Dillingham joins a backcourt with rising superstar Anthony Edwards. He should enjoy immediate success alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. The Timberwolves got another guard to create shots and score, something they desperately needed after being exposed by the Dallas Mavericks.

The 2024 NBA Draft is filled with talent, but it remains to be seen which players will truly stand out in this class. Teams will now look to their rosters and analyze their needs as free agency begins on June 30th.