This year, the NBA opted for a brand-new approach to its annual draft event, stretching it over two days, an alteration that brought its own set of challenges and emotions for the prospects involved. The affair kicked off with the highly anticipated first round on Wednesday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and transitioned to the second round the following day at South Street Seaport studios.
A New Structure
The two-day format was a departure from the traditional one-day draft, adding layers of complexity for the athletes anxiously awaiting their turns. As Marquette's Oso Ighodaro, who was picked at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns, recounted, "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."
The second-round proceedings had their own unique charm, with 10 hopefuls gathered in the green room at the Seaport, each eagerly waiting for their moment. Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum presided over this segment, extending his hand to welcome the second-round picks.
Memorable Moments
Among the notable selections, Jaylen Wells of Washington State was picked at No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies, bringing a mix of relief and exhaustion, "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep." Wells humorously added about his wardrobe choices, "And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'"
Meanwhile, Harrison Ingram from North Carolina was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 48. Reflecting on the continuity over the two days, he noted, "Everything was the same but my socks."
Nigerian center Adem Bona, picked No. 41 by the Philadelphia 76ers, shared his perspective on the prolonged format, "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.'" Nonetheless, Bona cherished the presence of his loved ones, "I have my family here. 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, selected at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons, was overwhelmed with emotion, "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."
Family Ties
One of the intriguing storylines from this year’s draft was the creation of a sibling duo in the NBA, courtesy of the Los Angeles Clippers picking Cam Christie at No. 46. Cam joins his brother Max Christie, currently with the Lakers, making for a unique family dynamic within the same city. "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 expressed with excitement.
He also described the rollercoaster of emotions that come with waiting to be drafted, "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."
A Marathon Event
This year's NBA Draft took a marathon 22½ hours to conclude from its 8 p.m. start on Wednesday, ensuring that every moment was a test of patience and resilience for the participants. Yet, as the event finally drew to a close, it was clear that the extended format had added a distinct narrative, filled with personal stories and heartfelt moments, making it an unforgettable chapter in the annals of NBA draft history.