Draft night is usually a mess of hope and chaos. But honestly, the 2024 draft felt different. Most people looked at the 2024 nba draft order and saw a "weak" class. They saw a year without a Victor Wembanyama or a LeBron James and figured nothing happened.
They were wrong.
While there wasn't a "generational" savior at the top, what actually happened was a massive shift in how teams value role players and international wings. The Atlanta Hawks walked into the lottery with a tiny 3% chance to win the top spot. Then, the ping-pong balls bounced their way. Suddenly, the entire draft board flipped on its head, leaving the Detroit Pistons—who had the worst record—staring at pick number five. Again.
It was a weird night in Brooklyn. You've got French teenagers going back-to-back, a two-time college player of the year sliding into the top ten, and a certain son of a legend waiting until the second day to hear his name. If you just looked at the final list, you missed the real story.
The Night the French Took Over
Let’s be real: France is the new basketball factory. For the second year in a row, the number one pick didn't come from a blue-blood college program. It came from across the Atlantic.
When the Atlanta Hawks took Zaccharie Risacher at number one, it wasn't just a "safe" pick. It was a bet on a 6-foot-9 wing who can shoot and defend. People wanted a superstar, but Atlanta wanted a piece that fits. Then, right behind him, the Washington Wizards grabbed Alex Sarr.
Sarr is basically a defensive alien. He’s 7-foot-1 with the feet of a guard. Watching him move on the perimeter is sort of terrifying for opposing playmakers. By the time Tidjane Salaün went sixth to Charlotte, the message was loud and clear: if you’re a lanky French kid with a wingspan, the NBA wants you.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
Why the Top of the Order Felt "Off"
- No Consensus: Usually, there's a guy. This year, there were four "guys."
- The Lottery Luck: Atlanta jumping from 10 to 1 ruined everyone’s mock drafts.
- Fit over Fame: Teams like Houston (picking 3rd) chose Reed Sheppard because he’s a lights-out shooter, not because he was the biggest "name."
2024 NBA Draft Order: The First Round Reality
The San Antonio Spurs were the real wild cards here. They already have Wemby, so everyone was watching what they’d do at number four. They took Stephon Castle from UConn. He’s a winner. Simple as that. But then things got spicy.
The Spurs also had the 8th pick. They used it on Rob Dillingham, the flashy guard from Kentucky. But before the ink was even dry on the hat, they shipped him to Minnesota.
Why? Because the Timberwolves are in "win now" mode. They traded a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap just to get into the 2024 nba draft order at that specific spot. It was a massive gamble on a teenager's scoring ability to help Anthony Edwards.
The middle of the first round was where the value lived.
Take Zach Edey. The Purdue giant went 9th to Memphis. A lot of "experts" said he was too slow for the modern game. Memphis didn't care. They needed a screen-setter and a rebounder to let Ja Morant fly. Then you have Dalton Knecht. He was a top-10 talent who sat in the green room until the Los Angeles Lakers "stole" him at 17. Seeing a senior like Knecht fall that far just because of his age (23) was one of the night’s biggest head-scratchers.
Dealing with the Second Round and the "LeBron" Factor
For the first time ever, the draft was split into two nights. The second round happened on a Thursday in a small studio in Manhattan. Honestly, it felt a bit like a basement fantasy draft, but the stakes were just as high.
🔗 Read more: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
The Utah Jazz stayed busy, snagging Kyle Filipowski at 32. He was a first-round talent who just... fell. It happens. But we all know what everyone was actually waiting for.
Pick 55.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James. People called it nepotism. Some called it a smart business move. Regardless, it was a historic moment. Having a father and son on the same roster is something we’ve never seen in the NBA. Bronny wasn't picked for what he is right now; he was picked for what he could become in a developmental system while his dad finishes his career.
What the 2024 Order Tells Us About the Future
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the 2024 nba draft order, it’s this: the NBA is no longer a league where you just draft "the best athlete."
Teams are smarter.
They are drafting for specific roles. The Oklahoma City Thunder took Nikola Topić at 12 even though he has a partially torn ACL. Why? Because they can afford to wait. They have a billion picks. They aren't in a rush. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns traded down and ended up with Ryan Dunn (28th), a guy who might be the best defender in the class but can't shoot a lick yet.
💡 You might also like: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
It’s about the puzzle. Every team is trying to find a specific shape to fit their star player.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you want to track how these picks actually work out, don't just look at the points per game. Look at these three things:
- The "Trade-Up" Tax: Watch the 2030 and 2031 picks. Minnesota gave up a lot for Dillingham. If he isn't a rotation player by year two, that trade looks ugly.
- International Development: Keep an eye on the G League Ignite guys like Ron Holland (5th) and Matas Buzelis (11th). They went high, but they struggled with efficiency early on.
- The Senior Surge: Players like Dalton Knecht and Tristan da Silva (18th) were drafted to play now. If they aren't in the playoff rotation, their teams failed the draft.
The 2024 class might not have a Wembanyama, but it’s filled with guys who will be starting on championship-contending teams five years from now. The order wasn't just a list; it was a map of how the league is changing.
Go back and look at the roster of the team you root for. Did they draft a "star" or did they draft a "fit"? In 2024, the "fit" usually won.
Next Steps: Review the 2025 draft projections to see how the "Cooper Flagg sweepstakes" will differ from this year's strategy, or check out the current NBA rookie ladder to see which of these picks are actually outperforming their draft slot.