The 2024 draft was weird. Everyone said it was a "weak" class, but looking back at the nba draft results 2024, it felt more like a chaotic logic puzzle where nobody could agree on the right pieces. It wasn't about finding the next LeBron; it was about finding guys who wouldn't get played off the floor in a playoff series.
France basically staged a hostile takeover of the top of the board. Zaccharie Risacher went number one to the Atlanta Hawks, and Alex Sarr followed him at number two to the Washington Wizards. It's the first time in history that two international players who didn't play college ball in the U.S. went back-to-back at the top. If you think the "Wemby effect" isn't real, just look at those two picks. Teams are desperate for mobile, rangy wings and bigs who can survive on the perimeter.
NBA Draft Results 2024: The First Round Reality Check
The Hawks shocked a few people by sticking with Risacher. For months, the consensus was shifting between him and Sarr, but Atlanta liked the fit of a 6-foot-9 wing who can shoot. He's not a shot-creator yet, honestly. He’s more of a high-end glue guy, but in today’s league, a 19-year-old with that IQ is worth the gamble.
Then you have the Houston Rockets at number three. They took Reed Sheppard. Short king? Maybe. But the kid shot 52% from three at Kentucky. You don't pass on that kind of gravity, especially when you're trying to build a modern offense around Alperen Sengün.
The middle of the first round is where things got truly spicy.
Zach Edey going 9th to Memphis was the "I told you so" moment for traditionalists. People spent two years saying he was too slow for the NBA, but the Grizzlies saw a 7-foot-4 giant who could actually give Jaren Jackson Jr. the freedom to roam on defense. It was a fit-over-flash pick.
Notable First Round Selections
- Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks)
- Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
- Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
- Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
- Ron Holland II (Detroit Pistons)
- Tidjane Salaün (Charlotte Hornets)
- Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Rob Dillingham (San Antonio Spurs - traded to Minnesota)
- Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Cody Williams (Utah Jazz)
The biggest slide of the night? Dalton Knecht.
The Tennessee star was projected by almost everyone to be a top-10 lock. Instead, he tumbled all the way to 17. The Los Angeles Lakers basically sprinted to the podium. Reports later surfaced that teams were worried about his age—he turned 23 before the draft—and apparently, some teams didn't love his interview style. One rumor was that he told a team he "didn't like to read." Seriously. Whether that’s true or not, the Lakers got a guy who can flat-out score, and for a team with LeBron James, "NBA-ready" matters more than "potential in five years."
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The Second Round and the Bronny Spectacle
We have to talk about pick 55.
The nba draft results 2024 will always be remembered for the moment Bronny James became a Los Angeles Laker. Was it a reach based on his freshman stats at USC? Probably. He averaged 4.8 points per game. But the NBA is a business, and the "business of LeBron" is a real thing.
The Lakers used their 55th pick to make history, setting up the first-ever father-son duo on an NBA floor. It wasn't just a PR stunt, though. Bronny showed some real defensive chops at the combine. He's a project, for sure, but as far as 55th picks go, most of those guys never even see the court. At least Bronny brings a clear identity as a 3-and-D point guard prospect.
The second round also saw some genuine value. Tyler Kolek falling to 34 (eventually traded to the Knicks) felt like a mistake by the 30 teams that passed on him. The guy is a pure floor general. The Knicks are building a "Villanova-style" grit factory, and Kolek fits that identity perfectly.
Winners and Losers: Who Actually Won the Night?
Minnesota might have been the biggest winner without even having a high pick. They traded a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Spurs to jump up and grab Rob Dillingham at number eight. It was a massive gamble. They are essentially saying, "We are in our championship window right now, and we need a microwave scorer off the bench." Dillingham is tiny, but he's electric.
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The San Antonio Spurs are playing the long game. They took Stephon Castle at four—a defensive monster from UConn—and then stockpiled future assets by trading Dillingham. They are building a fortress around Victor Wembanyama. It’s methodical. It’s boring. It’s very Spurs.
On the flip side, the Chicago Bulls at 11 felt... confusing. They took Matas Buzelis. He’s talented, sure, but he’s another wing who can’t consistently hit the three yet. On a team that already struggles with spacing, it felt like they were drafting for talent while ignoring the actual roster construction.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
The 2024 draft taught us that "upside" is being redefined. Teams are no longer just looking for the guy who can dunk the hardest. They are looking for:
- Processing Speed: Can you make a decision in 0.5 seconds? (See: Reed Sheppard)
- Positional Versatility: Can you guard three positions? (See: Zaccharie Risacher)
- Specialization: Are you elite at one specific thing? (See: Zach Edey's size or Dalton Knecht's shooting)
If you're tracking these rookies, don't just look at the points per game. Watch the "gravity" they provide. A guy like Knecht creates space for LeBron just by standing on the wing. A guy like Sarr changes how opponents approach the rim even if he only scores 8 points.
The true grade of these nba draft results 2024 won't be ready for another three years. By then, we'll know if the "weak" label was fair or if we just didn't know where to look for the stars. For now, the league is younger, more international, and a lot more interesting.
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Watch how the Timberwolves integrate Dillingham over the next few months. If he becomes a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, that 2031 pick they gave up will look like a bargain. Keep an eye on the G League, too. With the new two-day draft format, more second-rounders like Jonathan Mogbo and Oso Ighodaro are getting actual development plans instead of being treated as afterthoughts.