The 2024 NBA Draft results for round 1 are complete. The Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher from France with the first pick of the draft. The Wizards followed up with another French player at #2 with center Alex Sarr. The Houston Rockets took point guard Reed Sheppard from Kentucky with the 3rd pick of the draft. We also saw a third French player taken in the lottery with small forward Tidjane Salaün going to the Hornets at #6. For Kentucky fans, we also saw Rob Dillingham go #8 to the Timberwolves via the Spurs. The second round of the draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 27th, 2024.
2024 NBA Draft Results – Round 1
The 2024 NBA Draft results for the first round are in the books. A number of international players are going in the first round this year where we have no Wemby equivalent. We expect to see many of the players (though probably not all) play in the 2024 NBA Summer League where we’ll get to see many of them in action for the first time. Here are the picks from the first round for you.
| Pick | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
| 1 | Zaccharie Risacher | SF | France | Atlanta Hawks | JL Bourg (France) |
| 2 | Alex Sarr | C | France | Washington Wizards | Perth Wildcats (Australia) |
| 3 | Reed Sheppard | SG | United States | Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn) | Kentucky (Fr.) |
| 4 | Stephon Castle | SG | United States | San Antonio Spurs | UConn (Fr.) |
| 5 | Ron Holland | SF | United States | Detroit Pistons | G League Ignite (NBA G League) |
| 6 | Tidjane Salaün | SF | France | Charlotte Hornets | Cholet Basket (France) |
| 7 | Donovan Clingan | C | United States | Portland Trail Blazers | UConn (So.) |
| 8 | Rob Dillingham | PG/SG | United States | San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto,traded to Minnesota) | Kentucky (Fr.) |
| 9 | Zach Edey | C | Canada | Memphis Grizzlies | Purdue (Sr.) |
| 10 | Cody Williams | SG/SF | United States | Utah Jazz | Colorado (Fr.) |
| 11 | Matas Buzelis | SF/PF | United States
Lithuania |
Chicago Bulls | G League Ignite (NBA G League) |
| 12 | Nikola Topić | PG | Serbia | Oklahoma City Thunder (from Houston) | KK Crvena zvezda (Serbia) |
| 13 | Devin Carter | SG | United States | Sacramento Kings | Providence (Jr.) |
| 14 | Carlton Carrington | SG | United States | Portland Trail Blazers (from Golden State to Memphis to Boston, traded to Washington) | Pittsburgh (Fr.) |
| 15 | Kel’el Ware | C | United States | Miami Heat | Indiana (So.) |
| 16 | Jared McCain | PG | United States | Philadelphia 76ers | Duke (Fr.) |
| 17 | Dalton Knecht | SF | United States | Los Angeles Lakers | Tennessee (Sr.) |
| 18 | Tristan da Silva | PF | Germany | Orlando Magic | Colorado (Sr.) |
| 19 | Ja’Kobe Walter | SG | United States | Toronto Raptors (from Indiana) | Baylor (Fr.) |
| 20 | Jaylon Tyson | SF | United States | Cleveland Cavaliers | California (Jr.) |
| 21 | Yves Missi | C | Cameroon | New Orleans Pelicans (from Milwaukee) | Baylor (Fr.) |
| 22 | DaRon Holmes II | PF | United States | Phoenix Suns (traded to Denver) | Dayton (Jr.) |
| 23 | AJ Johnson | SG | United States | Milwaukee Bucks (from New Orleans) | Illawarra Hawks (Australia) |
| 24 | Kyshawn George | SG | Switzerland | New York Knicks (from Dallas,traded to Washington) | Miami (Fr.) |
| 25 | Pacôme Dadiet | SF | France | New York Knicks | Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) |
| 26 | Dillon Jones | SF | United States | Washington Wizards (from L.A. Clippers to Oklahoma City to Dallas, traded to Oklahoma City via New York) | Weber State (Sr.) |
| 27 | Terrence Shannon Jr. | SG | United States | Minnesota Timberwolves | Illinois (Sr.) |
| 28 | Ryan Dunn | SF | United States | Denver Nuggets (traded to Phoenix) | Virginia (So.) |
| 29 | Isaiah Collier | PG | United States | Utah Jazz (from Oklahoma City to Indiana to Toronto) | USC (Fr.) |
| 30 | Baylor Scheierman | SG/SF | United States | Boston Celtics | Creighton (Sr.) |
This year’s draft is heavy on international players with a third of all players in the first round originating from another country. American players have more options nowadays, but their most direct route to the NBA is through college athletics where they spend their time in classes, playing videos games, going to basketball practice. and enjoying campus life as they learn how to be an adult. This is after spending a significant time playing in AAU tournaments and touring the country against other highly-touted players.
Some have said this this draft may go down in history as one of the worst. Whatever the case, you can buy the top three picks Risacher, Sarr, and Reed Sheppard.
Time will tell us whether this draft class sits against the worst draft classes and best drafts of all time
As we’ve discussed previously, non-US players often go to play on club teams from an early age, riding the bench and playing against full on adults meaning they don’t attend a traditional University. Some say that international players have more advanced basketball training when coming into the NBA. There might be something there.
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