2024 NBA Draft

[Da Coach]

The 1st round of the 2024 NBA Draft is tonight (Wed., June 26). So far, after half of the first round picks, there have not been any huge surprises. The top 2 picks were a couple of 19-year old French players, who many analysts had pegged as the # 1 and # 2 picks.
1st round picks - https://www.nba.com/draft/2024/draft-board

The 2-time Big Ten and National Player of the Year, Zach Edey, went to the Memphis Grizzlies at # 9.
The Bulls, at # 11, picked Matas Buzelis, another 19-year old who is from Chicago. He attended Hinsdale Central HS his freshman year, the same high school Brian Wardle graduated from. However, Buzelis was at Hinsdale Central HS for only 1 semester before transferring to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and eventually finishing high school at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita. He graduated in 2023, and played this past season with the NBA G-League Ignite program. He reportedly was impressive in pre-draft camps and in private workouts.

The 1st round will finish later tonight, and Round 2 is tomorrow starting at 3 pm (Central). If Malevy Leons is drafted, it will most likely be later in the 2nd round.

[BUBraves2006]

Sadly, if Dalton Knecht dropped to 17 even though he was clearly a top 5-10 pick, basically only because of his age, I don't think Mal has a chance because he's also "too old" for scouts. I wish this weren't the case, but everything is about "projections".

I guess this is why Patrick O'Bryant went so high so at least we got the benefit of it once.

[Da Coach]

Sadly, if Dalton Knecht dropped to 17 even though he was clearly a top 5-10 pick, basically only because of his age, I don't think Mal has a chance because he's also "too old" for scouts. I wish this weren't the case, but everything is about "projections".

I guess this is why Patrick O'Bryant went so high so at least we got the benefit of it once.

I am still hopeful for Malevy. But if he isn't drafted, he will get multiple offers as an unrestricted free agent.
Dalton Knecht is an example of how hard work and persistence can pay off. He was a late bloomer in high school at Prairie View HS in Thornton, Colorado, where he grew from 5'8" to 6'1 his senior year. He did not have any Division I offers that I can find. So he went to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado for 2 years. He had a couple pretty good years there, but apparently, his only D1 offer was from Northern Colorado. His junior season at Northern Colorado, he averaged 8.9 ppg, but then he averaged 20.2 ppg and shot 38% from three his senior year. Thanks to Covid, he got an extra year, and put his name in the transfer portal, where he was one of the better shooters available. He transferred to Tennessee for 2023-24, and became one of the top scorers in the SEC with an average of 21.7 ppg, and 39.7% from three. He was projected by some analysts as a lottery pick, but was just drafted 17th by the Lakers, and will now become a millionaire.

[yoda]

I guess this is why Patrick O'Bryant went so high so at least we got the benefit of it once.

POB got three big breaks in the 2006 NBA Draft

-first, the best teams in the NBA for 8 years running were teams with athletic big men, true low post players- Duncan, Shaq...
..so teams were all looking to find a talented big man and were willing to draft largely on potential.

-second, 2006 just happened to have one of the worst crops of big men so POB actually stood out as one of the best available
as teams took centers and big power forwards with 7 of the first 12 picks in 2006. POB was fortunate enough that Bradley was a Sweet 16 team and POB got a heightened level of media coverage & attention.

-third, 2006 was the first year that high schoolers were not allowed and they had to spend a year in college before they could be drafted.
That eliminated even more of the best big men with potential - guys like Greg Oden who had to wait 'til 2007

[molar50]

That draft in 2006 was before Don Nelson was hired, his second time with Golden State. He did not care to play rookies, especially POB. The 2006 - 2007 season, Joey Meyer, now a scout for Golden State just happened to be seated next to me at a Bradley home game. He was scouting a player for Bradley’s opponent that evening. We made some small talk while he took notes. He related to me that he had nothing to do with POB being drafted. It was terrible for Bradley, but I believe it was fortuitous for POB.

[bradleyfan124]

That draft in 2006 was before Don Nelson was hired, his second time with Golden State. He did not care to play rookies, especially POB. The 2006 - 2007 season, Joey Meyer, now a scout for Golden State just happened to be seated next to me at a Bradley home game. He was scouting a player for Bradley’s opponent that evening. We made some small talk while he took notes. He related to me that he had nothing to do with POB being drafted. It was terrible for Bradley, but I believe it was fortuitous for POB.

I heard it was fortuitous for POB's step father." Show me the money"

[Da Coach]

A former MVC player was drafted with the 1st pick in the 2nd round (# 31 overall) of the NBA Draft today by the Toronto Raptors.
Jonathan Mogbo was at Missouri State for one season in 2022-23. He played 2 seasons in junior college (one at Independence CC in Kansas and one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, then averaged 8.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg in the only season he played at Missouri State in 2022-23. He transferred to University of San Francisco for his senior season, and averaged 14.2 ppg and 10.1 rpg.-
D1 Stats- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...n-mogbo-1.html

He was listed at 6'8" at Missouri State and at USF, but at the NBA combine, he was measured at 6'6". That is quite small for a power forward/center, and no mock draft that I have seen projected him to go this high. Most projections were middle to late 2nd round.
Draft info from NBA.com- https://www.nba.com/draft/2024/prospects/jonathan-mogbo

2nd round picks - https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/rounds/_/season/2024

[Da Coach]

Another former MVC player was drafted 17th in the second round (47th overall) by the Orlando Magic- Antonio Reeves, who played 3 seasons at Illinois State, then transferred and played the last 2 seasons at Kentucky.
Antonio Reeves career stats- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...-reeves-1.html

And an interesting pick that many analysts expected- The Los Angeles Lakers have drafted Bronny James, son of LeBron with the 25th pick in the second round (55th pick overall). He just finished his freshman season at USC, where he averaged 4.8 points per game and he shot 26.7% from three.

[The Old Guy]

With those statistics would he have been drafted had his last name not been James?

[Da Coach]

With those statistics would he have been drafted had his last name not been James?

Haha... not a snowball's chance in hell.

[Da Coach]

The 2nd round is complete. No current MVC players were drafted-
Here is the complete round 2 picks- https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/round.../2/season/2024

No Big Ten players were drafted in the 2nd round.

[BUfan17]

With those statistics would he have been drafted had his last name not been James?

Not at all. I get Lebron wants his son to be on the same team but Bronny is nowhere near ready for the NBA.

[The Old Guy]

Last year he was barely ready for college ball. He definitely needed to remain in college another 2-3 years. Why doesn’t LeBron just give him an allowance and let him grow up.

[Scoretable2]

Nepotism harms NBA. IMO, It has become a professional sport with many weaknesses.