The NBA took a fresh approach to its annual draft event this year, spreading the excitement across two consecutive days. The first round kicked off on Wednesday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, followed by the second round on Thursday at South Street Seaport studios.
As the anticipation ramped up, ten hopefuls anxiously waited in the green room at the Seaport, ready for their moment to join the elite league. Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum extended a welcoming hand to the second-round picks, each hoping to embark on a successful NBA journey.
The Picks and Moments of Joy
Marquette's Oso Ighodaro was selected at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns, while Jaylen Wells of Washington State went at No. 39 to the Memphis Grizzlies. For Ighodaro, the journey to his selection was an intense whirlwind of activities. "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," he recounted.
Jaylen Wells felt the exhaustion catching up after the flurry of events. "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep," he admitted. However, Wells didn’t let the tiredness dull his spirit. Reflecting his excitement, he said, "And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'"
Harrison Ingram from North Carolina was taken by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 48. Although he opted for consistency in his attire, he shared, "Everything was the same but my socks."
Narratives of Global Talents
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Nigerian center Adem Bona at No. 41. Bona found the two-day draft more stressful but appreciated the eventual joy of being chosen. "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,'" he explained. Despite the distance from his immediate family, Bona felt the support of 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," he added.
Another international talent, Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, was chosen by the Detroit Pistons at No. 37. Klintman was overwhelmed with emotion when his name was called. "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," he revealed.
Creating History with Siblings in the League
Cam Christie was picked up by the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 46, joining his brother Max Christie, who plays for the Lakers, thus forming a rare sibling duo in the NBA. The significance of this shared achievement was not lost on Cam. "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," he expressed.
Despite the nerves associated with the uncertainty of the draft, Christie was relieved once his fate was sealed. "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," he said.
The Two-Day Draft Experiment
This year's draft, which spanned 22½ hours from its 8 p.m. start on Wednesday, certainly added a new dimension of excitement and endurance for the participants. Whether this two-day format will become a new tradition remains to be seen, but it undeniably brought forth memorable moments, both for the draftees and their cheering supporters.
The NBA draft is a time of dreams realized and new beginnings, and this year's stretched-out affair added a unique chapter to its storied history, one filled with emotions, family reunions, and the promise of bright futures ahead.