The NBA Draft stretched over two days this year, an unexpected format that offered unique experiences for both players and fans. The event began at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Wednesday night with the first round, followed by the second round at South Street Seaport studios the next day.
The divide created a variety of sentiments among the hopefuls. "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,'" shared Nigerian center Adem Bona, who was picked at No. 41 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
For many of the players, the extended draft process required stamina and patience. "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," recounted Marquette's Oso Ighodaro, who was selected at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns.
It wasn’t just the length of the event but also the anticipation that tested the young athletes. Cam Christie, who was picked at No. 46 by the Los Angeles Clippers, explained, "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." Interestingly, Cam joins his brother Max Christie of the Lakers, creating a sibling duo in the NBA, an occurrence he finds hard to put into words. "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 added.
The two-day event also afforded players time for personal moments and reflections. Jaylen Wells of Washington State, selected at No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies, shared his experience, noting how exhausting the process was. "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep," he said. He also mentioned a small but memorable detail from his draft night, "And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'"
Similarly, Harrison Ingram from North Carolina, chosen at No. 48 by the San Antonio Spurs, noticed minute changes, highlighting, "Everything was the same but my socks." Such personal details underscore the human side of a process often defined by numbers and statistics.
Amid the personal anecdotes, the draft also offered touching family moments. Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, selected at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons, described his emotional experience, "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." For Adem Bona, the support of extended family proved significant. "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 expressed.
The presence of these key individuals provided emotional grounding for players as they transitioned from dream to reality. This year’s draft set a record, taking 22½ hours from its 8 p.m. start on Wednesday to conclude, marking a significant chapter in NBA history.
The two-day format provided both challenges and opportunities for introspection and familial bonding. While opinions on the extended draft varied among the new draftees, the overarching sentiment reflected excitement and relief as they embarked on their professional journeys. This year’s NBA Draft will be remembered not just for the players picked, but for the myriad emotions and experiences embedded within those 22½ hours.