League finalizes, announces plans for 2024 NBA Draft to take two-day format
The NBA and its players union have finalized plans for the draft to span over two days in June, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday. A few hours later, the league confirmed the news.
"Based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms, we believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round," NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations said in the league's announcement. "Two nights of primetime coverage will also enhance the viewing experience for our fans and further showcase our draftees."
The 2024 NBA Draft was already preparing to move to the new format, scheduling the event for June 26-27 in Brooklyn, Wojnarowski said in another report from Jan. 11.
Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, will host the first round on June 26. ESPN's Seaport District Studios will hold the second round on the following day in Manhattan.
To fill the extra day, the second round will be longer as well. Executives will now have four minutes instead of two to make their picks.
While the move now has final approval from the NBPA, reports began circulating about the league's inclination to make the change back in November.
The NFL boasts a three-day draft, but it has seven rounds to complete during that stretch. NBA general managers were reportedly the driving change agents in this case, working in the interest of their desire to mull over prospects between selections.
Executives broached the topic in meetings with league officials and touted the potential benefits that could come from allotting more time for both rounds, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. There was apparently some compromise, as the first round will still reportedly feature five minutes between each selection.
Expansion of the event will also allow the NBA to offer more programming for television partners before those rights are set to expire in 2025. The potential success of the new-look draft could bolster the league's negotiating power even further as it goes to market with its national television rights for the first time in nearly a decade.
