**Player Invitations**
In a highly anticipated announcement, twelve players have received coveted invitations to attend the 2024 NBA Draft, securing prestigious seats in the esteemed green room. This special area gives prospective players a unique vantage point as they await their names to be called in one of the most significant days of their young careers.
The initial batch of invitations, dispatched this Tuesday, has been awarded to Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Tidjane Salaun, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Devin Carter, and Ja'Kobe Walter. Another wave of 11-12 invitations is expected to be sent out starting next week.
**Green Room Details**
The green room is the staging area situated in front of the NBA Draft podium. Here, players, their families, and agents wait for the moment when Commissioner Adam Silver steps up to announce their selection. The atmosphere is one of heightened excitement and nerve-wracking anticipation.
This year, each player will be allowed to invite six people to sit at their individual tables—a reduction from the 10 allowed last year. Despite the smaller entourage, receiving an invitation to the green room remains a positive indicator of a player's draft stock.
That said, it’s not an infallible sign. There have been instances where prospects expected to be selected early have fallen into the second round while sitting in the green room. Notable examples include Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, Nic Claxton, Maciej Lampe, and Rashard Lewis.
**Draft Details**
For the first time, the NBA Draft will span two days. The first round will take place on June 26 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, while the second round will be held on June 27 in lower Manhattan. This change could bring added scrutiny over the final set of players invited to the green room, aiming to avoid a situation where an invited player and their family have to wait an additional day to hear their name called.
Interestingly, last year, the final batch of invitations wasn't sent out until two days before the draft. Timeliness in dispatching the invites could be crucial this year, ensuring all invited prospects are adequately prepared for the two-day event.
All twelve players from the initial batch of invites are projected to be lottery picks. This early indication suggests these young athletes are highly valued and expected to make significant impacts in the NBA.
**Uninvited Projected Lottery Picks**
However, two projected lottery picks who have yet to receive an invitation to the green room are Kentucky's Rob Dillingham and Serbian point guard Nikola Topic.
Dillingham has not completed all the necessary requirements to be eligible for selection in the draft, as stipulated by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. An ankle injury prevented Dillingham from participating in athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago in mid-May. This injury has also hindered him from attending private workouts with NBA teams. His ankle has since recovered, and he plans on completing those requirements at the Lakers' practice facility on Friday, according to his agent, Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports.
On the other hand, Topic was found to have a partially torn ACL at the NBA Draft Combine in Treviso, Italy, last week. This discovery has likely created uncertainty around his draft stock until team doctors can fully evaluate the injury and decide on the best course of action regarding surgery and a subsequent recovery plan.
In summary, the countdown to the 2024 NBA Draft is in full swing, and the landscape is taking shape. While the invited players eagerly prepare for their big moment, others await the chance to prove themselves and secure their place in the green room.