Everything you need to know about the 2024 NBA Draft: dates, rounds, and picks
By Elaine Blum
Every year NBA teams try to find the next great prospect in the draft, either by scoring a lottery pick or selecting a diamond in the rough later. This year’s NBA Draft will be on June 26-27, taking place on two days for the first time.
How many rounds are in the NBA Draft?
In the NBA’s first years, the draft would go for as long as there were prospects—in 1960 and 1968 the draft went a full 21 rounds each— until the league fixed it to ten rounds in 1974. Almost ten years later, in 1985, the draft was shortened to seven rounds, but that lasted only four years.
Since 1989, the NBA Draft has lasted two rounds, which will now take place on separate days for the first time. June 26 will feature the first round, held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 8 p.m. ET. The second round will take place the next day at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.
How many picks are in the NBA Draft?
Generally, there are 60 picks in each NBA Draft—30 in each round. 2024 will only feature 58 picks, however, as the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns lost their second-round picks for tampering.
How can I watch the NBA Draft?
The first round will be available on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN App, while the second round will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN App.
How many draft picks do the Kings have this year?
The Kings still owe a top-14 protected first-round pick to Atlanta as part of the trade that sent Kevin Huerter to Sacramento. Besides that, they have a 2024 second-round pick available.
Notable draft picks in recent Kings’ history
The Sacramento Kings are not known for their draft talent and had plenty of high draft picks that didn’t pan out, like Marvin Bagley or Nik Stauskas. Every once in a while, they make good choices, however.
First round:
- Keegan Murray (4th pick in 2022)
- Tyrese Haliburton (12th pick in 2020)
- De’Aaron Fox (5th pick in 2017)
- DeMarcus Cousins (5th pick in 2010)
- Gerald Wallace (25th pick in 2001)
- Peja Stojakovic (14th pick in 1996)
Second round:
- Isaiah Thomas (60th pick in 2011)