The 2024 NBA Draft has been touted as a bad draft.
After the 2023 NBA Draft, which produced a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama, it is difficult to live up to the expectations. This year’s draft class is not expected to have that kind of franchise-changing talent at the top or anywhere else.
“It reminds me of the 2013 draft, when Anthony Bennett was the No. 1 pick,” one Western Conference executive said. he told Fox Sports’ Ric Bucher in May. “There are good players in this draft. The problem is, even in the top three, there are no franchise changes,” said one Eastern Conference executive.
It seems important to specify the first part of that second quote.
Draft classes are often judged by their star power. In the case of 2024, the two prospects competing for the No. 1 pick — Zaccharie Risacher (France) and Alexandre Sarr (Australia) — didn’t play college basketball. Neither did four other players projected to be lottery picks.
That lack of familiarity leaves the general public lukewarm about the top names (and also explains why there’s so much interest in where college stars like Zach Edey and Bronny James will end up).
But is this draft class as bad as it is said to be?
SN’S NBA DRAFT HQ: Live Pick Tracker | Pick-by-Pick Grades | 2 round drill
Comparison of the 2024 NBA Draft to the 2013 NBA Draft
The 2013 NBA Draft is considered by many to be the worst in recent history. While the 2024 NBA Draft may not be packed with stars, it looks more complete than the 2013 draft.
UNLV’s Anthony Bennett was drafted number one and turned out to be one of the biggest busts of all time. He played just four seasons and 151 games in the NBA, averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds.
Victor Oladipo (No. 2 overall) was the only lottery pick who ended up being an All-Star.
The 2013 draft class was rescued to some extent by future international stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 15) and Rudy Gobert (No. 27).
Beyond that duo, the next group of names to note would be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, CJ McCollum, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder and Kelly Olynyk.
Out of 60 picks, this is… grim, from both a star and role player perspective.
There are no prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft class who are complete products. Even the top-ranked players have very clear weaknesses, and their improvements in those areas will define how their careers play out.
But some prospects excel in certain areas that will allow them to carve out roles in NBA rotations for years to come.
That’s why this draft class, from a depth perspective, looks more like 2020 than 2013.
Comparison of the 2024 NBA Draft to the 2020 NBA Draft
The 2020 NBA Draft class was also labeled as a bad draft. In retrospect, that aged poorly.
Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball were anticipated to be superstar-caliber players, but there wasn’t much excitement beyond those two.
Four years later, it has produced stars like Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey. There are more than a handful of key players of that ilk in the NBA, too.
Desmond Bane, Jaden McDaniels, Devin Vassell, Obi Toppin, Payton Pritchard, Deni Avdija, Immanuel Quickley and Aaron Nesmith are a few. Also worth mentioning are Patrick Williams, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaiah Joe, Cole Anthony, Isaiah Stewart and Tre Jones.
Before that draft, I wrote about how that class had a different kind of potential. Why can’t 2024 be the same?
Risacher, Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht and Duke’s Jared McCain can all shoot from the box. UConn’s Sarr and Donovan Clingan are ready to contribute as defensive anchors and pass catchers from Day 1.
UConn’s Stephon Castle, G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland, and Colorado’s Cody Williams are versatile prospects with plenty of potential. Colorado’s Tristan da Silva and Marquette’s Tyler Kolek are seniors ready to provide minutes off the bench right now.
And that’s just to name a couple of projected first-rounders.
Just as few anticipated Haliburton, Maxey, Bane and McDaniels would become rising stars, there will be players in the class of 2024 who will unexpectedly break out.
No, this class does not have an Edwards or Ball type franchise, but there are many players who do certain things very well and will have a long NBA career because of it.
