The NBA took a fresh approach this year by spanning its annual draft event over two days, much to the anticipation and fatigue of many young hopefuls. The first round of the draft transpired under the bright lights of Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Wednesday night, while the second round found its venue the next day at the more intimate South Street Seaport studios.
For the players, the journey was as grueling as it was exhilarating. "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 Oso Ighodaro, who was picked at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns.
Reflecting on the experience, Jaylen Wells, selected No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies, mentioned the exhausting nature of the two-day event. "We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep." He even shared a lighthearted moment about his choice of attire, saying, "And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'
Harrison Ingram, chosen No. 48 by the San Antonio Spurs, added, "Everything was the same but my socks," capturing the blend of stress and routine that characterized the draft experience for many players.
Nigerian center Adem Bona, picked No. 41 by the Philadelphia 76ers, voiced a sentiment shared by many of his peers. "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.'" Despite the stress, Bona felt supported by his family and friends: "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."
For Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, who was selected at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons, the moment was nothing short of surreal. "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." His sentiment echoed the emotional weight of the event for many international players.
One of the most notable stories of the draft was the Christie siblings. Cam Christie, selected No. 46 by the Los Angeles Clippers, joined his brother Max Christie of the Lakers, making the duo one of the rare sets of siblings in the NBA, especially in the same city. "It's really hard to even put in words, honestly. 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." His initial nerves were palpable but quickly dissipated upon receiving the call: "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."
The two-day format of this year's NBA Draft, which took 22½ hours to conclude from its 8 p.m. start on Wednesday, brought a new level of intensity and anticipation. However, it was a testament to the dedication and resilience of the players who embraced every moment, ready to begin the next chapter of their careers.