The privilege to choose the first overall choice in the NBA draft on June 27 was awarded to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Atlanta had just a 3% chance of winning the top choice when they entered the 2024 draft lottery, defying the odds.
The Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards completed the top four.
The Hawks had a 36-46 record the previous year and qualified for the play-in tournament but were unable to go farther in the postseason. In terms of points per game (118.3), they were seventh in the league, but their defense was a major weakness. Atlanta let up 120.6 points per game, which is the second-worst in the NBA.
In the team’s history, this will be the fourth No. 1 pick overall and the first since David Thompson was selected in the 1975 N.C. State draft. The chosen one will be a part of a youthful core that also includes Dejounte Murray and guard Trae Young.
Many consider the NBA draft of 2024 to be among the worst in recent memory. Many players in the prospect pool have the ability to help turn around a franchise, but most prognosticators do not see a superstar-caliber player.
Alex Sarr, a 7-foot-1 forward/center for the Perth Wildcats, is one possibility. He has a wingspan of 7 feet 4½ inches and a standing reach of 9 feet 2½ inches. Among the others are G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis, UConn center Donovan Clingan, JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher, Crvena Zvezda guard Nikola Topic, and Kentucky guard Robert Dillingham.
Full NBA draft lottery order
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trail Blazers
