The two-day 2024 NBA Draft has concluded. Here's a lookback at some curious numbers.
[ALSO READ: 2024 NBA Draft: Latest results]
5
- The number of French players selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Turns out Victor Wembanyama was a breakthrough for the NBA's French New Wave.
- Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) became the second consecutive French player to be drafted no. 1 overall.
- He and childhood friend Alexander Sarr (Washington Wizards) are also the first pair of no. 1 and 2 picks to hail from France.
- Tidjane Salaun, who plays for Cholet Basket, was picked sixth by the Charlotte Hornets.
- Pacome Dadiet, who plays for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany, was selected 25th by the New York Knicks.
- Melvin Ajinca, who suits up for Saint-Quentin Basketball, was picked 51st by the Knicks then traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
[ALSO READ: French Takeover: Zaccharie Risacher, Alexander Sarr go 1-2 in 2024 NBA Draft]
2
- The number of new Nikolas from Serbia to be drafted into the NBA.
- Nikola Topic of KK Crvena Zvezda was picked 12th by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Nikola Djurisic (born in Belgium) of KK Mega Basket, was drafted 43rd by the Miami Heat and traded to Atlanta.
- That makes five Nikolas in the NBA, four of them hailing from Serbia (along with Nikola Jokic and Nikola Jovic). Nikola Vucevic hails from Montenegro.
20
- The number of international players picked in the draft, reflecting the NBA's global game.
- Five hail from France.
- Two were picked from Serbia, Germany, Cameroon, and Sweden.
- One each was selected from Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Nigeria, and the Netherlands.
1
- LeBron and Bronny James made history by being the first active father-son duo in the NBA.
- Bronny was picked 55th by the Los Angeles Lakers.
- The 19-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes in his lone season at UCC, joining the Trojans midseason after being sidelined for nearly five months while recovering from a cardiac arrest episode that required surgery to treat a congenital heart defect.
[ALSO READ: Lakers select Bronny James at no. 55, joins dad LeBron in LA in historic NBA moment]
3
- The number of players drafted from the G League Ignite, which would be going out with a bang.
- Ron Holland II was picked fifth by the Detroit Pistons.
- Matas Buzelis was selected 11th by the Chicago Bulls.
- Tyler Smith was drafted 33rd by the Milwaukee Bucks.
57
- The draft pick for Ulrich Chomche, who hails from Cameroon and is a product of the NBA Academy Africa.
4
- The number of players selected from Connecticut.
- That's Stephon Castle (4th, SAS), Donovan Clingan (7th, POR), Tristen Newton (49th, IND), and Cam Spencer (53rd, DET). That's an impressive haul for this US NCAA school.
2
- Add Jaylon Tyson (20th, CLE) and Jaylen Wells (39th, MEM) to the growing number of Jays in the NBA.
- There's nine of them now.
- Plus 12 if you add all the Jalens.
20
- There were 20 trades that happened during the 2024 NBA Draft Night. Time will tell whether these would work out for the better. Case in point: Trae Young and Luka Doncic.
