The 2023 hosted one of the best classes in recent memory. was the most hyped prospect since , and he has lived up to the lofty expectations so far. Brandon Miller is , and late selections like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Brandin Podziemski have been making impacts. While the class of 2024 does not have any players who are expected to take the by storm, several talents could alter the direction of franchises, provided that the league's current bottom-feeders do a good
Job of building around them. For the first time in NBA History, there is a chance that all of the top three selections are international players. Several first-overall picks--Wembanyama, , Yao Ming, and , to name a few, have been international players. The same can be said for second-overall sections, most recently Hasheem Thabeet, who hails from Tanzania. Unlike previous drafts, three of the top prospects are international players. Never before have picks one and two been non-American players, but
basketball is becoming an increasingly global game. GIVEMESPORT is excited to present our first mock draft of the 2024 cycle, with analysis and projections for picks 1-58. The and have had second-round picks forfeited for tampering. With Victor-mania taking the league by storm last summer, it makes sense that the first overall pick in 2024 is another French seven-footer who can play defense and space the floor. Sarr, a native of Toulouse,
France, is currently playing in Australia's professional league, the same league that hosted LaMelo Ball before he was drafted in 2020. Standing at 7-1, Sarr is a mobile big with insane athleticism. He can create for himself both on and off the ball and has the potential to be an elite rim protector. His older brother, Olivier, is currently on a two-way contract with the . Alexandre Sarr's Stats - 2023-24 NBL Season G 26 PPG 9.5 REB 4.3 FG% 52.0% 3PA 1.9 3PT% 29.0% BLK 1.5 Height/Weight 7-1/224lbs Those numbers aren't eye-popping, but he is an 18-year-old playing in one of the best leagues in the world. His ceiling is easily one of the best players in the game, and his floor is a solid, defensive-minded center similar to . For the , Sarr will provide some much-needed interior defense and spacing, instantly boosting them from the league's worst team to an emerging juggernaut with him and Jalen Duren down low and Cade Cunningham running the floor. Nikola Topic is easily the best point guard prospect in a draft loaded with backcourt talent. The are not drafting for fit, they will be taking the best player available. That being said, there is no point guard talent in
Washington. Tyus Jones is likely to sign elsewhere this summer, Bilal Coulibaly is more of a wing, and Jordan Poole has just been bad this season. Topic is a great prospect, and he fits well with the Wizards' areas of need. Nikola Topic Stats - Adriatic and EuroLeague G 28 PPG 10.2 AST 4.1 STL 0.6 FG% 49.5% 3PT% 24.7% Height/Weight 6-6/201lbs Not an elite shooter or defender, he is serviceable at both aspects and there is hope that he will be able to improve both aspects and become elite all-around. Currently, he is excellent and getting to the basket, provided he can't set up a teammate for an easy basket. Topic is one of the rare players who can make a team better before he improves, although his improvement will be rapid. The have a franchise player in Wembanyama and are just looking to add as much talent as possible around him. Zaccharie Risacher is projected in many mocks to go first overall, although the tantalizing talent of Sarr prevents him from going first overall in ours. He is not the most athletic player in the draft, but his ability to score on all three levels will take some pressure off of Wembanyama. He has a high basketball IQ, which makes up for his lack of speed, allowing him to be an adequate defender. Zaccharie Risacher's Stats - French and EuroLeague G 78 PPG 7.1 REB 2.5 FG% 48.9% 3PA 2.2 3PT% 43.0% Height/Weight 6-9/210lbs Much like Sarr and Topic, Risacher is a teenager playing in a top-level men's league. As he grows and develops, expect him to become one of the most versatile scorers in the game, a perfect complement to Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. Between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, the are set when it comes to backcourt players, and wing Matas Buzelis offers versatility. At 6-10, Buzelis has a fluid handle and exceptional passing for his size, which allows him to be an offensive weapon while his shot develops. On defense, he will need to add muscle to compete at an NBA level, but Charlotte is in no rush. Matas Buzelis' Stats - NBA G-League G 24 PPG 13.9 REB 6.8 BLK 2.0 FG% 44.8% Height/Weight 6-10/209lbs Unlike his Ignite teammate, Ron Holland, there is not much of a chance that Buzelis will be a star, but he is the type of player who rounds out a starting lineup and provides some extra scoring options on an offense without a clear first-choice to hoist shots up. He projects to be a high-end starter, but not necessarily the first option on a playoff team. Nevertheless, he is exactly the type of player who would compliment Charlotte's two budding stars. The are in a promising place. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons look like legitimate NBA-caliber stars, Scoot Henderson has an insanely high upside, and even Deandre Ayton looks like a . Adding any talent that can help them win is the main goal, and Ron Holland offers that. The first
American off the board, Holland has been excelling for the G-League Ignite. In the likely event that Jerami Grant gets traded to a contender this summer, Holland will be a day-one starter, and he is the most NBA-ready player in the draft. Ron Holland's Stats - NBA G-League G 14 PPG 20.6 REB 6.6 AST 3.0 STL 2.5 FG% 44.5% Height/Weight 6-8/206lbs An elite athlete with an NBA-level body, the foursome of Sharpe, Simons, Holland, and Henderson will be featured on highlight shows all season. He can get above the rim and doesn't mind taking contact. A solid rebounder, he will more likely be used in the open court, as he can easily run a fast break by himself. His
shooting is his main weakness, but if he can improve his mark from deep, he might take over as the best player in Portland. The need to add NBA-level talent, so they get Rob Dillingham, who is ready ti impact winning at the highest level. Dillingham provides some necessary ball-handling, facilitating, and offensive firepower that would complement Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Gradey Dick well. Barnes is clearly the best young player on the roster, and giving him a reliable partner in the backcourt just makes sense. Rob Dillingham's Stats - Kentucky G 30 PPG 15.0 AST 3.8 STL 1.1 TOV 1.9 FG% 48.2% 3PT% 44.5% Height/Weight 6-2/170lbs The got bounced by in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but Dillingham added ten points and a well-rounded performance. The NBA system offenses will benefit him heavily, so his last college impression can be written off. Cody Williams is projected to be a really, really good player, and if he falls to the seventh selection, he will be considered a high-value. However, there are some concerns with him. He is a good defender, can shoot from pretty much everywhere, and isn't bad with the ball in his hands. The younger brother of Jalen Williams, Cody is an elite prospect all around. Cody Williams' Stats -
Colorado G 18 PPG 13.7 REB 3.3 FG% 59.0% 3PA 1.9 3PT% 45.7% Height/Weight 6-8/190lbs However, his Buffaloes got bounced in the second round of March Madness. With foreign players who play in professional leagues, a lack of winning pedigree is written off due to them running their offense through a teenager. However, in the NCAA, all the competition is roughly the same age as Williams, so his inability to take over games is glaring. That said, picking a high-level role player is not a bad move by any means, and the are looking to win now, after their stars return from injury, so a plug-and-play player is perfect for what's brewing in Tennessee. Along with Ron Holland, Ja'Kobe Walter is the closest thing to NBA-ready. That doesn't mean he has the star-caliber abilities of Holland, but he will be ready to impact winning on day one. The are in a precarious position. They went all-in on veteran talent last offseason with Dillon Brooks and , but they are not winning games. Clearly, their can't be rushed, and adding young players needs to remain the priority. Ja'Kobe Walter Stats - Baylor G 31 PPG 14.7 AST 1.5 FG% 38.2% 3PA 6.2 3PT% 33.9% STL 1.1 Height/Weight 6-5/195lbs While Walter is not an elite shooter yet, he has the body to slot into an NBA lineup as a day-one starter. He is a solid defender and can create for himself. If he starts, he would allow Jalen Green to play more as a wing, or he could backup Green to start his career, keeping the senior player as a combo guard. Either way, expect Walter to be an instant impact player with a similar style to Jaden Ivey. The just can't tank. Despite trading away and , Lauri Markkanen has kept the Jazz afloat, avoiding the top pick that Danny Ainge craves. However, with the ninth pick, they get a stud. Tidjan Salaun is a bonafide athlete who can create in the paint and do a decent job rebounding. He has a solid shot, which means he can slide into a lineup with John Collins and serve as a catch-and-shoot threat. Tidjan Salaun's Stats - French League G 25 PPG 8.2 REB 4.2 3PA 3.8 3PT% 35.8% Height/Weight 6-9/212lbs
Utah likes to play fast, and Collin Sexton is the motor that runs the offense. While Sexton is more than capable of attacking the paint, Salaun will take a bit of the burden off of him, especially in the open court. On set plays, Salaun can cut to the rim or stay in the corner, where he will demand attention. With a core of Salaun and Keyonte George, Utah will have one of the more exciting young partnerships in the NBA. The seem destined to trade away either or this offseason with a future in mind. With Jalen Johnson of the new-look Hawks, finding a guard to build around is key. Stephon Castle will immediately give Atlanta a much-needed bump. There is hope that both Castle and Johnson can improve their outside shooting and build a new identity for Atlanta basketball. Stephon Castle's Stats - UConn G 25 PPG 11.2 AST 3.0 STL 1.0 FG% 47.4% 3PT% 30.2% Height/Weight 6-6/215lbs Castle is an elite athlete who offers secondary ball handling. The Huskies are currently the top-ranked team in the NCAA, so expect Castle's stock to rise as March Madness starts. If UCONN can make a deep run, he might not even be on the board for the Hawks. One of the biggest risers in this draft class,
Australian guard Johnny Furphy has leaped from a second-round pick projection in 2025 to a late lottery pick in 2024. The take a flier, going high-risk with Furphy. Furphy is an oversized shooting guard with a beautiful jump shot. For now, that's really all he has at an NBA level, but Luke Kennard has been in the league for seven seasons, so clearly there's money to be made as a shooter. Johnny Furphy's Stats - Kansas G 30 PPG 9.0 REB 4.6 FG% 49.2% 3PT% 36.4% Height/Weight 6-9/202lbs Expect him to be a high-end offensive role player for the Bulls, who can use him as a spacer and secondary ball handler. With the emergence of Coby White as a star and the possibility of , Furphy will have time to develop in
Chicago. What's better than one fluid, defensive-minded center? How about two fluid, defensive-minded centers? In an lineup dominated by elite scorers Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren, Yves Missi will be the player to keep defenses honest. Unlike Holmgren, Missi has an NBA-ready body. He is not a floor-spacer, but he is a great rim protector and finisher. Don't expect anyone to drive against the Thunder with Missi and Holmgren down low. Yves Missi's Stats - Baylor G 30 PPG 10.9 REB 5.6 BLK 1.5 FG% 62.4% PF 2.5 Height/Weight 6-10/235lbs On offense, Missi is not a shooter and doesn't do the best job creating for himself, but he is a constant lob threat who will give Oklahoma City's talent a dump-off option down low. He can handle contact and guard stronger centers while Holmgren can space the floor and cause matchup nightmares. The oldest player so far in this draft, Dalton Knecht is a fifth-year senior who has thrived in the SEC. He is an elite scorer who can drive to the hoop but would much rather prefer to shoot from distance. A day-one starter on a good team, Knecht will provide some spacing that will allow Henderson and Sharpe to thrive. One of the best shooters in the draft (if not the best), Knecht will not have any growing pains as he transitions to the NBA. A serviceable defender, what you see is what you get; at 22 years old there is not a ton of room for growth. Dalton Knecht's Stats - Tennessee (2023-24) G 31 PPG 21.4 FG% 47.4% STL 0.7 3PA 6.1 3PT% 40.5% Height/Weight 6-6/197lbs After a solid rookie year in Portland, the Trail Blazers might flip him for more draft capital if he doesn't fit with their roster construction, but he is ready to make an impact at the highest level. After a disappointing season at Oregon, Kel'el Ware transferred to Indiana, where he has shown that he is an NBA-level talent. His ability to work in the post is reminiscent of LaMarcus Aldridge, but he is eager to step outside the arc and take shots from deep on occasion. He is incredibly athletic and has decent handles for a seven-footer, but his failed year with the Ducks led to questions surrounding his work ethic. He has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class, but there are doubts if he can meet the expectations. Kel'el Ware's Stats - Indiana G 28 PPG 16.1 REB 9.8 BLK 1.9 FG% 59.9% 3PA 1.4 3PT% 44.7% Height/Weight 7-0/210lbs Ware will slot into the depth chart nicely and could blossom into a high-end starter. The Pelicans have the luxury of swinging for the fences, and Ware's ceiling is hard to pass up. The Philadephia 76ers are sliding. Currently projected to barely make the playoffs outright, the absence of Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid has been hurting them. One of Philadelphia's glaring weaknesses is their inability to shoot the three-ball. The 76ers are near the bottom in both attempts and percentage from behind the arc, so adding an elite floor-spacer is a must. Reed Sheppard is arguably the best shooter in the country and has been the motor off of the Wildcat's bench this year. He is not a bad defender, but he puts the "three" in three-and-D. That being said, Philadelphia is already a solid defensive team so if he's a weak link, he'll have talented players behind him. His 2.7 steals per game are deceptive, as they mostly come from opportunistic chances rather than his defensive talent. Initially projected to be a high-lottery pick, USC's 10-16 record has made his draft stock take a dip. He is a pass-first-floor general who is the ideal pick-and-roll player to pair with Adebayo for the . He is not an elite athlete, but he has the size to contribute to an NBA lineup. He missed six games with a broken hand between January and February, but his toughness and leadership project to NBA success. His scoring could use work, but he is the type of point guard who makes his teammates better. Jared McCain is a bucket-getter, although his lack of size and explosiveness brings questions to his NBA readiness. Duke is an NBA factory, however, and his 40.1 percent mark from three makes him an attractive prospect. Marketed as a point guard, he can play both on or off the ball and would expand Toronto's versatility in the backcourt. An oversized point guard, Kyshawn George would be the 's attempt to swing for the fences after a botched first round last year that saw Anthony Black and Jett Howard come to town. He provides length, vision, and a pass-first player who would immediately give Orlando the best defense in the league. A starting five of Jonathan Isaac, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and the 6-8 George would be a nightmare for other teams. The only thing holding George back from getting drafted higher is his lack of range, but Orlando has abandoned the three-pointer this season, anyway. The Magic will be in , and if George doesn't provide instant-impact, the Magic have enough depth to keep him on the bench. If the Hawks really do trade one or both of Trae Young or , they would be starting from scratch and can afford to take Kevin McCullar from Kansas, who is criminally underrated. A fifth-year senior, much like Dalton Knecht, what you see is what you get. Averaging 19 points per game on decent shooting splits, it's expected that McCullar will be able to duplicate that success in the pros, which is really all you can ask for in the mid-first round. With a very deep starting five, the will not need Donovan Clingan to start one day one, but he is an NCAA Champion who uses his 7-2 frame to protect the rim and nab rebounds. Obviously not nearly as offensively talented as anyone the Suns currently start, Clingan projects as a solid backup center and serviceable starter with a traditional big-man playstyle. He can use his body down low for second-chance points, but he is not a floor spacer. The offense won't run through the paint when he's on the floor, but he is not a liability on either end.