After Victor Wembanyama in 2023, another Frenchman is in the spotlight for the 2024 NBA Draft. His name is Zacharie Risacher. This is only the second time a non-American has been selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick in two consecutive years. The previous instance occurred a decade ago, when Canada produced top picks Andrew Wiggins in 2014 and Anthony Bennett in 2013.
Risacher clearly has the makings of an excellent NBA player, with star potential. The 19-year-old’s path to the top pick is somewhat diluted, however, as he is a draft class seen as clearly lacking superstar talent (at least at first glance, as future performance can be unpredictable). The situation was further influenced by the discord between the Atlanta Hawks and another French player, Ousmane Dieng, who did not practice with the Georgia team and instead explored other options, including the Washington Wizards, even though it meant giving up the chance to be the number one pick.
So to the draft itself, which took place on Wednesday evening. Here is the complete list, in order, of the first-round picks.
NBA Draft 2924: order and first round picks
1. Atlanta – Zaccharie Risacher, SF, France
2. Washington – Alex Sarr, PF, France
3. Houston (from Brooklyn) – Reed Sheppard, SG, Kentucky
4. San Antonio – Stephon’s Castle, PG, UCONN
5. Detroit – Ron Holland II, SF, G League Ignite
6. Charlotte – Tidjane Salaün, PF, France
7. Portland – Donovan Clingan, C, UCONN
8. San Antonio (from Toronto) – Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky ***Traded to Minnesota***
9. Memphis – Zach Edey, C, Purdue
10. Utah – Cody Williams, SG, Colorado
11. Chicago – Matas Buzelis, SF, G League Ignite
12. Oklahoma City (from Houston) – Nikola Topić, PG, Serbia
13. Sacramento – Devin Carter, PG, Providence
14. Washington (from Portland) – Bub Carrington, Pittsburgh, PG ***Traded to Portland***
15. Miami – Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana
16. Philadelphia – Jared McCain, PG, Duke
17. Los Angeles Lakers – Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
18. Orlando – Tristan da Silva, SF, Colorado
19. Toronto (from Indiana) – Ja’Kobe Walter, SG, Baylor
20. Cleveland – Jaylon Tyson, SG California
21. New Orleans (from Milwaukee) – Yves Missi, C, Baylor
22. Phoenix – DaRon Holmes II, Dayton, PF *** Traded to Denver ***
23. Milwaukee (from New Orleans) – AJ Johnson, SG, USA
24. Washington (from New York) – Kyshawn George, Miami, SG
25. New York – Pacôme Dadiet, France, SG
26. Oklahoma City (from Washington) – Dillon Jones, SG, Weber State
27. Minnesota – Terrence Shannon Jr., SG, Illinois
28. Denver – Ryan Dunn, SF, Virginia
29. Utah (from Oklahoma City via Toronto and Indiana) – Isaiah Collier, PG, USC
30. Boston – Baylor Scheierman, SG, Creighton
The second round of the 2024 draft will take place on Thursday, June 27 and begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT ABC and ESPN will broadcast the action live in the United States.
Watch the NBA Draft live stream on FuboTV (free trial available)
