75th edition of the draft
The 2021 NBA draft , the 75th edition of the National Basketball Association 's annual draft , was held on July 29, 2021, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York . The NBA draft returned to Brooklyn after the previous year's draft was held through videoconferencing at ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut due to the COVID-19 pandemic . With the first overall pick, the Detroit Pistons selected Cade Cunningham .[ 2] The NBA used a "ceremonial pick" for the late Terrence Clarke , between the 14th and 15th pick of the draft.
Cade Cunningham was selected 1st overall by the Detroit Pistons .
Jalen Green (NBA G League Ignite ) was selected 2nd overall by the Houston Rockets .
Evan Mobley was selected 3rd overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers .
Scottie Barnes was selected 4th overall by the Toronto Raptors and voted the Rookie of the Year .
Josh Giddey was selected 6th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder .
Jonathan Kuminga was selected 7th overall by the Golden State Warriors .
Franz Wagner was selected 8th overall by the Orlando Magic .
Alperen Şengün was selected 16th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder (traded to the Houston Rockets ).
Cam Thomas was selected 27th overall by the Brooklyn Nets .
^ Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
Notable undrafted players [ edit ]
These players were not selected in the 2021 NBA draft, but have played at least one game in the NBA.
Trades involving draft picks [ edit ]
Prior to the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between teams.
^ a b February 6, 2020: Minnesota Timberwolves to Golden State Warriors [ 3]
^ March 25, 2021: Chicago Bulls to Orlando Magic [ 4]
^ June 18, 2021: Boston Celtics to Oklahoma City Thunder [ 6]
^ February 19, 2015: Miami Heat to Phoenix Suns (three-team trade with New Orleans Pelicans )[ 8]
June 21, 2018: Phoenix Suns to Philadelphia 76ers [ 9]
^ a b February 6, 2019: Philadelphia 76ers to Los Angeles Clippers [ 10]
^ July 10, 2019: Los Angeles Clippers to Oklahoma City Thunder [ 11]
Oklahoma City acquired Danilo Gallinari , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Miami's 2021 first-round pick , a 2022 first-round pick, Miami's 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 first round pick, a 2026 first round pick, and Thunder options to swap 2023 and 2025 first round picks with Clippers
L.A. Clippers acquired Paul George
^ January 31, 2019: Dallas Mavericks to New York Knicks [ 13]
^ November 22, 2020: Portland Trail Blazers to Houston Rockets [ 16]
^ a b March 19, 2021: Milwaukee Bucks to Houston Rockets [ 17]
^ June 21, 2018: Detroit Pistons to Philadelphia 76ers [ 21]
Philadelphia acquired 2021 and 2023 second-round picks
Detroit acquired the draft rights to Khyri Thomas
^ February 20, 2020: Los Angeles Clippers to New York Knicks (three-team trade with Washington Wizards )[ 21]
^ January 7, 2017: Cleveland Cavaliers to Atlanta Hawks [ 24]
July 6, 2019: Atlanta Hawks to New Orleans Pelicans [ 25]
^ a b November 11, 2020: Golden State Warriors to Oklahoma City Thunder [ 26]
Oklahoma City acquired two 2021 second-round picks
Golden State acquired Kelly Oubre Jr.
^ February 7, 2019: Toronto Raptors to Brooklyn Nets [ 27]
Brooklyn acquired Greg Monroe and a 2021 second-round pick
Toronto acquired cash considerations
November 19, 2020: Brooklyn Nets to Detroit Pistons (three-team trade with Los Angeles Clippers )[ 28]
Detroit acquired Saddiq Bey , Džanan Musa , the draft rights to Jaylen Hands , Rodney McGruder , a 2021 second-round pick , and cash considerations
Brooklyn acquired Landry Shamet , Bruce Brown , and the draft rights to Reggie Perry
L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to Jay Scrubb ; Luke Kennard ; Justin Patton ; and 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 second-round picks
^ a b February 1, 2018: New Orleans Pelicans to Chicago Bulls [ 30]
^ February 7, 2018: Charlotte Hornets to New York Knicks [ 31]
February 8, 2021: New York Knicks to Detroit Pistons .[ 32]
^ July 7, 2016: Washington Wizards to Utah Jazz [ 33]
Utah acquired a 2021 second-round pick
Washington acquired Trey Burke
November 29, 2018: Utah Jazz to Cleveland Cavaliers [ 34]
Cleveland acquired Alec Burks , a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 second-round pick
Utah acquired Kyle Korver
^ a b December 7, 2018: Cleveland Cavaliers to Milwaukee Bucks (three-team trade with the Washington Wizards )[ 35]
Cleveland acquired Matthew Dellavedova , John Henson , 2021 and 2022 second-round picks, and a conditional 2022 first-round pick
Milwaukee acquired George Hill , Jason Smith , a 2020 second-round pick, Washington's 2021 second-round pick , and cash considerations
Washington acquired Sam Dekker and a conditional 2020 second-round pick
^ February 7, 2019: Milwaukee Bucks to New Orleans Pelicans (three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons )[ 36]
^ July 7, 2016: Indiana Pacers to Brooklyn Nets [ 38]
^ July 17, 2018: Memphis Grizzlies to Sacramento Kings [ 39]
March 25, 2021: Sacramento Kings to Toronto Raptors [ 40]
Toronto acquired a 2021 second-round pick
Sacramento acquired Terence Davis
^ June 20, 2019: Golden State Warriors to New Orleans Pelicans [ 41]
New Orleans acquired 2021 and 2023 second-round picks
Golden State acquired the draft rights to Alen Smailagić
July 7, 2019: New Orleans Pelicans to Utah Jazz [ 42]
Utah acquired 2021 and 2023 second-round picks
New Orleans acquired Derrick Favors
March 25, 2021: Utah Jazz to Toronto Raptors [ 43]
Toronto acquired a 2021 second-round pick
Utah acquired Matt Thomas
^ February 18, 2016: Miami Heat to Portland Trail Blazers [ 44]
Portland acquired Brian Roberts and a 2021 second-round pick
Miami acquired cash considerations
June 21, 2018: Portland Trail Blazers to Sacramento Kings [ 45]
Sacramento acquired a 2019 second-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick
Portland acquired the draft rights to Gary Trent Jr.
February 6, 2020: Sacramento Kings to Atlanta Hawks [ 46]
^ July 6, 2019: Atlanta Hawks to Brooklyn Nets [ 47]
^ June 26, 2015: New York Knicks to Philadelphia 76ers [ 48]
Philadelphia acquired a 2020 second-round pick, a 2021 second-round pick , and cash considerations
New York acquired the draft rights to Willy Hernangómez
^ February 4, 2019: Portland Trail Blazers to Cleveland Cavaliers [ 49]
June 26, 2019: Cleveland Cavaliers to Detroit Pistons [ 50]
Detroit acquired a 2020 second-round pick, a 2021 second-round pick , a 2023 second-round pick, a conditional 2024 second-round pick, and cash considerations
Cleveland acquired the draft rights to Kevin Porter Jr.
June 26, 2019: Detroit Pistons to Dallas Mavericks [ 51]
Dallas acquired the draft rights to Isaiah Roby , a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 second-round pick
Detroit acquired the draft rights to Deividas Sirvydis
July 8, 2019: Dallas Mavericks to Memphis Grizzlies [ 52]
Memphis acquired the draft rights to Satnam Singh , a 2021 second-round pick , and a Least Favorable 2023 second-round pick
Dallas acquired Delon Wright
^ February 6, 2019: Los Angeles Lakers to Detroit Pistons [ 54]
November 24, 2020: Detroit Pistons to Houston Rockets [ 55]
Houston acquired Christian Wood , a conditional first-round pick, and a 2021 second-round pick
Detroit acquired Trevor Ariza , the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart , a 2027 second-round pick, and cash considerations
November 25, 2020: Houston Rockets to Sacramento Kings [ 56]
Sacramento acquired a 2021 second-round pick and cash considerations
Houston acquired the draft rights to Kenyon Martin Jr.
March 25, 2021: Sacramento Kings to Detroit Pistons [ 57]
^ March 25, 2021: Dallas Mavericks to New Orleans Pelicans [ 58]
July 29, 2021: New Orleans Pelicans to Philadelphia 76ers [ 59] [ 60]
Philadelphia acquired No. 53 pick
New Orleans acquired cash considerations
^ February 7, 2019: Cleveland Cavaliers to Houston Rockets (three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings [ 61]
February 7, 2019: Houston Rockets to Indiana Pacers [ 61]
^ July 6, 2018: Denver Nuggets to Philadelphia 76ers [ 62]
Philadelphia acquired Wilson Chandler and a 2021 second round pick
Denver acquired cash considerations
February 6, 2020: Philadelphia 76ers to Golden State Warriors [ 63]
^ June 21, 2018: Los Angeles Clippers to Charlotte Hornets [ 64]
^ July 6, 2018: Brooklyn Nets to Charlotte Hornets [ 65]
^ March 25, 2021: Philadelphia 76ers to New York Knicks (three-team trade with Oklahoma City Thunder )[ 66]
^ July 20, 2018: Phoenix Suns to Brooklyn Nets [ 67]
^ June 21, 2019: Utah Jazz to Indiana Pacers [ 68]
Indiana acquired a 2021 second-round pick
Utah acquired the draft rights to Jarrell Brantley
Draft-night trades were made after the draft began. These trades are usually not confirmed until the next day or after free agency officially begins.[ 69]
^ a b c d August 7, 2021: New Orleans Pelicans to Memphis Grizzlies (three-team trade with Charlotte )[ 5]
^ July 29, 2021: Oklahoma City Thunder to Houston Rockets [ 7]
Houston acquired the draft rights to Alperen Şengün
Oklahoma City acquired two future first-round picks
^ July 29, 2021: New York Knicks to Charlotte Hornets [ 12]
Charlotte acquired the draft rights to Kai Jones
New York acquired a future first-round pick
^ a b July 29, 2021: New York Knicks to L.A. Clippers [ 14]
L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to Keon Johnson
New York acquired the draft rights to Quentin Grimes and a future second-round pick
^ a b August 6, 2021: Los Angeles Lakers to Indiana Pacers (five-team trade with Washington , San Antonio , and Brooklyn )[ 15]
L.A. Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook and 2023, 2024, and 2028 second-round picks
Indiana acquired the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson
Washington acquired Spencer Dinwiddie , Aaron Holiday , Kentavious Caldwell-Pope , Kyle Kuzma , Montrezl Harrell , the draft rights to forward Isaiah Todd , and cash considerations from Indiana
San Antonio acquired a 2022 second round draft pick and Chandler Hutchison
Brooklyn acquired the draft rights to Nikola Milutinov , a 2024 second round pick, and the option to swap a 2025 second round pick with Washington
^ August 6, 2021: Phoenix Suns to Brooklyn Nets [ 18]
^ a b August 7, 2021: Utah Jazz to Memphis Grizzlies [ 19]
Memphis acquired the draft rights to Santi Aldama
Utah acquired the draft rights to Jared Butler and two future second round selections
^ a b c July 29, 2021: Milwaukee Bucks to Indiana Pacers [ 20]
^ a b c July 29, 2021: New York Knicks to Oklahoma City Thunder [ 22]
^ July 29, 2021: Orlando Magic to Los Angeles Clippers [ 23]
L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to Jason Preston
Orlando acquired Detroit's 2026 second-round pick and cash considerations
^ a b August 6, 2021: Detroit Pistons to Charlotte Hornets [ 29]
^ July 29, 2021: New Orleans Pelicans to Portland Trail Blazers [ 37]
Portland acquired the draft rights to Greg Brown III
New Orleans acquired a future second-round pick and cash considerations
^ August 7, 2021: New Orleans Pelicans to Los Angeles Clippers [ 53]
L.A. Clippers acquired the draft rights to Brandon Boston Jr.
New Orleans acquired a 2022 second round selection and cash considerations
Prior to the NBA Draft Combine , the 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp, which took place on June 19–21 at the Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago , provided another chance for players not originally invited to the combine to impress scouts. The best performers from this camp were given invites to the main combine.[ 70]
The NBA Draft Combine was held on June 21–27 at the same site sponsored by Microsoft . A total of 69 players attended the NBA Draft Combine 2021, with these players undergoing a series of interviews, five-on-five games, drills, and measurements.[ 71] Lottery-projected pick Keon Johnson broke the combine's vertical leap record of 45.5 in (1.16 m), set by Kenny Gregory in 2001, with a vertical leap of 48 in (1.2 m).[ 72] The combine also featured some recent graduates of the inaugural NBA G League Ignite team, which is a developmental basketball program meant to provide prospects with a paid alternative to playing NCAA college basketball. The success of these players, Jalen Green , Jonathan Kuminga , Daishen Nix , and Isaiah Todd , may pave the way for more top prospects to participate in the G League system pre-draft.
Projected top picks who decided not to attend the NBA Draft Combine include potential No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham and likely top-four pick Jalen Suggs .[ 73] Numerous other potential prospects, especially those playing overseas, also decided to skip the Combine.[ 73]
The NBA draft lottery was held on June 22. It was also televised nationally on ESPN .[ 74] [ 75]
Denotes the actual lottery result
Eligibility and entrants [ edit ]
The draft is conducted under the eligibility rules established in the league's 2017 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players' union, with special modifications agreed to by both parties due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic . The previous CBA that ended the 2011 lockout instituted no immediate changes to the draft. but called for a committee of owners and players to discuss further charges.
All drafted players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates, players who were eligible for the 2021 NBA draft must have been born on or before December 31, 2002.
This draft could have possibly been the last in which high school players of any nationality are ineligible for pick after graduation as the two associations sought at first to lower the minimum age back to 18 and end the need to wait one year after their high school class graduated, also called the "one and done" requirement, ahead of next year's edition, as discussed in 2019.[ 76] If approved, the current CBA may have to be amended and the amendment ratified. However, the ineligibility for the draft shortly after high school remained in place, as reported in 2020, unless there were further discussions about its repeal.[ 77]
Since the 2016 draft, the following rules are, as implemented by the NCAA Division I council for that division:[ 78]
Declaration for the draft no longer results in automatic loss of college eligibility. As long as a player does not sign a contract with a professional team outside the NBA, or sign with an agent, he retains college eligibility as long as he makes a timely withdrawal from the draft.
NCAA players now have 10 days after the end of the NBA Draft Combine to withdraw from the draft. Since the combine is normally held in mid-May, the current deadline is about five weeks after the previous mid-April deadline.
NCAA players may participate in the draft combine, and are allowed to attend one tryout per year with each NBA team without losing college eligibility.
NCAA players may now enter and withdraw from the draft up to two times without loss of eligibility. Previously, the NCAA treated a second declaration of draft eligibility as a permanent loss of college eligibility.
The NBA announced on February 26, 2021, that for this draft only, all college players who wished to enter the draft, regardless of class, had to formally declare eligibility. In October 2020, COVID-19 led the NCAA to declare that the 2020–21 season would not be counted against the college eligibility of any basketball player. The exact language of the CBA with regard to automatic eligibility of college seniors is "The player has graduated from a four-year college or university in the United States, and has no remaining intercollegiate basketball eligibility." Due to the NCAA ruling, every college senior in the 2020–21 season had remaining eligibility. The league was required to consult with the players' union and the NCAA to determine whether it would require seniors to opt out of the draft (which was implemented by the NFL for its 2021 draft , affected by a similar NCAA ruling for football) or require opt-ins, with the latter option being chosen.[ 79]
Players who were not automatically eligible had to declare their eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than at least 60 days before the event. For the 2021 draft, the date fell on May 30. Under the CBA a player may withdraw his name from consideration from the draft at any time before the final declaration deadline, which usually falls 10 days before the draft at 5:00 pm EDT (2100 UTC ). Under current NCAA rules, players usually have until 10 days after the draft combine to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility. They must have withdrawn on or before July 7, 22 days prior to this draft.
A player who has hired an agent retains his remaining college eligibility regardless of whether he is drafted after an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Players who declare for the NBA draft and are not selected have the opportunity to return to their school for at least another year only after terminating all agreements with their agents, who must have been certified no later than August 1, 2020.[ 80]
The NBA released its official list of early entrants on June 2, 2021, consisting of 296 players from college and other educational institutions and 57 international players.[ 81] The current version of the list found in this article omits players who withdrew from the draft after June 2.
College underclassmen [ edit ]
Terrence Clarke , a freshman guard from Kentucky , declared for the draft, but died on April 22, three months before it.[ 82] At the draft, the NBA honored him with an honorary selection.[ 83]
Santi Aldama – F, Loyola (MD) (sophomore)
Joël Ayayi – G, Gonzaga (redshirt junior)
Dalano Banton – G, Nebraska (redshirt sophomore)
Scottie Barnes – F, Florida State (freshman)
Charles Bassey – C, Western Kentucky (junior)
Giorgi Bezhanishvili – F, Illinois (junior)
Brandon Boston Jr. – G, Kentucky (freshman)
James Bouknight – G, UConn (sophomore)
Pedro Bradshaw – F, Bellarmine (redshirt junior)
Greg Brown – F, Texas (freshman)
Jared Butler – G, Baylor (junior)
D. J. Carton – G, Marquette (sophomore)
Justin Champagnie – F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
Josh Christopher – G, Arizona State (freshman)
Sharife Cooper – G, Auburn (freshman)
Derek Culver – C, West Virginia (junior)
Sam Cunliffe – G, Evansville (redshirt junior)
Cade Cunningham – G, Oklahoma State (freshman)
Ayo Dosunmu – G, Illinois (junior)
David Duke Jr. – G, Providence (junior)
Nojel Eastern – G, Purdue (junior)
Kessler Edwards – F, Pepperdine (junior)
RaiQuan Gray – F, Florida State (redshirt junior)
Alan Griffin – G, Syracuse (junior)
Quentin Grimes – G, Houston (junior)
Aaron Henry – F, Michigan State (junior)
Feron Hunt – F, SMU (junior)
Matthew Hurt – F, Duke (sophomore)
Bones Hyland – G, VCU (sophomore)
Isaiah Jackson – F, Kentucky (freshman)
David Johnson – G, Louisville (sophomore)
Jalen Johnson – F, Duke (freshman)
Keon Johnson – G, Tennessee (freshman)
Kai Jones – F, Texas (sophomore)
Balša Koprivica – C, Florida State (sophomore)
A. J. Lawson – G, South Carolina (junior)
Scottie Lewis – G, Florida (sophomore)
Tre Mann – G, Florida (sophomore)
Miles McBride – G, West Virginia (sophomore)
Mac McClung – G, Texas Tech (junior)
Davion Mitchell – G, Baylor (redshirt junior)
Evan Mobley – F/C, USC (freshman)
Moses Moody – G, Arkansas (freshman)
Trey Murphy III – F, Virginia (junior)
RJ Nembhard – G, TCU (redshirt junior)
Joel Ntambwe – F, Texas Tech (redshirt sophomore)
Jason Preston – G, Ohio (junior)
Joshua Primo – G, Alabama (freshman)
Neemias Queta – C, Utah State (junior)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – F, Villanova (sophomore)
Damion Rosser – G, New Orleans (redshirt junior)
Day'Ron Sharpe – C, North Carolina (freshman)
Javonte Smart – G, LSU (junior)
Jaden Springer – G, Tennessee (freshman)
D. J. Steward – G, Duke (freshman)
D. J. Stewart Jr. – G, Mississippi State (redshirt sophomore)
Jalen Suggs – G, Gonzaga (freshman)
Cam Thomas – G, LSU (freshman)
JT Thor – F, Auburn (freshman)
Franz Wagner – F, Michigan (sophomore)
Kyree Walker – G, Hillcrest Prep Academy (postgraduate)
Duane Washington Jr. – G, Ohio State (junior)
Trendon Watford – F, LSU (sophomore)
Romeo Weems – F, DePaul (sophomore)
Joe Wieskamp – G, Iowa (junior)
Aaron Wiggins – G, Maryland (junior)
Brandon Williams – G, Arizona (sophomore)
Ziaire Williams – F, Stanford (freshman)
Bryce Wills – G, Stanford (junior)
Marcus Zegarowski – G, Creighton (junior)
"Redshirt" refers to players who were redshirt seniors in the 2020–21 season. "Graduate" refers to players who were graduate transfers in 2020–21.
Derrick Alston Jr. – F, Boise State (redshirt)
Jose Alvarado – G, Georgia Tech
Jonah Antonio – G, Wake Forest
Jonathan Baehre – F, Clemson
Mitch Ballock – G, Creighton
Troy Baxter Jr. – F, Morgan State
Chudier Bile – F, Georgetown
Jahvon Blair – G, Georgetown
Isaac Bonton – G, Washington State
Chaundee Brown – G, Michigan
Marcus Burk – G, IUPUI (redshirt)
Jordan Burns – G, Colgate
Manny Camper – G/F, Siena
Nahziah Carter – G/F, Washington
Arinze Chidom – F, UC Riverside
Matt Coleman III – G, Texas
Trevion Crews – G, Bethel (IN)
T. J. Crockett – G, Lindenwood
Jalen Crutcher – G, Dayton
Ryan Daly – G, Saint Joseph's (redshirt)
Zaccheus Darko-Kelly – G/F, Providence (MT) (redshirt)
Oscar da Silva – F, Stanford
Cartier Diarra – G, Virginia Tech
Marek Dolezaj – F, Syracuse
Chris Duarte – G, Oregon
Ian DuBose – G, Wake Forest
Juwan Durham – C, Notre Dame
Tahj Eaddy – G, USC
Lydell Elmore – F, High Point
Romeao Ferguson – G, Lipscomb
L. J. Figueroa – G, Oregon
Aleem Ford – F, Wisconsin
Blake Francis – G, Richmond
D. J. Funderburk – F/C, NC State
Ty Gadsden – G, UNC Wilmington
Gorjok Gak – C, California Baptist
Marcus Garrett – G, Kansas
Luka Garza – C, Iowa
Samson George – F, Central Arkansas
Asante Gist – G, Iona
Terrell Gomez – G, San Diego State
Jordan Goodwin – G, Saint Louis
Justin Gorham – F, Houston (redshirt)
Elyjah Goss – F, IUPUI
Jayvon Graves – G, Buffalo
Quade Green – G, Washington
Matt Haarms – C, BYU (graduate)
Javion Hamlet – G, North Texas (redshirt)
Deion Hammond – G, Monmouth
Amauri Hardy – G, Oregon
Romio Harvey – G, Harding
Sam Hauser – F, Virginia (redshirt)
Kashaun Hicks – G, Norfolk State
Taveion Hollingsworth – G, Western Kentucky
Jay Huff – F/C, Virginia (redshirt)
Anthony Hughes Jr. – G, Millsaps
Jhivvan Jackson – G, UTSA
Loren Cristian Jackson – G, Akron (redshirt)
Casdon Jardine – G/F, Hawaiʻi
DeJon Jarreau – G, Houston
Tristan Jarrett – G, Jackson State
Justin Jaworski – G, Lafayette
Damien Jefferson – F, Creighton (redshirt)
Bryson Johnson – G, Ozarks
Carlik Jones – G, Louisville (graduate)
Herbert Jones – F, Alabama
Corey Kispert – F, Gonzaga
Cameron Krutwig – C, Loyola Chicago
Matt Lewis – G, James Madison
Spencer Littleson – G, Toledo
Isaiah Livers – G/F, Michigan
Denzel Mahoney – G, Creighton (redshirt)
Makuach Maluach – G, New Mexico
Sandro Mamukelashvili – F/C, Seton Hall
Kyle Mangas – G, Indiana Wesleyan
JaQuori McLaughlin – G, UC Santa Barbara
Jadyn Michael – G, Colorado Christian
Isaiah Miller – G, UNC Greensboro
Asbjørn Midtgaard – C, Grand Canyon
Damek Mitchell – G, Lewis–Clark State
Matt Mitchell – F, San Diego State
Steffon Mitchell – G, Boston College
Ruot Monyyong – F, Little Rock
Clay Mounce – G/F, Furman
Matthew Moyer – F, George Washington
Obadiah Noel – G, UMass Lowell
Kobi Nwandu – G, Niagara
Eugene Omoruyi – F, Oregon (redshirt)
EJ Onu – F/C, Shawnee State
Chris Parker – G, Liberty
Jock Perry – C, UC Riverside (redshirt)
John Petty Jr. – G, Alabama
Jamorko Pickett – F, Georgetown
Danny Pippen – F, Kent State (redshirt)
Yves Pons – F, Tennessee
Micah Potter – F, Wisconsin (redshirt)
Brandon Rachal – F, Tulsa
Austin Reaves – G, Oklahoma (redshirt)
Nate Reuvers – C, Wisconsin
Elvin Rodriguez – G, USAO
Colbey Ross – G, Pepperdine
Olivier Sarr – C, Kentucky
Jordan Schakel – G, San Diego State
Devontae Shuler – G, Ole Miss
Aamir Simms – F, Clemson
Jericho Sims – F, Texas
Chris Smith – F, UCLA
Dru Smith – G, Missouri (redshirt)
Justin Smith – F, Arkansas
Mike Smith – G, Michigan (graduate)
Anthony Tarke – G, Coppin State (redshirt)
Jalen Tate – G, Arkansas
Terry Taylor – G/F, Austin Peay
MaCio Teague – G, Baylor (redshirt)
Christian Terrell – G, Sacramento State (redshirt)
Koby Thomas – G, Coppin State
Ethan Thompson – G, Oregon State
Jeremiah Tilmon – F, Missouri
D'Mitrik Trice – G, Wisconsin (redshirt)
Jordy Tshimanga – F, Dayton (redshirt)
Justin Turner – G, Bowling Green (redshirt)
Chandler Vaudrin – G, Winthrop (redshirt)
Eric Vila – F/C, UTEP (redshirt)
Mark Vital – G/F, Baylor (redshirt)
M. J. Walker – G, Florida State
Keaton Wallace – G, UTSA
Josh Washburn – G, Carthage
Isaiah Washington – G, Long Beach State
Romello White – F, Ole Miss (graduate)
Devin Whitfield – G, Lincoln Memorial (redshirt)
McKinley Wright IV – G, Colorado
Moses Wright – F, Georgia Tech
International players [ edit ]
International players that declared for this draft and did not previously declare in another prior draft could drop out 10 days before the event, on July 19. A total of 51 international players withdrew their names from consideration for the draft, with only the following eight prospects remaining after the international deadline.[ 84]
Automatically eligible entrants [ edit ]
Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They have no remaining college eligibility.
If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under the contract.
As noted above, the NCAA's COVID-19 eligibility waiver for 2020–21 resulted in all college seniors having remaining eligibility, leading to the NBA and its players' union agreeing that seniors would have to declare for the 2021 draft.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates players born on or before December 31, 1999, were automatically eligible for the 2021 draft.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA within the United States , and have played under that contract.
After previously not having a proper "green room" invitation process for the 2020 NBA draft due to the COVID-19 pandemic (with players instead being conducted interviews and showings through videotelephony ), the NBA allowed for invites to attend the NBA draft event once again this season. The NBA usually annually invites players to sit in the so-called "green room", a special room set aside at the draft site for the invited players plus their families and agents, with 2020 being considered an exception due to the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 impacting the world at the time. This year, a reported 20 players were invited (listed alphabetically).[ 88]
Scottie Barnes , Florida State
James Bouknight , Connecticut
Cade Cunningham , Oklahoma State
Chris Duarte , Oregon
Jalen Green , NBA G League Ignite (NBA G League )
Josh Giddey , Adelaide 36ers (Australia )
Isaiah Jackson , Kentucky
Jalen Johnson , Duke
Keon Johnson , Tennessee
Kai Jones , Texas
Corey Kispert , Gonzaga
Jonathan Kuminga , NBA G League Ignite (NBA G League )
Davion Mitchell , Baylor
Evan Mobley , USC
Moses Moody , Arkansas
Alperen Şengün , Beşiktaş Icrypex (Turkey )
Jalen Suggs , Gonzaga
Cameron Thomas , LSU
Franz Wagner , Michigan
Ziaire Williams , Stanford
^ This pick was conveyed to Golden State after it fell outside its protected range.
^ This pick was conveyed to Orlando after it fell outside its protected range.
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