NBA Draft 2024: Updated Schedule, TV Info and More Revealed for 2-Day Event

It is officially time for every team outside of the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks to prepare for the NBA draft, and the league revealed some more details for this year’s event on Monday.

The NBA announced the first round of the 2024 draft will be on Wednesday, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. The second round will be in the afternoon on Thursday, June 27 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

There is a reason for the early start time for the second round.

Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic noted there is a presidential debate scheduled for that evening, so the league is adjusting in an effort to maximize its audience.

This is the first time in league history the NBA is holding the draft across two different days instead of just the one. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press pointed out last year’s draft lasted almost five hours and didn’t end until approximately 12:45 a.m. ET.

Having the draft across two days with the first round at Barclays Center in New York and the second round at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York could help the NBA avoid people tuning out because the event drags on too long.

By comparison, the NFL draft is held across three different days with the first round on a Thursday, the second and third rounds on a Friday and the fourth through seventh rounds on a Saturday.

While last year’s NBA draft had a clear-cut choice atop the board in Victor Wembanyama, there is not as much certainty this year.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projected France’s Zaccharie Risacher as the No. 1 overall pick in his latest mock draft but also listed Alex Sarr and Donovan Clingan as possible candidates.

The most notable name in the draft may not come off the board until late in the second round. Wasserman projected Bronny James, who is the son of NBA legend LeBron James, to go No. 55 overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.

If that is the case, he will be taken in the afternoon coverage of the second round.