Last Thursday, the 2018-19 NBA season concluded with the Raptors taking Game 6 of the Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Just a week later, the rest of the league is moving forward with its collective eyes towards next year, starting with the NBA Draft (7 p.m. EST, ESPN).
23 prospects have been invited to attend at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the list grew from nine initially to 20 over the past week. The additional three came later in the week with USC’s Kevin Porter Jr. and Georgia’s Nic Claxton, and FSU’s Mfiondu Kabengele.
All of these prospects will be waiting in the “Green Room,” which is a staging area in front of the NBA draft podium where players, families and agents will wait to hear Adam Silver call their names.
Here’s the complete list of players:
- Zion Williamson, Duke
- Ja Morant, Murray State
- R.J. Barrett, Duke
- Darius Garland, Vanderbilt
- De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
- Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
- Cam Reddish, Duke
- Coby White, North Carolina
- Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges
- Nassir Little, North Carolina
- Jaxson Hayes, Texas
- Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
- Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
- Romeo Langford, Indiana
- PJ Washington, Kentucky
- Goga Bitadze, Mega Bemax
- Tyler Herro, Kentucky
- Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech
- Bol Bol, Oregon
- Kevin Porter Jr., USC
- Nic Claxton, Georgia
- Mfiondu Kabengele, FSU
UPDATE: Washington’s Matisse Thybulle was a late addition, as well.
Quick Facts & Superlatives on Players Invited
Led by Duke’s trio of Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish, the ACC is the most represented conference with eight invitations. Kentucky also has three former players expected in Brooklyn between PJ Washington, Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro.
As Givony writes, this draft has a real international flavor to it, as well.
Seven of the players invited to the green room were born outside of the United States, believed to be the second-highest number behind the 2016 NBA draft, which had eight such invites and eventually broke the all-time record with 26 total international players drafted in both rounds.
Only two players actually affiliate internationally between 6-foot-11 Georgian center Goga Bitadze and 6-foot-9 forward Sekou Doumbouya of Guinea. The former played for Mega Bemax in Serbia, while the latter competed for the Limoges club in France.
The tallest prospect is Bol Bol at 7-foot-2. His father is former NBA center Manute Bol, who stood 7-foot-7 for the Washington Bullets, 76ers, Heat and Warriors. The shortest prospect is Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland at 6-foot-2, while Ja Morant is just an inch more.
According to our own Jonathan Adams, this is where each of the Green Room attendees will be going.
No. 1 Pelicans | PF Zion Williamson, Duke |
No. 2 Grizzlies | PG Ja Morant, Murray State |
No. 3 Knicks | SG RJ Barrett, Duke |
No. 4 Pelicans (via Lakers) | SG Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech |
No. 5 Cavs | SF De’Andre Hunter, Virginia |
No. 6 Suns | PG Darius Garland, Vanderbilt |
No. 7 Bulls | PG Coby White, UNC |
No. 8 Hawks | SG Cam Reddish, Duke |
No. 9 Wizards | C Jaxson Hayes, Texas |
No. 10 Hawks | F Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga |
No. 11 Timberwolves | F Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges |
No. 12 Hornets | PF PJ Washington, Kentucky |
No. 13 Heat | SF Nassir Little, UNC |
No. 14 Celtics (via Kings) | G Tyler Herro, Kentucky |
No. 15 Pistons | SF Romeo Langford, Indiana |
No. 16 Magic | SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech |
No. 17 Hawks (via Nets) | PF Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga |
No. 18 Pacers | SF Keldon Johnson, Kentucky |
No. 19 Spurs | SG Kevin Porter Jr., USC |
No. 20 Celtics (via Clippers) | C Bol Bol, Oregon |
No. 24 Sixers | C Mfiondu Kabengele, FSU |
No. 26 Cavs (via Rockets) | C Nic Claxton, Georgia |
No. 32 Suns | C Goga Bitadze, Buducnost |
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NBA Draft Green Room Invites: Which Players Are in Attendance?