2024 NBA G League Draft Results
The NBA G League held its draft for the 2024/25 season on Saturday afternoon. Players who signed NBAGL contracts and whose rights weren’t already controlled by a team were part of the draft pool.
It was the first time in G League history that each of the 30 NBA teams had an affiliate squad take part in a draft. A 31st team, the unaffiliated Mexico City Capitanes, also participated.
[RELATED: NBA G League Announces Schedule For 2024/25 Season]
The Westchester Knicks, New York’s affiliate, held the top two picks in Saturday’s draft and used them to select a pair of NBA veterans.
The No. 1 overall pick was sharpshooter Matt Ryan, who is reportedly drawing interest from the Knicks and is a candidate to be called up to their NBA roster at some point this season.
Drafting Ryan to Westchester won’t prevent another NBA team from poaching him, since holding a player’s G League rights doesn’t mean you control his NBA rights. But it will give the Knicks a chance to take a first-hand look at him before potentially offering him a standard or two-way contract.
Ryan has knocked down 41.1% of his three-point attempts in 63 career NBA games for the Celtics, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Pelicans.
The second player off the board was swingman Landry Shamet, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Selecting him in the G League draft will allow the Knicks to keep him in the organization and closely monitor his rehabilitation process.
Shamet was expected to make the NBA roster prior to the injury and will be a candidate to rejoin the NBA squad later in the season if he fully recovers from his shoulder injury. He was the most experienced player in the NBAGL draft pool, with 348 career regular season outings at the NBA level.
Another notable name was picked fifth overall, as former NBA first-round pick Chandler Hutchison came out of retirement and was drafted by the Long Island Nets. Hutchison, 28, was the No. 22 pick in the 2018 NBA draft and appeared in 103 total games over the next four seasons for Chicago, Washington, and Phoenix.
Although the Nets’ affiliate technically drafted Hutchison, he was traded to the Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers) in a four-team trade that saw No. 3 pick Sean East II sent to the South Bay Lakers and Colin Castleton‘s returning rights acquired by Long Island. The full details of the deal, which also involved the Santa Cruz Warriors, can be found here.
East reportedly agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Lakers back in June, but that signing never became official. It’s not clear why, but after his rights were acquired by South Bay on draft day, the former Missouri guard will head to Los Angeles’ affiliate after all.
Finally, a pair of familiar names were selected late in the second round, with the 53rd and 54th overall picks. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets‘ affiliate, nabbed former Knicks guard Allonzo Trier, followed by the Maine Celtics (Boston’s affiliate) drafting Kavion Pippen, the cousin of Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and nephew of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen.
Kavion Pippen wasn’t the only family member of a Hall of Famer who came off the board in the second round. The Capital City Go-Go (Wizards) picked former USC forward DJ Rodman, the son of Dennis Rodman, with the 43rd overall pick.
Here are the full 2024 G League draft results:
Round One:
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks): Matt Ryan
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks): Landry Shamet
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): Sean East II
- Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers): Thierry Darlan
- Long Island Nets (Nets): Chandler Hutchison
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Christian Brown
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Tyson Walker
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets): Malik Hall
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): Eric Gaines
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Tae Williams
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): Seth Maxwell (Indiana Wesleyan)
- Motor City Cruise (Pistons): Cam Martin
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): Ibrahima Diallo
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets): Justin Moore
- Raptors 905 (Raptors): Tylor Perry
- Indiana Mad Ants (Pacers): Kevin Cross
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Paul Mulcahy
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): Brandon Childress
- Valley Suns (Suns): Nate Roberts
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): Tommy Rutherford
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): London Johnson
- Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers): Trae Hannibal
- South Bay Lakers (Lakers): Marlain Veal
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Bryce Griggs (Overtime Elite)
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Jaylan Gainey
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Justyn Hamilton
- San Diego Clippers (Clippers): Garrett Denbow (Anderson University (SC))
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): Steven Richardson (Montana State-Billings)
- Mexico City Capitanes (N/A): Lewis Duarte (Overtime Elite)
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): No pick
- San Diego Clippers (Clippers): Emmanuel Bandoumel
Round Two:
- Iowa Wolves (Timberwolves): Sy Chatman
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): Xavier Johnson
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): Vonterius Woolbright
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Keyon Menifield
- College Park Skyhawks (Hawks): Terrell Burden
- Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies): Kamani Johnson
- Wisconsin Herd (Bucks): Jamal Bieniemy
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): Charles Pride
- Note: Pride is being traded to the Raptors 905, per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet (Twitter link).
- Texas Legends (Mavericks): Bobby Planutis
- Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans): E.J. Montgomery
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): No pick
- Capital City Go-Go (Wizards): DJ Rodman
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Dee Barnes
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors): Devine Eke
- Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers): Sterling Manley
- Austin Spurs (Spurs): No pick
- Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers): Olisa Akonobi
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz): Jericole Hellems
- Valley Suns (Suns): Olin Carter III
- Osceola Magic (Magic): Cameron Parker
- Long Island Nets (Nets): No pick
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets): Allonzo Trier
- Maine Celtics (Celtics): Kavion Pippen
- Grand Rapids Gold (Nuggets): William Kondrat (D’Youville University)
- Capital City Go-Go (Wizards): Jayden Hardaway
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder): Tray Jackson
- Indiana Mad Ants (Pacers): Ishmael Lane
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers): No pick
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): No pick
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat): No pick
- San Diego Clippers (Clippers): Mike Scott
Teams will fill out their rosters with affiliate players, returning rights players, tryout players, and players who are assigned to the G League from the NBA roster (including those on two-way contracts).
G League training camps open on Monday, with this year’s NBAGL Tip-Off Tournament getting underway on November 8. The Tip-Off Tournament will be played over about a month-and-a-half and will be followed by the G League regular season, which begins on December 27.
Draft Notes: Christie, Rhoden, Brooks, Lee, Johnson, Bieniemy, Combine
Michigan State freshman guard Max Christie will stay in the draft and hire an agent, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. Christie is ranked No. 44 in ESPN’s Best Available list after averaging 9.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 1.5 APG in 35 games with the Spartans in 2021/22. He’s participating at the Chicago pre-draft combine this week.
We have more draft-related news:
- Seton Hall wing Jared Rhoden, who impressed at the recent G League Elite Camp, has worked out for the Knicks, Nets and Celtics, Adam Zagoria tweets. The 6’6” Rhoden averaged 15.5 PPG and 6.7 RPG for the Pirates.
- Kentucky’s Keion Brooks said he’s staying in the draft, Zagoria writes in a ZagsBlog.com post. The 6’7” Brooks averaged 10.8 PPG and 4.4 RPG this past season. “I’m all in on the draft,” he said.
- Like Brooks, Davidson’s Hyunjung Lee says he’s not going back to college, Zagoria tweets. “I’m 100 percent in for the draft… This is my long-term dream.” Lee said. “If I play whether in the League or the G League, I feel I can improve faster.”
- Cleveland State forward Deante Johnson is withdrawing from the draft and returning to college, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweets.
- UTEP swingman Jamal Bieniemy, who averaged 14.7 PPG last season, is staying in the draft, Rothstein tweets.
- Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams, Toledo’s Ryan Rollins, North Carolina State’s Terquavion Smith and Colorado State’s David Roddy are among the players who stand the most to gain from the combine, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz and Jonathan Givony write.
Pacific Notes: James, Kuminga, Booker, Kings Draft Workout
LeBron James can sign a two-year extension this offseason and it increasingly appears he’s on board with the team’s future plans. Brian Windhorst said on ESPN’s Get Up show that James and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss are “in a good place” as the franchise tries to move on from a disastrous season (hat tip to Hoops Hype).
“From what I understand, LeBron and Jeanie are in a good place right now, despite the frustrations of this season,” Windhorst said. “LeBron believes that a few tweaks and some health can actually turn this thing around, and they can be super competitive. He is invested, wants to be there.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Jonathan Kuminga didn’t play in Game 6 against the Grizzlies but Draymond Green believes the Warriors rookie has a very bright future, as he told Marc Spears of Andscape. “He can be a perennial All-Star in this league,” Green said. “That’s up to him and the work he puts in. But he has the skills, the tools, he can see the floor, he has the opportunity if he puts the work in to be a perennial All-Star.”
- Devin Booker finished fourth in the voting for the Most Valuable Player award but the Suns guard should be at the forefront of the conversation for next year’s award, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. Along with his scoring and play-making, Booker has cut down on his turnovers and improved defensively.
- The Kings brought in six draft prospects on Thursday, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee tweets. That group included Will Richardson (Oregon), Jamal Bieniemy (UTEP), Lester Quinones (Memphis), Jeriah Horne (Tulsa), Kenneth Lofton Jr. (Louisiana Tech) and Efe Abogidi (Washington State).
David Roddy, Jake LaRavia, Others Declaring For NBA Draft
Colorado State junior David Roddy will test the NBA draft waters this spring, retaining the option to return to school, he tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
Roddy, who is the No. 31 prospect on ESPN’s big board, was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year this season after averaging 19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.2 SPG with a .571/.438/.691 shooting line in 31 games (32.9 MPG). The 6’6″, 260-pound forward helped lead Colorado State to its first NCAA tournament appearance in nine years.
“I am looking forward to showing NBA teams that I can thrive in any situation,” Roddy told ESPN. “Whether the pace is slow or fast, free flowing or stagnant, there are so many facets and intricacies that I have learned over time that will help me be one of the best and most important players on the court. But mostly I am just excited to chase a childhood dream and make it a reality.”
Wake Forest forward Jake LaRavia is also entering the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on Tuesday night (via Twitter).
After transferring from Indiana State to Wake Forest, LaRavia was a full-time starter for the Demon Deacons as a junior in 2021/22, averaging 14.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.7 SPG on .559/.384/.777 shooting in 33 games (34.2 MPG).
According to Mike Schmitz of ESPN, LaRavia doesn’t project to be a “true defensive stopper,” but he players hard and has good instincts and should be able to defend multiple positions at the next level. He’s currently the No. 40 prospect on ESPN’s board.
Here are some of the other players who are putting their names in the 2022 draft pool:
Expected to forgo remaining NCAA eligibility and stay in the draft:
- Jamal Bieniemy, G, UTEP (senior) (link via Adrian Broaddus of 600 ESPN El Paso)
- Darius Days, F, LSU (senior) (Twitter link via Jon Chepkevich)
- Ronaldo Segu, G, Buffalo (senior) (Twitter link)
- Jeenathan Williams, G/F, Buffalo (senior) (Twitter link via Chepkevich)
Testing the draft waters:
- Ricky Council IV, G, Wichita State (sophomore) (Twitter link)
- Kyler Edwards, G, Houston (senior) (Twitter link)
- B.J. Mack, F/C, Wofford (junior) (Twitter link)
- Lamar Norman, G, Western Michigan (junior) (Twitter link)
- Josh Oduro, F, George Mason (junior) (Twitter link)
- Donovan Williams, G/F, UNLV (junior) (Instagram link)
Our running list of early entrants for this year’s draft can be found right here.