2021 NBA draft
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. The NBA used a "ceremonial pick" for the late Terrence Clarke, between the 14th and 15th pick of the draft.
01Draft selections
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| x | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-NBA Team |
| # | Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year |
02Notable undrafted players
These players were not selected in the 2021 NBA draft, but have played at least one game in the NBA.
03Trades involving draft picks
Pre-draft trades
Prior to the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between teams.
Draft-night trades
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.
04Combine
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.
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. 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). 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. Numerous other potential prospects, especially those playing overseas, also decided to skip the Combine.
05Draft lottery
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| 2021 NBA Draft Lottery Drawing, NBA's official YouTube channel. Jun 22, 2021. |
The NBA draft lottery was held on June 22. It was also televised nationally on ESPN.
| Denotes the actual lottery result |
| Team | 2020-21 record |
Lottery chances |
Lottery probabilities | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | |||
| Houston Rockets | 17-55 | 140 | 14.0% | 13.4% | 12.7% | 11.9% | 47.9% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Detroit Pistons | 20-52 | 140 | 14.0% | 13.4% | 12.7% | 11.9% | 27.8% | 20.1% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Orlando Magic | 21-51 | 140 | 14.0% | 13.4% | 12.7% | 11.9% | 14.8% | 26.0% | 7.1% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 22-50 | 115 | 11.5% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 11.0% | 7.4% | 27.1% | 18.0% | 2.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 22-50 | 115 | 11.5% | 11.4% | 11.2% | 11.0% | 2.0% | 18.2% | 25.5% | 8.6% | 0.6% | - | - | - | - | - |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 23-49 | 90 | 9.0% | 9.2% | 9.4% | 9.6% | - | 8.6% | 29.7% | 20.6% | 3.4% | 0.2% | - | - | - | - |
| Toronto Raptors | 27-45 | 75 | 7.5% | 7.8% | 8.1% | 8.5% | - | - | 19.8% | 33.9% | 13.0% | 1.4% | <0.1% | - | - | - |
| Chicago Bulls | 31-41 | 45 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.7% | - | - | - | 34.5% | 36.2% | 8.5% | 0.5% | <0.1% | - | - |
| Sacramento Kings | 31-41 | 45 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.7% | - | - | - | - | 46.4% | 29.4% | 3.9% | 0.1% | <0.1% | - |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 31-41 | 45 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.7% | - | - | - | - | - | 60.6% | 17.9% | 1.2% | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Charlotte Hornets | 33-39 | 18 | 1.8% | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.5% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 77.6% | 13.4% | 0.4% | <0.1% |
| San Antonio Spurs | 33-39 | 17 | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 85.2% | 6.6% | 0.1% |
| Indiana Pacers | 34-38 | 10 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.4% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 92.9% | 2.3% |
| Golden State Warriors | 39-33 | 5 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 97.6% |
Notes:
06Eligibility and entrants
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. 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.
- Since the 2016 draft, the following rules are, as implemented by the NCAA Division I council for that division:
- 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.
Early entrants
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.
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. The current version of the list found in this article omits players who withdrew from the draft after June 2.
College underclassmen
Terrence Clarke, a freshman guard from Kentucky, declared for the draft, but died on April 22, three months before it. At the draft, the NBA honored him with an honorary selection.
- 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)
- DJ 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)
College seniors
"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
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.
- Juhann Begarin, G, Paris Basketball (France)
- Vrenz Bleijenbergh, F, Antwerp Giants (Belgium)
- Biram Faye, C, Bàsquet Girona (Spain)
- Usman Garuba, F, Real Madrid (Spain)
- Josh Giddey, G, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
- Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Žalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
- Alperen Şengün, C, Beşiktaş Icrypex (Turkey)
- Amar Sylla, C, Filou Oostende (Belgium)
Automatically eligible entrants
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.
| Player | Team | Note | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen Hulland | Adelaide 36ers (Australia) | Left Hawaii in 2020; playing professionally since the 2020-21 season | |
| Filip Petrušev | Mega Basket (Serbia) | Left Gonzaga in 2020; playing professionally since the 2020-21 season | |
| Isaac White | The Hawks (Australia) | Left Stanford in 2020; playing professionally since the 2020-21 season |
07Invited attendees
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).
- 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
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “2021 NBA draft”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- 2021 NBA Draft.png by Unknown author, Fair use
- 1 cade cunningham 2024.jpg by Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jalen Green with the Houston Rockets in 2022 (cropped).jpg by All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Evan Mobley (cropped).jpg by Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Scottie Barnes, Wizards vs Raptors on October 12, 2021.jpg by All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Josh Giddey 2022.jpg by Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Jonathan Kuminga (cropped) 2.jpg by Position Sports, Inc., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wagner2022.jpg by All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1 corey kispert.jpg by Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
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