2020 NBA draft
The 2020 NBA draft was the 74th annual player selection meeting by the National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises, conducted virtually over two days on November 18–19, 2020.[1][2] Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the 2019–20 NBA season and canceled traditional pre-draft events like the NBA Draft Combine, the draft was postponed from its planned date of June 25, 2020, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, marking the first such delay since the 1989 lockout and the latest timing since the inaugural 1947 draft.[1][2] The event took place at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut, and was the first NBA draft held entirely virtually, with Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announcing selections in-studio while team decisions were made remotely.[1] In the first round, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards, a shooting guard from the University of Georgia, with the No. 1 overall pick.[3] The Golden State Warriors followed by drafting center James Wiseman from the University of Memphis at No. 2.[3] The Charlotte Hornets chose point guard LaMelo Ball, who had played professionally for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia's National Basketball League, third overall.[3] Subsequent lottery selections included forward Patrick Williams (Florida State) to the Chicago Bulls at No. 4, forward Isaac Okoro (Auburn) to the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 5, and center Onyeka Okongwu (USC) to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 6.[3] The draft featured a total of 60 picks across two rounds, with the Philadelphia 76ers acquiring the most selections at five.[1][2] The 2020 class drew from a pool heavily impacted by the pandemic, including 47 college players, several international prospects like Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv, No. 9 to Washington Wizards) and Killian Hayes (Ratiopharm Ulm, No. 7 to Detroit Pistons), and Desmond Bane from TCU (drafted No. 30 by Boston, later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies).[3][2] Multiple trades were finalized during the broadcast.[4] Broadcast exclusively on ESPN for the first time, the draft highlighted 17 team war rooms live and provided 30 prospects with customized NBA Draft Gifting Lockers, underscoring adaptations to remote proceedings.[1]Eligibility and Participants
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2020 NBA draft, prospective players were required to meet the league's longstanding age and education criteria established under the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). All players, regardless of nationality, must turn at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft (2020), and no players could declare directly from high school; U.S. players needed to be at least one year removed from their high school graduation class.[5] Automatic eligibility was granted to certain players without needing to declare early. This included college seniors who had exhausted their NCAA eligibility and international players who would turn 22 years old by the end of the 2020 calendar year or who had signed a professional contract in a league outside the NBA's developmental system. Underclassmen (college players with remaining eligibility) and international players younger than 22 were eligible to enter the draft early by submitting a declaration to the NBA. The standard early entry declaration deadline was April 26, 2020, by which 205 prospects had filed, including 163 from U.S. colleges and 42 international players.[6][7] However, due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the draft from June to November 18, 2020, the NBA extended the final withdrawal deadline for early entrants to November 8, 2020, allowing players to gauge professional interest without immediate commitment.[8] A key provision of the early entry process permitted "one-and-done" college players—typically freshmen—who declared for the draft to withdraw by the applicable deadline without forfeiting their remaining NCAA eligibility, enabling them to return to school if they chose. After initial declarations and subsequent withdrawals, particularly following the NCAA's college eligibility cutoff on August 3, 2020, 108 early entrants remained in the pool as of late August, though further withdrawals reduced this number ahead of the final deadline.[9][10][11]Early and Automatic Entrants
A total of 108 early entry candidates remained eligible for the 2020 NBA draft following the withdrawal deadline on August 21, 2020, comprising 72 underclassmen from U.S. colleges and other educational institutions and 36 international prospects under age 22 who had declared their intent to enter the draft.[12] This pool represented a reduction from the initial 205 declarations announced in April 2020, after accounting for multiple waves of withdrawals throughout the extended timeline affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The college underclassmen early entrants included high-profile talents such as Anthony Edwards from the University of Georgia, James Wiseman from the University of Memphis, and Precious Achiuwa from Memphis, who were among the top projected picks and highlighted the depth of NCAA talent forgoing remaining eligibility.[12] These players, primarily freshmen and sophomores, dominated the domestic portion of the entry list, reflecting a trend of young prospects seeking professional opportunities amid an uncertain college season.[7] International early entrants numbered 36, featuring standout prospects like Killian Hayes from ratiopharm Ulm in Germany and Deni Avdija from Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, both of whom had gained professional experience in European leagues while under the age threshold for automatic eligibility.[12] This group added global diversity to the draft class, with many having competed in top leagues such as the German Bundesliga and Israeli Premier League.[13] Prior to the final tally, 23 players had withdrawn from the early entry pool in one notable update on November 9, 2020, including college underclassmen like Matthew Hurt from Duke and international prospects such as Brancou Badio from France; additional withdrawals occurred in subsequent announcements, further refining the candidate field.[11] In addition to the early entrants, the draft pool included a number of automatically eligible players who did not need to declare, consisting of college seniors and international players meeting the criteria, such as LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks) and RJ Hampton (New Zealand Breakers) who had signed professional contracts abroad.[14] Following the final withdrawal deadline on November 8, 2020, 86 early entry candidates remained eligible, joined by the automatically eligible players to form the complete pool of draft-eligible prospects.[15]Draft Lottery
Lottery Process
The NBA draft lottery system underwent significant reforms approved by the league's Board of Governors in September 2017 as part of broader efforts to combat tanking, with the changes taking effect for the 2019 draft under the framework established in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement.[16] Previously, the team with the league's worst record held a 25% chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick, but the updated format equalized opportunities for the bottom three teams at 14% each while ensuring no team could fall lower than the fifth position if it entered with the worst record.[17] This flattening of odds aimed to incentivize competitive play throughout the season by reducing the reward for intentional losses.[16] The lottery process involves the 14 teams that fail to qualify for the playoffs, each assigned a share of 1,000 possible combinations derived from drawing four ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 without replacement.[18] The three teams with the worst records receive 140 combinations apiece for the No. 1 pick (14% odds), decreasing progressively for better-performing teams—for instance, the 10th-worst team gets 30 combinations (3% odds)—with the remaining picks 5 through 14 assigned in inverse order of regular-season records.[18] The drawing occurs in a secure location, with the top four picks determined sequentially to account for interdependent probabilities.[19] For the 2020 draft, the lottery was conducted on August 20, 2020, at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut, and aired live on ESPN amid the league's pandemic-related schedule adjustments.[20] The participating teams were the 14 non-playoff clubs, determined by their records from the abbreviated 2019-20 season, which was suspended on March 11, 2020, due to COVID-19 and resumed in a bubble environment in late July.[21] Examples include the New Orleans Pelicans (30-42), Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45), and Golden State Warriors (15-50), reflecting the uneven number of games played across teams.Results and Odds
The 2020 NBA draft lottery determined the order of the first four picks among the 14 non-playoff teams from the 2019–20 season, with pre-lottery odds for the No. 1 overall selection assigned based on reverse order of regular-season records.[22] The three worst teams—Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Minnesota Timberwolves—each entered with a 14% chance of securing the top pick, followed by the Atlanta Hawks at 12.5%, Detroit Pistons at 10.5%, New York Knicks at 9%, Chicago Bulls at 7.5%, Charlotte Hornets at 6%, Washington Wizards at 4.5%, Phoenix Suns at 3%, San Antonio Spurs at 2%, Sacramento Kings at 1.3%, New Orleans Pelicans at 1.2%, and Memphis Grizzlies at 0.5%.[22] These probabilities reflected the NBA's lottery system, which caps the maximum chance at 14% to discourage intentional tanking while still favoring the worst-performing teams.[23] The lottery drawing took place on August 20, 2020, in a secure room at ESPN's Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters, conducted under the supervision of independent auditors from Ernst & Young to ensure integrity.[24] The process utilized a traditional ping-pong ball machine containing 14 balls numbered 1 through 14; four balls were drawn to form unique combinations assigned to each team, determining the order for picks 1 through 4, with the remaining lottery teams slotted 5 through 14 in inverse record order.[18] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually without on-site team representatives, though results were sealed until the televised reveal.[24] In the results, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured the No. 1 pick, marking the franchise's first top overall selection in its history.[3] The Golden State Warriors landed the No. 2 pick, while the Charlotte Hornets, entering with just a 6% chance for No. 1, rose to claim the No. 3 spot ahead of several teams with better odds, including the Cavaliers (who fell to No. 5) and Knicks (No. 8).[25] The Chicago Bulls rounded out the top four at No. 4. This outcome shuffled the draft order significantly, awarding the top three selections to the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Hornets, which positioned these rebuilding franchises to target high-upside talents at the forefront of the draft class.[3]Pre-Draft Events
NBA Draft Combine
The NBA announced a reformatted hybrid structure for the 2020 Draft Combine on September 23, 2020, adapting the event to prioritize health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] Originally planned for a centralized in-person gathering in Chicago, the combine shifted to a phased approach combining virtual elements with limited on-site activities at NBA team facilities across various markets.[27] This innovative format allowed 60 invited prospects to engage without requiring travel to a single location, reducing exposure risks while providing teams essential evaluation opportunities.[28] The event unfolded in stages from September 28 through mid-November 2020, beginning with virtual components and progressing to selective in-person sessions.[29] Initial phases featured league-wide and team-specific interviews conducted via videoconference, including Zoom sessions where prospects answered standardized questions and interacted directly with NBA personnel.[30] A key virtual element was the "pro day," in which participants used the HomeCourt app to record self-measured anthropometric data, shooting drills, and athletic performances at home or local facilities, submitting videos and analytics for team review.[31] Select invitees then advanced to on-site medical evaluations and limited athletic testing at assigned NBA team sites in October and early November, with travel restricted to car trips to minimize health concerns.[32] Among the high-profile invitees were LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman, all projected lottery selections.[33] Ball participated in the virtual interviews and pro day but opted out of on-site athletic testing to preserve his health ahead of the draft.[34] Edwards and Wiseman, along with other top prospects like Obi Toppin, declined participation entirely, focusing instead on private workouts with teams.[35] The emphasis on medical assessments and remote evaluations marked a significant departure from traditional combines, influencing how teams gathered data on injury histories and physical capabilities in a contact-limited environment.[36]Scouting and Mock Drafts
The scouting process for the 2020 NBA draft was significantly altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted traditional in-person evaluations and forced teams to adapt their methods. NBA scouts, typically responsible for attending games, conducting campus visits, and organizing team workouts, shifted much of their work to remote analysis, reviewing extensive game film from prospects' high school, college, and international seasons—sometimes watching every minute of available footage over multiple years.[37] Limited team workouts were permitted in small groups or as individual sessions due to health protocols, with many conducted as 1-on-1 drills rather than competitive settings, and only select team representatives traveled to locations like Atlanta or Miami for these evaluations.[37] Agent feedback played a heightened role, providing updates on player development, medical histories, and virtual interview logistics via platforms like Zoom and Skype, compensating for the absence of large-scale events such as the canceled NCAA tournament.[37] Consensus mock drafts from major outlets like ESPN and The Athletic consistently projected Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and James Wiseman as the top three picks, reflecting their status as the class's premier talents amid the lottery results. In ESPN's mid-November mock, Ball was slotted first overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by Wiseman to the Golden State Warriors and Edwards to the Charlotte Hornets, emphasizing Ball's playmaking vision and Edwards' athletic scoring potential.[38] The Athletic's final projection similarly placed Edwards at No. 1, with Ball and Wiseman rounding out the top three, highlighting Wiseman's defensive upside as a rim protector despite his raw skills.[39] These projections were influenced briefly by results from the scaled-back NBA Draft Combine, where measurements and limited on-court testing underscored the prospects' physical tools.[40] Scouts and analysts highlighted several uncertainties surrounding the top prospects, particularly Ball's injury history and Wiseman's minimal college exposure. Ball's season in Australia's NBL was cut short after 12 games due to a foot bone bruise, raising concerns about his durability, compounded by prior ankle injuries that had sidelined him during high school and his brother's professional career.[41] NBA executives expressed reservations about his long-term health and conditioning, noting his lanky frame and history of nagging issues as potential risks for a high pick.[42] For Wiseman, his college tenure at Memphis lasted just three games before an NCAA eligibility ruling stemming from a pre-enrollment payment made him ineligible, leaving evaluators to rely heavily on high school film and limited pro-style workout footage to assess his 7-foot-1 athleticism and shot-blocking ability.[43] This scarcity of live college performance data amplified debates about his readiness for NBA minutes compared to more seasoned international options.[44]Draft Event and Format
Schedule and Venue Changes
The 2020 NBA draft was originally scheduled for June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to its postponement.[1] The league's 2019-20 season had been suspended on March 11, 2020, and resumed in a bubble environment in late July, creating logistical challenges that delayed the draft by nearly five months to allow completion of the playoffs and adherence to health protocols.[45] This shift marked the latest date in the calendar year for an NBA draft since its inception in 1947.[46] The event ultimately took place on November 18, 2020, in a fully virtual format hosted from ESPN's studios in Bristol, Connecticut, rather than at a traditional arena.[47] Both the first and second rounds were conducted on the same evening, with the first round beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET and the second round following immediately after a brief intermission.[3] There was no in-person green room or on-site attendance for draftees; instead, selected players participated remotely via video calls from their homes, family locations, or team facilities to comply with pandemic restrictions.[47] NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced picks from the Bristol studio, emphasizing the league's adaptation to remote operations.[37] The draft lottery, typically held in May, was also rescheduled to August 20, 2020, extending the overall timeline from lottery to draft to nearly three months.[22] This prolonged period provided teams and prospects additional time for evaluation and workouts under modified health and safety protocols, including virtual interviews and limited in-person medical exams.[26] The changes ensured the event's feasibility amid ongoing restrictions, prioritizing participant safety while maintaining the draft's integrity.[37]Broadcast and Virtual Elements
The 2020 NBA Draft marked the first fully virtual event in league history, conducted entirely remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was broadcast exclusively on ESPN from the network's studios in Bristol, Connecticut, with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on November 18. Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum appeared in the studio to announce selections for both rounds, adapting to health protocols that prevented an in-person gathering at Barclays Center.[48][49] Player reactions were integrated into the broadcast through live or pre-recorded video calls from prospects' homes, emphasizing personal celebrations with family and friends rather than a centralized green room. The NBA shipped gifting lockers to 30 top prospects—more than the 23 green room invitees in 2019—and broadcast kits to 39, while featuring up to 58 expected draftees, containing all 30 team hats, suits, watches, and other swag to ensure appropriate on-camera presentations. This setup captured authentic, intimate moments, such as Anthony Edwards celebrating with his brother in Georgia.[50][51][1] The first round averaged 2.65 million viewers on ESPN, a 31% decline from the 3.09 million in 2019, reflecting the draft's unusual November timing—five months later than usual—and the lack of live audience energy or on-site pageantry. Despite the drop, the format was noted for enabling deeper storytelling around more players' personal narratives. The second round on ESPN and ESPNU drew an average of 1.61 million viewers.[52] Technological adaptations supported the virtual production, including 39 broadcast kits delivered to top prospects for professional-quality video and audio feeds, along with 19 satellite trucks positioned across five countries for post-selection interviews. In the Bristol studio, a large video wall displayed live player feeds, while prospects at home used provided setups with virtual elements like team-themed backgrounds to enhance visual consistency during appearances.[50][53]Draft Selections and Trades
First-Round Selections
The first round of the 2020 NBA Draft, held on November 18, 2020, saw teams prioritize versatile guards and forwards amid a class impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to scouting and player development.[3] The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the proceedings by selecting athletic shooting guard Anthony Edwards from the University of Georgia, followed by the Golden State Warriors taking center James Wiseman from the University of Memphis and the Charlotte Hornets choosing point guard LaMelo Ball, who had played professionally for the Illawarra Hawks in Australia's National Basketball League.[2] While the top six picks were all American college or domestic prospects, the round included notable international selections, such as France's Killian Hayes at No. 7 to the Detroit Pistons and Israel's Deni Avdija at No. 9 to the Washington Wizards.[54]| Pick | Player | Position | Team | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Edwards | G | Minnesota Timberwolves | Georgia |
| 2 | James Wiseman | C | Golden State Warriors | Memphis |
| 3 | LaMelo Ball | G | Charlotte Hornets | Illawarra Hawks (Australia) |
| 4 | Patrick Williams | F | Chicago Bulls | Florida State |
| 5 | Isaac Okoro | F | Cleveland Cavaliers | Auburn |
| 6 | Onyeka Okongwu | C | Atlanta Hawks | USC |
| 7 | Killian Hayes | G | Detroit Pistons | ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) |
| 8 | Obi Toppin | F | New York Knicks | Dayton |
| 9 | Deni Avdija | F | Washington Wizards | Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
| 10 | Jalen Smith | F/C | Phoenix Suns | Maryland |
| 11 | Devin Vassell | G | San Antonio Spurs | Florida State |
| 12 | Tyrese Haliburton | G | Sacramento Kings | Iowa State |
| 13 | Kira Lewis Jr. | G | New Orleans Pelicans | Alabama |
| 14 | Aaron Nesmith | G/F | Boston Celtics | Vanderbilt |
| 15 | Cole Anthony | G | Orlando Magic | North Carolina |
| 16 | Isaiah Stewart | C | Portland Trail Blazers | Washington |
| 17 | Aleksej Pokusevski | F/C | Minnesota Timberwolves | Olympiacos (Greece) |
| 18 | Josh Green | G | Dallas Mavericks | Arizona |
| 19 | Saddiq Bey | F | Brooklyn Nets | Villanova |
| 20 | Precious Achiuwa | F/C | Miami Heat | Memphis |
| 21 | Tyrese Maxey | G | Philadelphia 76ers | Kentucky |
| 22 | Zeke Nnaji | F | Denver Nuggets | Arizona |
| 23 | Leandro Bolmaro | G | New York Knicks | FC Barcelona (Spain) |
| 24 | R.J. Hampton | G | Milwaukee Bucks | New Zealand Breakers (Australia) |
| 25 | Immanuel Quickley | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | Kentucky |
| 26 | Payton Pritchard | G | Boston Celtics | Oregon |
| 27 | Udoka Azubuike | C | Utah Jazz | Kansas |
| 28 | Jaden McDaniels | F | Los Angeles Lakers | Washington |
| 29 | Malachi Flynn | G | Toronto Raptors | San Diego State |
| 30 | Desmond Bane | G | Boston Celtics | TCU |
Second-Round Selections
The second round of the 2020 NBA Draft consisted of picks 31 through 60, emphasizing developmental prospects, under-the-radar college seniors, and international talents who often signed two-way contracts or were traded immediately to teams seeking depth.[3] This round highlighted the draft's depth, with several selections viewed as high-value acquisitions for their potential to contribute as role players or specialists without the financial commitments of first-rounders. Trades were frequent, reshaping rosters as teams maneuvered for fits in their systems.[3]| Pick | Drafting Team | Player | Position | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Dallas Mavericks | Tyrell Terry | G | Stanford | - |
| 32 | Charlotte Hornets | Vernon Carey Jr. | C | Duke | - |
| 33 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Daniel Oturu | C | Minnesota | Traded to New York Knicks, then to Los Angeles Clippers |
| 34 | Philadelphia 76ers | Theo Maledon | G | ASVEL (France) | Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 35 | Sacramento Kings (from Detroit via Portland, Orlando, and Philadelphia) | Xavier Tillman Sr. | F/C | Michigan State | Traded to Memphis Grizzlies |
| 36 | Philadelphia 76ers (from New York via Indiana) | Tyler Bey | F | Colorado | Traded to Dallas Mavericks |
| 37 | Washington Wizards (from Chicago via New Orleans) | Vit Krejci | G | Zaragoza (Spain) | Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 38 | Utah Jazz (from Charlotte via Detroit) | Saben Lee | G | Vanderbilt | Traded to Detroit Pistons |
| 39 | New Orleans Pelicans (from Washington) | Elijah Hughes | F | Syracuse | Traded to Utah Jazz |
| 40 | Memphis Grizzlies | Robert Woodard | F | Mississippi State | Traded to Sacramento Kings |
| 41 | San Antonio Spurs | Tre Jones | G | Duke | - |
| 42 | New Orleans Pelicans (from Sacramento via Boston, Portland, and Philadelphia) | Nick Richards | C | Kentucky | Traded to Charlotte Hornets |
| 43 | Sacramento Kings | Jahmi'us Ramsey | G | Texas Tech | - |
| 44 | Chicago Bulls (from Milwaukee via New Orleans) | Marko Simonovic | C | KK Mega Basket (Serbia) | - |
| 45 | Milwaukee Bucks | Jordan Nwora | F | Louisville | - |
| 46 | Portland Trail Blazers | CJ Elleby | F | Washington State | - |
| 47 | Boston Celtics | Yam Madar | G | Hapoel Gilboa/Galil (Israel) | - |
| 48 | Golden State Warriors | Nico Mannion | G | Arizona | - |
| 49 | Philadelphia 76ers (from LA Clippers via New York) | Isaiah Joe | G | Arkansas | - |
| 50 | Atlanta Hawks | Skylar Mays | G | LSU | - |
| 51 | Golden State Warriors (from Denver via Minnesota and Brooklyn) | Justinian Jessup | G | Boise State | - |
| 52 | Sacramento Kings (from Toronto via Portland and Philadelphia) | Kenyon Martin Jr. | F | IMG Academy | Traded to Houston Rockets |
| 53 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Cassius Winston | G | Michigan State | Traded to Washington Wizards |
| 54 | Indiana Pacers | Cassius Stanley | G | Duke | - |
| 55 | Brooklyn Nets | Jay Scrubb | G | John A. Logan College | Traded to Los Angeles Clippers |
| 56 | Charlotte Hornets (from Denver) | Grant Riller | G | College of Charleston | - |
| 57 | Los Angeles Clippers (from Orlando via Philadelphia) | Reggie Perry | F/C | Mississippi State | Traded to Brooklyn Nets |
| 58 | Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami via Boston and Memphis) | Paul Reed | F/C | DePaul | - |
| 59 | Toronto Raptors (from San Antonio via Indiana and New Orleans) | Jalen Harris | G | Nevada | - |
| 60 | New Orleans Pelicans (from Milwaukee via Utah and New Orleans) | Sam Merrill | G | Utah State | Traded to Milwaukee Bucks |