The 2024 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and the Atlanta Hawks hold the first overall pick. While this year’s class isn’t as highly coveted as in years prior, there is still a lot of appeal to the draft for fans.
The most obvious is the players. While there may not be any standout prospects like Victor Wembanyama, there is a multitude of strong players with a lot to add to championship-caliber teams. Another would be the locale. Draft night is always a spectacle for NBA fans, from players showing up in their best fits, to the venue being dolled up as much as possible.
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But where is this year’s venue? Is it the same venue every year? Here’s everything to know about where the 2024 NBA Draft will be held.
Where is the NBA draft in 2024?
This year’s draft will be held at Barclays Center in New York. The draft starts on Wednesday, with coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Is the draft always held at Barclays Center?
Yes, but it wasn’t always that way. The draft has been held at Barclays Center every year since 2013, except for the 2020 COVID draft.
Prior to 2013, the NBA had held the draft in various areas around the Northeastern United States. Before then, the NBA draft would move around the country, being held in such places from MCI Center in Washington, D.C. (1999) to the SkyDome in Toronto (1995). The NBA has never offered a definitive answer as to why the draft is now held at Barclays Center every year.
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Why might the draft be held at Barclays Center every year?
Although an answer has never been given, that doesn’t mean there are no obvious reasons why the NBA opted for this move. For one, it’s very close to the NBA’s headquarters in Manhattan and Secaucus, New Jersey. Furthermore, it’s obviously much easier to get potential draftees to attend if the draft is held in a major city. As Sports Illustrated‘s Ryan Phillips writes, “It’s much easier to get those players to New York than it would be if it was in a smaller city like Sacramento.”
How to watch the NBA draft
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When: Wednesday, June 26 – Thursday, June 27, 2024
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Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
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Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
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Cable TV: ESPN, ABC
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 NBA Draft location: Where is the draft taking place?