2021 NBA Draft: Time, how to watch/live stream, top picks, first round order
The NBA Draft is finally here. After a delayed start to the 2020-21 season and nine days removed from the Milwaukee Bucks’ first NBA Championship since 1971, the next generation of professional players will be selected.
All eyes will be on the Detroit Pistons, who have the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft. They last picked first in 1970, taking St. Bonaventure center Bob Lanier, who spent 10 seasons with the organization. This time, Detroit will most likely pick Oklahoma State’s 6-foot-8 point guard Cade Cunningham.
The 19-year-old traveled to Michigan for a pre-draft workout with the Pistons earlier this week, and already said that Detroit fits him. He also signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike – which he wore at OSU, where Cunningham was named a consensus All-America.
Other top prospects in this year’s draft include shooting guard Jalen Green (G League Ignite), center Evan Mobley (Southern Cal) and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs. When they are picked and where they go will be determined Thursday night.
The Houston Rockets have three total picks in the NBA Draft, and all three are in the first round. They won the second overall pick after posting a 17-55 record this past season, and then will make back-to-back selections after acquiring Portland’s No. 23 and Milwaukee’s No. 24 picks.
Also taking to the podium three times on Thursday will be the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the No. 6, 16 and 18 picks in the draft. In total, the Thunder have six picks, the most selections this year.
When is the NBA Draft?
The 2021 NBA Draft will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. This year’s event will be hosted at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be in-person, with about 20 prospects scheduled to attend.
How to watch on television
Both rounds of the NBA Draft will be live on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET. ABC also will televise the first round of the draft live for the first time.
How to stream
The NBA Draft also will be streamed on fuboTV, which requires a subscription or a free seven-day trial.
NBA draft order
Detroit
Houston
Cleveland
Toronto
Orlando
Oklahoma City
Golden State (from Minnesota)
Orlando (from Chicago)
Sacramento
New Orleans
Charlotte
San Antonio
Indiana
Golden State
Washington
Oklahoma City (from Boston)
Memphis
Oklahoma City (from Miami via the LA Clippers, Philadelphia and Phoenix)
New York
Atlanta
New York (from Dallas)
Houston (from Portland)
Houston (from Milwaukee)
LA Clippers
Denver
Brooklyn
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Utah
Seven teams will not make a selection in the first round, pending any trades: the Trail Blazers, Bucks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Contact Alyssa Hertel at ahertel@usatoday.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2021 NBA Draft: Time, TV/stream info, first round order