The 2004 NBA Draft
A comprehensive academic exploration of a pivotal NBA draft class, examining its structure, key selections, and the enduring legacies of its most prominent players.
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Draft Overview
General Information
The 2004 NBA draft, a significant event in professional basketball, was convened on June 24, 2004. The proceedings unfolded at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a venue synonymous with major sporting and entertainment spectacles. The event was broadcast live on ESPN, commencing at 7:00 PM EDT, allowing a broad audience to witness the selection of future NBA talent. A total of 59 players were selected across two rounds, marking a substantial influx of new talent into the league.
Lottery & Special Picks
Prior to the draft, the NBA draft lottery determined the top selections for non-playoff teams from the 2003โ04 season. The Orlando Magic, despite holding only a 25 percent probability, secured the coveted first overall pick. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls followed, receiving the second and third selections, respectively. Notably, the Charlotte Bobcats, participating as an expansion team, were automatically assigned the fourth pick and thus did not partake in the lottery. Furthermore, the Minnesota Timberwolves faced a penalty, forfeiting their first-round pick due to salary cap violations, a decision that underscored the league's commitment to financial regulations.
International Impact
The 2004 NBA draft distinguished itself with a remarkable global representation. Approximately 40% of the selected players hailed from countries outside the United States, a proportion that stood as the highest influx of international players in the modern NBA draft era until it was surpassed by the 2016 NBA draft. This class also featured an unprecedented number of Russian players, with four individuals selected, marking the highest representation from a single non-U.S. country in a single draft until five French players were chosen in 2016. This trend highlighted the increasing globalization of basketball talent and the NBA's expanding international scouting efforts.
Draft Highlights
Immediate Rookie Impact
The 2004 draft class quickly demonstrated its talent, with several players making an immediate impact in their rookie seasons. Emeka Okafor, selected second overall by the Charlotte Bobcats (their inaugural rookie draft pick as an expansion franchise), was recognized for his outstanding performance by being named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Furthermore, Ben Gordon, the third overall pick from the Chicago Bulls, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first rookie in NBA history to earn the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, a testament to his exceptional contributions off the bench.
Enduring Legacies
This draft class produced numerous players who would go on to have distinguished careers, shaping the league for years. Dwight Howard, the first overall pick, developed into a dominant force, achieving an NBA Championship, eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA selections, and three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. He also holds the unique distinction of being the only high school player to start all 82 games in his rookie season. Andre Iguodala, the ninth pick, became a four-time NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2015. Al Jefferson also earned an All-NBA team selection, while Devin Harris and Jameer Nelson were among the four other players from this class to be named NBA All-Stars.
High School Talent
The 2004 NBA draft is particularly notable for the significant number of players who entered the league directly from high school, with several being selected within a few picks of each other. This phenomenon underscored a trend of highly touted young athletes bypassing collegiate basketball to enter the professional ranks. This draft class holds the distinction of being the most recent with no remaining active players in the NBA, following Andre Iguodala's retirement in 2023, marking the end of an era for this influential group of athletes.
Draft Selections
Table Legend
To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the draft selections, the following legend clarifies the annotations used in the table below:
- ^: Denotes a player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- *: Denotes a player selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-NBA Team.
- +: Denotes a player selected for at least one All-Star Game.
- x: Denotes a player selected for at least one All-NBA Team.
- #: Denotes a player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game.
- ~: Denotes a player selected as NBA Rookie of the Year.
Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to FIBA rules.
First Round Picks
The first round of the 2004 NBA Draft featured 29 selections, with one pick forfeited by the Minnesota Timberwolves. This round introduced a wealth of talent that would significantly impact the league.
Notable Undrafted
Impact Beyond the Draft
While the draft is the primary pathway to the NBA, a select group of players from the 2004 class demonstrated that talent and perseverance can lead to professional careers even without being formally selected. These individuals, despite not hearing their names called on draft night, went on to play at least one game in the NBA, highlighting the depth of talent available and the unpredictable nature of player development.
Undrafted Players Who Played in the NBA
The following table lists notable players from the 2004 class who were not drafted but subsequently made appearances in NBA regular-season or playoff games.
Early Entrants
Early Entry Trends
The 2004 NBA draft witnessed a significant surge in early entry declarations, with a then-record high of 92 players initially filing for the draft. This trend reflected a growing desire among young athletes to enter the professional league sooner. However, this year also set a record for withdrawals, with 52 underclassmen (from college, overseas, or high school) opting to remove their names from consideration, ultimately leaving 40 total underclassmen officially declaring their entry. This dynamic interplay of declarations and withdrawals highlights the strategic decisions involved in pursuing an NBA career.
College Underclassmen
A substantial number of college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance, foregoing their remaining collegiate eligibility to pursue professional opportunities.
High School Players
The 2004 draft marked the tenth consecutive year that at least one high school player declared for the NBA draft directly. This draft is particularly significant as it was the third (and currently final) instance where a #1 overall pick was selected straight out of high school. Several other prominent high school talents, such as LaMarcus Aldridge, initially declared but later withdrew to attend college.
International Players
The global reach of the NBA was evident in the number of international players who successfully applied for early draft entrance, showcasing talent from various basketball leagues worldwide.
Eligibility Criteria
U.S. Player Eligibility
For players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players, automatic eligibility for the NBA draft is determined by specific conditions. These include having no remaining college eligibility, or if they graduated from a U.S. high school but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years must have elapsed since their high school class graduated. Additionally, signing and playing under a contract with a professional basketball team outside the NBA, anywhere in the world, also confers automatic eligibility.
International Player Eligibility
International players are subject to a distinct set of criteria for automatic draft eligibility. They must be at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft; specifically for the 2004 draft, players born on or before December 31, 1982, were automatically eligible. Alternatively, if an international player has signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA but located within the United States, and has played under that contract, they also become automatically eligible.
Other Eligible Players
Beyond the early entrants and standard automatic eligibility, some players qualify through specific professional pathways. The table below details other automatically eligible players, often those who have played professionally outside of the traditional college-to-NBA route.
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References
References
- Born in what is now South Sudan, Luol Deng became a naturalized British citizen in 2006 and played for Great Britain in international competitions.
- Donta Smith represented Venezuela in international competitions later in his career starting in 2013.
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional sports analysis or scouting advice. The information provided on this website should not be used as a basis for making professional or financial decisions related to sports, player evaluations, or team management. Always refer to official NBA records, reputable sports analytics, and consult with qualified professionals for specific insights or strategic planning. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.
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