Around the NBA: 2021 Draft recap

The 2021 NBA Draft is in the books — Who went where, and how does this year’s draft class stack up?

Coming out of a strange year for not only NCAA basketball but hoops around the world, the young men in the 2021 NBA Draft have had an interesting road to get here. From the number one pick to the final selection, dreams were realized last night, and we love to see it.

Not everyone gets to achieve their dreams, and unfortunately, not everyone even gets a fair chance.

In the kind of classy move we have come to expect from the modern NBA, Commissioner Adam Silver had some nice words for Terrance Clark. This Kentucky standout was expected to be a lottery pick but tragically lost his life in a car accident earlier this year.

Overall the tone of the evening was back to what we are used to from an NBA Draft. There was a consistent, exciting buzz as players and their families experienced elation. Trades and unexpected picks were occurring throughout. Fans and analysts wonder if they just drafted the next Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic. We are excited to find out.

We have had the privilege of covering some of these players (such as Cameron Thomas, pick 27 above, and Sharife Cooper, pick 48 below). The number of unseen hours packed into this list is staggering and one of our favorite parts here at The Basketball Movement. Hard work pays off.

Below is how things shook out:

First Round:

  1. Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

  2. Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite

  3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC

  4. Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

  5. Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

  6. Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia

  7. Golden State Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite

  8. Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Franz Wagner, F, Michigan

  9. Sacramento Kings: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

  10. Memphis Grizzlies (from Pelicans): Ziaire Williams, G, Stanford

  11. Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn

  12. San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Primo, G, Alabama

  13. Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, G, Oregon

  14. Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas

  15. Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga

  16. Houston Rockets (from Celtics via Thunder): Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey

  17. New Orleans Pelicans (from Grizzlies): Trey Murphy, G, Virginia

  18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Tre Mann, G, Florida

  19. Charlotte Hornets (from Knicks): Kai Jones, F/C, Texas

  20. Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

  21. Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks via Knicks): Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee

  22. Indiana Pacers (from Lakers via Wizards): Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky

  23. Houston Rockets (from Trail Blazers): Usman Garuba, F, Spain

  24. Houston Rockets (from Bucks): Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State

  25. New York Knicks (from Clippers): Quentin Grimes, G, Houston

  26. Denver Nuggets: Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, G, VCU

  27. Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Thomas, G, LSU

  28. Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee

  29. Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina

  30. Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz): Santi Aldama, F/C, Loyola (MD)

    Second Round:

  31. Washington Wizards (from Rockets via Bucks and Pacers): Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite

  32. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Pistons via Knicks): Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova

  33. Los Angeles Clippers (from Magic): Jason Preston, G, Ohio

  34. New York Knicks (from Thunder): Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania

  35. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers): Herb Jones, F, Alabama

  36. New York Knicks (from Timberwolves via Thunder): Miles McBride, G, West Virginia

  37. Charlotte Hornets (from Raptors via Pistons): JT Thor, F, Auburn

  38. Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois

  39. Sacramento Kings: Neemias Queta, C, Utah State

  40. Utah Jazz (from Bulls via Pelicans and Grizzlies): Jared Butler, G, Baylor

  41. San Antonio Spurs: Joe Wieskamp, F, Iowa

  42. Detroit Pistons (from Hornets): Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan

  43. Portland Trail Blazers (from Wizards via Pelicans): Greg Brown, F, Texas

  44. Brooklyn Nets (from Pacers): Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine

  45. Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, G, France

  46. Toronto Raptors (from Grizzlies): Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska

  47. Toronto Raptors (from Warriors): David Johnson, G, Louisville

  48. Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn

  49. Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks): Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton

  50. Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Filip Petrusev, F, Serbia

  51. Los Angeles Clippers (from Trail Blazers via Grizzlies and Pelicans): Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky

  52. Detroit Pistons (from Lakers): Luka Garza, C, Iowa

  53. Philadelphia 76ers (from Mavericks via Pelicans): Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky

  54. Milwaukee Bucks (via Pacers): Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Seton Hall

  55. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nuggets): Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Maryland

  56. Charlotte Hornets (from Clippers): Scottie Lewis, G, Florida

  57. Detroit Pistons (from Nets via Hornets): Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State

  58. New York Knicks (from Sixers): Jericho Sims, F, Texas

  59. Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State

  60. Milwaukee Bucks (from Jazz via Pacers): Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Greece