​​A Taxman, a Frenchman and Three Days into College – The names that define the 2024 NBA draft class

We know, we’ve heard, it wasn’t the greatest. What was already a tough act to follow with the 2023 draft class headlined by Victor Wembanyama, something I doubt we’ll ever see again. 2024’s class was also without the crown jewel prospect that typically announces itself to scouts and fans, making it more akin to the infamous 2013 draft led by Anthony Bennett and Bill Simmons’s accompanying “Woah” as his name was read out by then commissioner David Stern.

Though a silver lining always presents itself, even though it is universally agreed that the 2013 draft class is the worst in league history, it still went on to produce two Hall of Famers in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert (yes, four-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert). On average, each draft goes on to produce five all-stars, and referencing 2013, we know good players will come out of this year, but who will they be?

Zaccharie Risacher

PPG 12.6 RPG 3.6 APG 1.2 FG%: 45.8 3P%: 35.5 3PM: 122 3PA: 344

Many forget that the Atlanta Hawks even jumped 9 spots in the draft lottery with its 3% odds to select the Frenchman, its representative of the full-scale changes the new draft lottery odds have had leveling out the opportunity for teams to select blue chip prospects, such as the position playoff chasing Dallas Mavericks find themselves this year with Cooper Flagg. 

The rich problem for the Hawks is that Risacher was unlike the blue chip prospects Cooper Flagg and Wembanyama were. It’s emphasised by the amount of deliberation that took place leading up to selection night, with fellow Frenchman Alex Sarr and UConn centre Donovan Clingan all vying for the berth of being the number 1 pick.

Eventually, the Hawks made their choice (after some Eli Manning strong-arming by Alex Sarr to force his way to Washington), and after a season many have forgotten, even NBA media darlings, Risacher has developed into quite the player after his rookie season.

Risacher isn't a primary ball handler or someone who can leverage his shotmaking ability to create for others. He’s what they project to be a high-level complementary piece with 3 & D qualities. Now, whilst it is lazy to boil down the capabilities of a player to only two aspects of the game, they are fundamental needs for most teams’ roster construction, and slot seamlessly alongside existing primary creators like the Hawks have in Trae Young. Risacher’s fluid mechanics with his three-ball and ability to catch above the break and release quickly make him a formidable partner for one of the best passers in the league. 

Though jittery at best, Risacher has shown glimpses of on-ball creation, typically on the bounce and against closeout defenders that respect the Frenchman’s 35.5% from distance. Leveraging that advantage, Risacher would use lengthy steps to drive to the paint where he shows great deceleration to make a shot around the rim, not as systematic as you would want, and is more on the creative side, but shotmaking is shotmaking at the end of the day.

All in all, Risacher isn’t your typical franchise-altering number one pick, but he sure as ain’t a bust like Anthony Bennett. A holistic viewpoint is needed to recognise his talents and flaws, and I believe he is someone capable of being one of the best tertiary options in the league. 

Projection: 1 or 2 time All-Star

Reed Shepppard

PPG 4.4 RPG 1.5 APG 1.4 FG%: 35.1 3P%: 33.8 3PM: 48 3PA: 142

Being a Houston Rockets fan, bias exists in my evaluation of Reed Sheppard, removing the unconscious bias I hold. I can comfortably say that Sheppard is on track to be one of the greatest point guards of our generation.

Alright, I jest, but lead evaluator and GM Rafael Stone has a proven track record in the draft, extracting value across the board from names such as Alperen Sengun, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason. The Kentucky guard did not start in his lone season with the Wildcats, with now Arkansas coach John Calipari deploying Sheppard and fellow NBA rookie Rob Dillingham as impetus off the bench. 

What was clear from the college tape was that Sheppard is an effortless shooter with arguably the best mechanics in the class, it was seconded by a team-best 52% from distance on 4.4 attempts per game. What also impressed scouts and subsequently the Rockets’ front office was otherworldly athleticism for his size, and a defensive tape that didn’t correlate with his measurables.

Sheppard has what they call a unique read of the game, basketball IQ, and instinct that sees him anticipate passing lanes for nearly 2.5 steals a game. It’s even more predominantly seen in his on-ball reps where he shows great signs in his pick and roll actions as the ball handler. It’s easy for players to get lost in their decision making after the screen is set, weighing between driving to the rim and making the extra pass. Sheppard possesses the awareness to slow down in the action and assess between a drive, pass or shot. 

Though used sparingly by the two-seeded Houston Rockets this season, his execution in the PnR and exceptional passing ability will be gravely needed by a team that struggled mightily in half-court efficiency, with a league-worst 0.94 points per possession. Sheppard's ability to create his own three off the dribble, leveraging his driving and passing ability, should see coach Ime Udoka and Rafael Stone’s unwavering belief in the point guard come good.

Projection: Multi-time All-Star

Jared McCain

PPG 15.3 RPG 2.4 APG 2.6 FG%: 46.0 3P%: 38.3 3PM: 51 3PA: 133

Jared McCain was the best rookie performer in the 2024 class, no ifs and buts about it. Before his meniscus tear that ended his season prematurely, McCain was performing at a rate only matched by Michael Jordan, and I’m not speaking in superlatives. Thrust into the starting lineup after separate injuries to lead duo Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, McCain averaged 28.2 points per game over a six-game span, the most by a rookie starter, eclipsing Michael Jordan’s record of 27.7 PPG. 

Extrapolated across an entire season, you would expect the numbers to return to some level of normalcy. However, we can gather much from that stretch, beginning with his efficiency. McCain's field goal percentage was 46%, which is typical for combo guards like himself, but his 38.7% from three on 5.8 attempts a game is more indicative of a future All-Star guard. The variation and difficulty of the shots McCain was making were also exemplified by how much of it was unassisted. It shows him to be someone who can work within an offence and create offence for himself and teammates at a high level.

This was something also present at McCain’s time at Duke, where he fit effortlessly into Jon Sycher’s new system and pretty much played Tyrese Proctor out of a draft grade. Having gone to school just down the road from McCain for his one-and-done season at Duke, he was easily the most feared player at UNC Chapel Hill, but paradoxically universally loved for his outward style. McCain has matched his star qualities off the court with superstar performances on it, marrying the two will see TikTok be an instrumental force in this league and for Joel Embiid’s chances of making it out the Eastern Conference's Semi Finals (I jest again, come back healthy Joel).

Projection: All-NBA 3rd Team