The2004 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2004, atThe Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was broadcast live onESPN at 7:00 pm (EDT). In thisdraft,National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players. The NBA announced that 56 college and high school players and 38 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the2004 draft.[1] On May 26, theNBA draft lottery was conducted for the teams that did not make theNBA playoffs in the2003–04 NBA season. TheOrlando Magic, who had a 25 percent chance of obtaining the first selection, won the lottery, while theLos Angeles Clippers and theChicago Bulls were second and third respectively. As an expansion team, theCharlotte Bobcats had been assigned the fourth selection in the draft and did not participate in the lottery.[2] TheMinnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round pick due tosalary cap violations.[3]
By the end of the draft, around 40% of the players selected in it were born from countries outside the United States. It would remain the highest influx of international players selected in the modern NBA draft era until the2016 NBA draft, where almost half of the selected players were born in countries outside the US. In addition, four of the players selected in the draft wereRussians, which not only marked the highest number of players born in that region to be taken in one draft, but also was the highest representation of a country other than the US in one draft until 2016 when fiveFrenchmen would be taken in the draft.
The second-overall pick,Emeka Okafor out ofConnecticut, the Bobcats' historical first rookie draft pick back when they were considered an expansion franchise,[4] was namedRookie of the Year. Third-overall pickBen Gordon, also out of Connecticut, earned theSixth Man of the Year Award, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to do so.[5]
Dwight Howard has become anNBA Champion, eight-time All-Star, has received eight All-NBA selections, and a three-timeNBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee. He also had the distinction as the only NBA player straight out of high school to start all 82 games as a rookie. There are also four other players that would be named All-Stars at some point in their careers, andAl Jefferson would be named to an All-NBA team.Andre Iguodala would win four championships with theGolden State Warriors and was namedFinals MVP in 2015. The draft is also notable for multiple players coming straight from high school being drafted within a few picks from each other. This is currently the most recent draft class with no remaining players active in the NBA, as Iguodala announced his retirement in 2023.
Dwight Howard, the 1st pick of the Orlando MagicEmeka Okafor, the 2nd pick of the Charlotte BobcatsDevin Harris, the 5th pick of the Washington Wizards (traded to Dallas)Luol Deng, the 7th pick of the Phoenix Suns (traded to Chicago)Andre Iguodala, the 9th pick of the Philadelphia 76ersAl Jefferson, the 15th pick of the Boston CelticsJ. R. Smith, the 18th pick of the New Orleans HornetsJameer Nelson, the 20th pick of the Denver Nuggets (traded to Orlando)Tony Allen, the 25th pick of the Boston Celtics
^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 toFIBA rules.
After seeing a couple of years where they missed the previous year of 75 underclassmen testing their early entry in2001, this year saw an at the time record-high 92 players declare their initial entry into this year's draft. However, this year also saw an at the time record high 52 underclassmen from college, overseas, or high school withdraw their names from the draft, thus leaving only 40 total underclassmen officially declaring their entry into the NBA draft. The followingcollege basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[42]
This would be the tenth straight year in a row where at least one high school player would declare their entry into the NBA draft directly out of high school after previously only allowing it one time back in1975. It would also be famous for marking the third (and currently final) time that a #1 pick was selected directly out of high school. This year also saw players likeLaMarcus Aldridge, Jermaine Bell,Ivan Chiriaev, andMaurice Shaw all initially declare entry for this year's draft, but ultimately withdraw from it and decide to enter college instead. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance.[42]
Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They have no remaining college eligibility.
If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under the contract.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates players born on or before December 31, 1982, were automatically eligible for the 2004 draft.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBAwithin the United States, and have played under that contract.
^abcThe Clippers traded No. 2 pick to the Bobcats for No. 4 and No. 33 picks on June 21, 2004. The Bobcats agreed to selectPredrag Drobnjak from the Clippers in the Expansion Selection. "Bobcats deal with Clippers, move up to No. 2".USA Today. June 22, 2004.Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. RetrievedMay 23, 2007.
^Born in what is now South Sudan, Luol Deng became a naturalized British citizen in 2006 and played for Great Britain in international competitions.
^abThe Suns traded the No. 7 pick to the Bulls for a second-round pick (No. 31) and $3 million in cash on the draft day. "Suns trade draft pick". Associated Press. June 24, 2004.
^The Knicks traded this pick along withAntonio McDyess,Howard Eisley,Charlie Ward,Maciej Lampe, the rights toMiloš Vujanić and a future first-round pick (protected through 2010) to the Suns forStephon Marbury,Penny Hardaway andCezary Trybanski on January 5, 2004. Sheridan, Chris (January 5, 2004). "Marbury traded to Knicks". Associated Press. The Suns traded this pick along withTom Gugliotta, a future first-round pick (acquired from New York and is protected through 2010) and cash considerations to the Jazz forKeon Clark andBen Handlogten on February 19, 2004. "Jazz send Clark, Handlogten to Suns for Gugliotta". Associated Press. February 19, 2004.
^abThe Pistons traded the No. 25 pick along withChucky Atkins andLindsey Hunter to the Celtics; andBobby Sura andŽeljko Rebrača and the No. 17 pick (received from the Bucks) to the Hawks. In return, the Pistons receivedMike James from the Celtics andRasheed Wallace from the Hawks. The Celtics also traded Chris Mills to the Hawks. The trade was announced on February 19, 2004. Golen, Jimmy (February 19, 2004). "Celtics get Atkins, Hunter draft pick for James". Associated Press.
^abThe Rockets traded the No. 21 pick along withGlen Rice and two future second-round draft picks (from Chicago; No. 51 in the 2005 NBA draft and No. 46 in the2006 NBA draft) to the Jazz forJohn Amaechi and the No. 55 pick (received from Sacramento in the Keon Clark trade) on September 30, 2003. "Jazz trade John Amaechi". NBA.Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. RetrievedMay 24, 2007.
^The Jazz traded the rights to Pavel Podkolzine to the Mavericks for a future first-round pick (#27 in the 2005 NBA draft) on the draft day. "Jazz Draft Three; Trade One". NBA. Archived fromthe original on April 29, 2009. RetrievedMay 24, 2007.
^The Nets traded the draft rights to Viktor Khryapa to the Trail Blazers for Eddie Gill and cash considerations on the draft day. "Nets trade 22nd pick overall to Portland". ESPN.Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. RetrievedMay 24, 2007.
^The SuperSonics traded this pick to the Grizzlies for a 2005 second-round draft pick (No. 48) and cash considerations on draft day. "Grizzlies sign Emmett, Burks to two-year deals". Associated Press. July 7, 2004.
^The Suns traded this pick to the Magic forDonnell Harvey on December 23, 2003. "Suns get Harvey in trade with Magic". Associated Press. December 23, 2003.
^The Magic traded this pick to the Grizzlies for cash considerations on the draft day. "Grizzlies sign Emmett, Burks to two-year deals". Associated Press. July 7, 2004.
^The Raptors traded this pick to the Bulls for a 2003 second-round pick (#45 pick) on June 26, 2003. Gray, Kevin (June 27, 2003). "Toronto trades for Bonner".The Union Leader.
^The Cavaliers traded this pick along withLamond Murray to the Raptors forMichael Stewart and a future first-round pick (#22 in the 2007 NBA draft) on September 26, 2002. "Cavaliers Trade Murray to Raptors".The Washington Post. September 26, 2002.
^The Warriors traded this pick to the 76ers forJiří Welsch on June 26, 2002. The 76ers traded this pick along withMonty Williams and cash considerations to the Magic for a conditional second-round pick on December 23, 2003. "Sixers trade Monty Williams to Magic for draft pick". Associated Press. December 23, 2003. The Magic traded this pick to the Hawks forAnthony Johnson on February 24, 2000. Sheridan, Chris (February 24, 2000). "Only one minor deal as trading deadline passes". Associated Press.
^The Hawks traded the draft rights to Viktor Sanikidze to the Spurs for a future second round draft pick (#59 in the 2005 NBA draft) and cash considerations on the draft day. "Spurs Acquire Sanikidze from Atlanta". NBA.Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. RetrievedMay 16, 2009.
^abThe Kings traded No. 55 along withKeon Clark and a 2007 second-round pick to the Jazz for the No. 48 pick on August 5, 2003. "Kings Trade Keon Clark". NBA.Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. RetrievedMay 25, 2007.
^The Nuggets traded this pick to the Magic forDon Reid and a future first-round pick (#22 in the 2006 NBA draft) on August 1, 2002. "Nuggets acquire F Don Reid". Associated Press. August 1, 2002. The Magic traded this pick along withMike Miller,Ryan Humphrey, and a first-round pick (#27 in the2003 NBA draft) to the Grizzlies forDrew Gooden, Gordan Giricek and cash considerations on February 19, 2003. "Magic ship Miller to Grizzlies". Canada: CBC. February 21, 2003.Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. RetrievedMay 25, 2007.
^The Rockets traded this pick to the Nuggets andKenny Thomas to the 76ers; the Nuggets tradedJames Posey to the Rockets; the 76ers traded a first-round pick (#16 in the 2005 NBA draft) along withArt Long andMark Bryant to the Nuggets in a three-team deal on December 18, 2002. "76ers get Thomas, Posey to Rockets in three-team deal". Agence France-Presse. December 19, 2002. The Nuggets traded this pick to the Mavericks for a second-round pick (#57 pick in 2003 NBA draft) on June 26, 2003. "Xue Yuyang Joins Denver After Dallas Draft".China Internet Information Center. June 28, 2003.Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. RetrievedMay 25, 2007.
^abThe Rockets traded the draft rights toLuis Flores and cash considerations to the Mavericks for the draft rights to Vasileios Spanoulis on the draft day. "Rockets Trade for Spanoulis in 2004 NBA Draft". NBA.Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. RetrievedMay 16, 2009.
^The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Spurs for the rights toGordan Giricek on June 28, 2002. "Grizzlies sign Croatian guard". Associated Press. July 17, 2002.
^Marcus Douthit representedVenezuela in international competitions later in his career starting in 2011, but was a US citizen at the time of the draft.
^abc"2004 Underclassmen".The Draft Review. August 4, 2007.Archived from the original on December 25, 2022. RetrievedDecember 25, 2022.
^"Adam Caporn Bio".Saint Mary's College of California. May 27, 2011.Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. RetrievedMay 20, 2023.
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Macedonia
United States
Iran
Luol Deng – F,Duke (freshman)
Sani Ibrahim – F,Gulf Coast CC (sophomore)
Andris Biedriņš – F,Skonto (Latvia)
Arturas Kaubrys – F,Neptūnas (Lithuania)
Sergei Monia – G/F,CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Peter John Ramos – C,Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico)
Ha Seung-jin – C,Yonsei University (South Korea)
Jerry Sokoloski – C,Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary (Canada)
Sasha Vujačić – G,Snaidero Udine (Italy)
Adam Caporn
