With the 2024 NBA Draft just a few days away, what was once believed to be an unpredictable top order is becoming more and more clear, with Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher the new betting favorite to be selected first overall by the Atlanta Hawks.
Former favorite Alexandre Sarr is seemingly a lock to be taken second overall by the Washington Wizards, with sharpshooter Reed Sheppard expected to land with the Houston Rockets.
Here's a look at the updated betting odds for who will be taken with each of the first three picks on Wednesday, June 26.
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2024 NBA Draft: Who will go first overall?
Odds as June 24, 2024
2024 NBA Draft: Who will go Second overall?
Odds as June 24, 2024
2024 NBA Draft: Who Will Go Third Overall?
Odds as June 24, 2024
2024 NBA Draft Exact Order Odds: Top 3
Odds as June 24, 2024
Predicting the 2024 nBA first overall pick: Zaccharie Risacher
Basketball is in Zaccharie Risacher's blood, as his father Stephane Risacher was a six-time French League All-Star and Spanish League champion in 2006. Being able to defend both guards and bigs is a welcome skill for anyone at the small forward position, which young Zaccharie has showcased as a member of France's JL Bourg-en-Bresse.
He doesn't command the ball, nor has he shown a knack for creating his own shot, but Risacher does convert his attempts at a high rate and isn't prone to making too many errors.
Many mock drafts have begun projecting Risacher to be the fresh face going first overall, as Atlanta has yet to have Sarr in for a workout with reports emerging that he'd rather end up in Washington.
Predicting the 2024 nBA first overall pick: Alexandre Sarr
While 19-year-old Alexandre Sarr is another 7-footer out of France, which will unfortunately draw some comparisons to the unicorn that is Wembanyama, the similarities stop there.
Sarr has incredible promise nonetheless. His physical gifts at his height and length with a 7-foot-4 and a half wingspan can't be ignored, and his offensive repertoire is far more refined than some may realize for a player only averaging 9.7 points with the Perth Wildcats.
You can't teach size, and Sarr has that in spades. There are questions surrounding his efficiency as a shooter (shooting under 30 percent from 3-point range and just over 70 percent at the free-throw line) and his inconsistent play overall, but in terms of long-term upside, Sarr may provide the most for any bottom-feeding team looking to strike it big.
Where will Bronny James be drafted?
The wild card in this entire class is Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers megastar LeBron James, whose made it clear that he would like to play alongside Bronny before his own career comes to an end. The 19-year-old prospect has +30000 odds to go first to Atlanta, although he's realistically being pegged as a late second rounder with the reality that he could ultimately go undrafted.
If Bronny were to be picked, and considering LeBron could turn down his player option for 2024-25 and hit unrestricted free agency, there's a chance one of the league's 30 teams could simply take Bronny with the hope that LeBron would come along for the ride, as well.
Bronny averaged 4.8 points primarily as a reserve across 25 appearances for the Trojans, and realistically could have benefited from another year or two in a college setting to develop his game.
Last 10 NBA First Overall Picks
Wembanyama is the most recent first-overall pick to play for a team outside the US — the last was in 2006, when Andrea Bargnani (Italy) was selected by the Toronto Raptors. He’s added to a long list of great players, most of whom are now the star players on their respective squad.
NBA Draft betting trends
NBA futures are incredibly exciting to bet on, and the draft emphasizes that perfectly; we're always due for a bit of drama and shocking switches come draft day. That being said, it can also be tricky to spot trends year-over-year – with different teams drafting each year, and the calibre and position of players mattering so heavily, teams will adjust their needs with each prospective player.
Regardless, consult our NBA Draft betting guide and check out a few of these trends to help you handicap a potential futures bet on the first-overall pick and more:
- Positionally, the first pick in the NBA draft is fairly spread out. Over the past 10 years, three centers, three guards, and four forwards have been selected.
- Only three out of the previous ten first-overall picks have been named Rookie of the Year.
- Most NBA prospects will only play a single year of college ball before joining the league – Wembanyama is the only player in ten years to break this rule, playing three years in France’s LNB.
- Duke produces the highest amount of first-overall picks, with five in its history. Kentucky holds the record for the most overall draft picks, with twenty-two in total.
- The NBA’s international reach has opened the potential for players born outside the USA to be selected first overall – five of the last ten have been non-American.