When Does the 2019 NBA Draft Start and What You Need to Know
As I sit here scrolling through basketball highlights, I can't help but feel that familiar excitement building up for draft season. The 2019 NBA Draft holds special significance for me personally because it marked the beginning of several fascinating career trajectories we're still watching unfold today. For those wondering about the timing, the main event kicked off at 7:00 PM Eastern Time on June 20, 2019, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. I remember clearing my schedule that evening, settling in with my notebook ready to track every pick and trade.
What many casual fans might not realize is how much preparation goes into these selections. Teams spend millions on scouting and analytics, yet there's always that element of unpredictability that makes draft night so compelling. I've attended several drafts in person, and the energy in that building is absolutely electric. The 2019 draft class has proven particularly interesting because while Zion Williamson dominated the headlines as the clear number one pick, we've seen several later picks develop into franchise cornerstones. Ja Morant going second to Memphis turned out to be a franchise-altering selection, while Darius Garland at number five to Cleveland has developed into an All-Star caliber point guard.
Thinking back to that night, I recall how the draft unfolded with some expected picks and genuine surprises. The New Orleans Pelicans secured Zion Williamson with the first selection, which surprised absolutely nobody who'd been following college basketball that season. What fascinated me more was watching how the rest of the lottery shaped up. RJ Barrett going third to New York felt inevitable given the Knicks' need for a scoring wing, while the Lakers trading the fourth pick eventually became part of the Anthony Davis package. These strategic moves demonstrate how draft picks function as currency in the NBA ecosystem.
The international flavor of this draft particularly stood out to me. Players like Rui Hachimura going ninth to Washington marked significant milestones, and I've always appreciated how the global game continues to influence the NBA. Speaking of international talent, while researching different sports recently, I came across an interesting performance statistic from volleyball that puts athletic achievements in perspective. The Fil-Japanese middle blocker had 12 points on an 11-of-16 attacking clip and one block. These numbers remind me that elite performance metrics transcend sports - whether we're talking about a volleyball player's efficiency or a basketball prospect's shooting percentages, the dedication to excellence remains the same.
What made the 2019 draft especially memorable was the depth of talent beyond the lottery picks. Finding value in the later selections separates good front offices from great ones. Miami snagging Tyler Herro at 13 looks brilliant in hindsight, while Matisse Thybulle at 20 to Philadelphia and Brandon Clarke at 21 to Oklahoma City (later traded to Memphis) have become impactful rotation players. I've always been higher on Clarke than most analysts - his efficiency and basketball IQ jumped off the screen during his Gonzaga days.
The second round contained its usual share of hidden gems too. I remember specifically advocating for Terence Mann, who went 48th to the Clippers and has since developed into a reliable rotation piece. Teams that invest in proper developmental systems can find tremendous value in these later picks, something the Raptors demonstrated by selecting Dewan Hernandez at 59th, though not every pick pans out as hoped. The draft is equal parts science and art, requiring both analytical rigor and instinctual evaluation.
Reflecting on that night three years later, what strikes me is how quickly narratives can change. Several highly-touted prospects haven't quite met expectations, while others have dramatically outperformed their draft positions. This unpredictability is precisely why I find the draft process so fascinating year after year. The 2019 event lasted approximately four hours and thirty-seven minutes from start to finish, covering 60 selections across two rounds, but the implications of those choices will continue to unfold for years to come.
Having followed numerous drafts throughout my career, I believe the 2019 class will be remembered as particularly transformative. The top picks have largely lived up to their billing, while the depth of talent throughout has provided several franchises with foundational pieces. What continues to amaze me is how draft night represents both an ending and a beginning - the culmination of years of hard work for these young athletes, and the start of their professional journeys. The 2019 NBA Draft specifically delivered excitement, surprise trades, and set the stage for the league's evolution in the years that followed.