The NBA season just crossed the finish line last week, but front offices have no time to rest. The 2021 NBA Draft is here.
There appears to be a consensus view on which 2021 prospects belong in the top tier. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, and they will likely be the top three picks in some order.
However, the possibility of trades looms large as the draft approaches. Multiple teams may be looking to send out picks in order to acquire win-now players, leading to some draft-night chaos.
Here’s everything you need to know to watch the 2021 NBA Draft, including the start time, TV channel and order of picks for Rounds 1 and 2.
MORE NBA DRAFT: SN’s latest mock draft | Top 60 big board
What channel is the NBA Draft on today?
You can watch the 2021 NBA Draft on ABC (first round only) and ESPN (first and second rounds) or stream it via the Watch ESPN app.
This year’s draft will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Last year’s event was conducted virtually from ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Conn.
NBA Draft start time
- Date: Thursday, July 29
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Coverage of the 2021 NBA Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. A pre-draft countdown show will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
MORE: Watch the 2021 NBA Draft live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NBA Draft order 2021
In the first round, each team has five minutes to make a selection. That time limit drops to two minutes for the second round.
Round 1
| Pick | Team |
| 1. | Detroit Pistons |
| 2. | Houston Rockets |
| 3. | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 4. | Toronto Raptors |
| 5. | Orlando Magic |
| 6. | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 7. | Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota Timberwolves) |
| 8. | Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls) |
| 9. | Sacramento Kings |
| 10. | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 11. | Charlotte Hornets |
| 12. | San Antonio Spurs |
| 13. | Indiana Pacers |
| 14. | Golden State Warriors |
| 15. | Washington Wizards |
| 16. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston Celtics) |
| 17. | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 18. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat) |
| 19. | New York Knicks |
| 20. | Atlanta Hawks |
| 21. | New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks) |
| 22. | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 23. | Houston Rockets (via Portland Trail Blazers) |
| 24. | Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee Bucks) |
| 25. | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 26. | Denver Nuggets |
| 27. | Brooklyn Nets |
| 28. | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 29. | Phoenix Suns |
| 30. | Utah Jazz |
Round 2
| Pick | Team |
| 31. | Milwaukee Bucks (via Houston Rockets) |
| 32. | New York Knicks (via Detroit Pistons) |
| 33. | Orlando Magic |
| 34. | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 35. | New Orleans Pelicans (via Cleveland Cavaliers) |
| 36. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Minnesota Timberwolves) |
| 37. | Detroit Pistons (via Toronto Raptors) |
| 38. | Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans) |
| 39. | Sacramento Kings |
| 40. | New Orleans Pelicans (via Chicago Bulls) |
| 41. | San Antonio Spurs |
| 42. | Detroit Pistons (via Charlotte Hornets) |
| 43. | New Orleans Pelicans (via Washington Wizards) |
| 44. | Brooklyn Nets (via Indiana Pacers) |
| 45. | Boston Celtics |
| 46. | Toronto Raptors (via Memphis Grizzlies) |
| 47. | Toronto Raptors (via Golden State Warriors) |
| 48. | Atlanta Hawks (via Miami Hawks) |
| 49. | Brooklyn Nets (via Atlanta Hawks) |
| 50. | Philadelphia 76ers (via New York Knicks) |
| 51. | Memphis Grizzlies (via Portland Trail Blazers) |
| 52. | Detroit Pistons (via Los Angeles Lakers) |
| 53. | New Orleans Pelicans (via Dallas Mavericks) |
| 54. | Indiana Pacers (via Milwaukee Bucks) |
| 55. | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets) |
| 56. | Charlotte Hornets (via Los Angeles Clippers) |
| 57. | Charlotte Hornets (via Brooklyn Nets) |
| 58. | New York Knicks (via Philadelphia 76ers) |
| 59. | Brooklyn Nets (via Phoenix Suns) |
| 60. | Indiana Pacers (via Utah Jazz) |
2021 NBA mock draft
SN’s latest mock draft, curated by Mike DeCourcy, breaks down the entire first round of the 2021 NBA Draft. DeCourcy predicts the Pistons will take Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick.
Here is SN’s projected top five for this year’s draft:
- Pistons: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
- Rockets: Jalen Green, G League Ignite
- Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, USC
- Raptors: Jonathan Kuminga, G League Ignite
- Magic: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Check out the rest of DeCourcy’s mock draft here.