No. 1 Pick Yet to Separate in 2024 NBA Draft

An outright No. 1 pick has yet to separate themselves from the rest of the 2024 NBA Draft class.

Year after year, NBA Draft cycles are graced with high-profile, star-studded, oft generationally-labeled talents.

Anthony Davis. Zion Williamson. Victor Wembanyama.

And players such as these quickly become the talk of the class, with several essentially securing No. 1 status while still over a year out from their respective drafts.

Others, such as Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero, weren’t shoe-ins coming into the season, but quickly steered their pathways towards it with stellar play.

In the 2024 NBA Draft cycle, though, no such talent has emerged.

Prior to professional and collegiate seasons starting, there was no consensus. Though there were and still are plenty of options.

Right now, Perth Wildcats 7-footer Alex Sarr might be the best bet. A lengthy forward with premier athleticism, mobility and shot-blocking skills, Sarr’s feels like an easy pathway to general NBA success, despite his path towards superstardom looking murky.

Ignite forwards Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland will also have claim.

Holland was likely the top-rated to go No. 1 coming into the cycle. And after an abysmally slow start in the G League, he’s come alive on the offensive end.

Buzelis has done similarly. While he wasn’t thought of to be quite No. 1 material coming into the season — and suffered an early ankle injury that tanked his stock some — he’s produced well in his short time. And he has all the intangibles at 6-foot-10 that teams will look for.

Rounding out the guard options are USC’s Isaiah Collier and Mega Mis’ Nikola Topic.

Collier has been a scoring machine for the Trojans thus far, but has his fair share of flaws, namely on defense and in turning the ball over. Topic, at 6-foot-7, has emerged as a potential No. 1 option with gaudy overseas stats, but wasn’t on those radars prior, making him an interesting evaluation.

When it comes down to it, we may see the NBA Draft Lottery decide who goes first for the first time in awhile. This year’s picks may be completely dependent on fit, with how close the skill gaps appear.

Regardless, there are sure to be fireworks leading up to a fun 2024 NBA Draft next year.

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