In New York, Johni Broome embodies the dreams shared by many basketball players: aiming for the NBA draft from a young age and hustling persistently to turn that dream into reality. The draft didn’t come in the first round for him, but being picked in the second round by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 35th overall selection on Thursday night was no less thrilling for the Auburn All-American.
“This moment is probably the most exciting of my life so far,” Broome expressed with enthusiasm. The experience of hearing his name, donning the team’s hat, and embracing the reality of being drafted felt surreal to him.
As the NBA draft continued Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a smaller segment of the venue hosted the proceedings compared to the first round the day prior. The evening began with the Phoenix Suns selecting Rasheer Fleming after acquiring the pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier in the day. Although the Wolves made the No. 31 pick, a swap agreement was reached between them and the Suns hours before the selection.
Fleming, attending his second night at Barclays Center, found out about this arrangement shortly before his selection. The forward from Saint Joseph’s felt the whole experience was both overwhelming and exhilarating, stating, “It was a long day now that I think about it. But this was a great experience. It’s kind of a crazy feeling.”
Fleming’s impressive season stats of 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks positioned him among the top performers in the Atlantic 10 Conference in both rebounds and blocks. Other notable early second-round picks included Broome, Creighton’s defensive stalwart Ryan Kalkbrenner selected by Charlotte at No. 34, and Marquette’s Kam Jones, whose rights were obtained by the Indiana Pacers following his selection by San Antonio at No. 38.
The Dallas Mavericks, having selected Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick on Wednesday, did not have a beginning-of-round selection in the second round. However, team swaps were ongoing throughout the draft, with the Lakers acquiring the rights to Arkansas’ Adou Thiero, the 36th pick, but ensuring to keep under financial regulations next season.
The new two-night draft format, started last year to avoid the previous one-night marathon that included 60 pick selections and trade approvals, has been well-received by teams. While this gives teams a breather between rounds, some players and their representatives are not entirely happy with the extended wait for those on the cusp of first-round selection but ending up in the second round.
Charlotte claimed Sion James at No. 33, and Cleveland brought in Tyrese Proctor at No. 49, resulting in all five Duke starters entering the draft this year. The draft concluded with just 59 selections, as the New York Knicks were penalized by having their second-round selection forfeited due to early negotiations with Jalen Brunson before signing him from Dallas in 2022.
The NBA highlights the success of talented players selected in the second round, such as Jalen Brunson’s All-NBA accolade and Nikola Jokic’s three-time MVP achievement, suggesting the potential impact of these seemingly less-celebrated picks. Broome could similarly blossom into a significant player. Despite facing challenges toward the end of his college season and not performing as hoped at the NBA combine, his early performance against Kentucky left him confident in his NBA readiness. Now, he looks forward to joining the 76ers in Philadelphia and potentially standing out in the league.
“I am really thrilled about my first day in Philly,” Broome concluded optimistically.