NBA Confirms 2020 Draft Will Be Conducted Virtually

As expected, the 2020 NBA draft will be conducted virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic that upended the ’19/20 season and continues to prevent large-scale gatherings. The NBA and ESPN issued a joint press release today confirming that this year’s draft broadcast will air on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm eastern time.

The plan is for NBA commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum to appear live at ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut, where they’ll reveal this year’s draft picks. As usual, Silver will announce the first-round selections, while Tatum will handle the second round.

Although there won’t be a traditional “green room” for top prospects, a number of draftees will appear virtually, according to today’s announcement

The NBA also conducted its August draft lottery virtually, while other leagues – including the WNBA and NFL – have completed virtual drafts already this year. So while this format is unusual for the NBA, it’s not entirely without precedent.

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