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Stewart Raffill

Michael Paré

David Herdeg

Nancy Allen

Allison Hayes

Eric Christmas

Dr. James Longstreet

Bobby Di Ciccio

Kene Holliday

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The Philadelphia Experiment

• A United States Navy destroyer escort participates in a Navy "invisibility" experiment that inadvertently sends two sailors forty years into the future.
• In 1943, the United States tests an anti-radar system to make the U.S. Navy ships invisible to the enemy. Dr. James Longstreet uses his experiment in the destroyer escort USS Eldridge that disappears from Philadelphia. The sailors David Herdeg and his best friend Jim Parker are projected to 1984, where they meet Allison Hayes. They unsuccessfully try to contact their base and out of the blue Jimmy disappears in a hospital. Allison helps David to visit Jimmy's wife Pamela, but Jimmy refuses to see him. Now David's only hope is meeting Dr. James Longstreet to learn what to do. Will he succeed? — Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Reportedly based on a true incident during World War II involving an anti-radar or invisibility experiment that caused the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Eldridge to disappear from Philadelphia Harbor. Two of the ship's sailors finds themselves thrown 40 years into the future to 1984. — K. Rose <[email protected]> and D. Conwill <[email protected]>
• During World War II, the government was trying to develop a way to render their naval vessels undetectable to radar. When the scientists in charge of it think they have done it, they try it out on one of the ships in the Philadelphia harbor. When they turn it on, the ship disappears. Two of the ship's sailors find themselves in 1984. While they try to find out what's going on. The scientist who developed the technology in 1943, is now involved with a project that somehow brought the two sailors to 1984. And it seems that a black hole has emerged and he thinks the sailors can help. So he tries to get them. — [email protected]
• In 1943, US Army experimented with the electro magnetic fields to make dissapear a ship hoping to win World War II. In the ship are two friends, David Herdeg and Jim Parker, they are send to the future when experiment causes a break in the continuum space time, arriving to 1984. Located in a world strange for them, a nurse called Allison Hayes helps them, but military forces pursues them due Dr. James Longstreet, creator of the original experiment, that recreated it in a town that missed. Running from the soldiers, Herdeg and Allison see impotent like a sudden rays impact against Parker, that finally misses in fron their eyes, coming back to 1943. Although Herdeg and Allison don't understand the happening, both discover that Jim Parker still alive and they travel to meet him, meeting an 'old' Parker instead, a man that tries to forget a hard past lived time ago. Seeing that it's impossible to talk with him, Herdeg and Allison go away, and are catched by the soldiers. Finally they meet with Longstreet in the Control Center of the new experiment, who says that the new experiment connected with the original, creating a vortex between two times and that only Herdeg can to stop it. He refuses, but Longstreet tells that he spoke with the survivors of the 1943's experiment and that they told that was the own Herdeg who finished it destroying the generator power. Astonished, he understands that there's no option, and he accepts the mission, being send again to the vortex and to the Eldridge. There he meets again with the young Parker, saving him and the rest of the ship when the energy turns down, but before that the Eldridge re-appears in 1943 Herdeg jumps out of it, standing him in 1984 to stay with his beloved Allison.

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The Untold Truth Of The Philadelphia Experiment

The 1984 film The Philadelphia Experiment is a romance, a war-time period piece, a time-travel movie, and depending on who you ask, is "based on actual events." Released under the auspices of Roger Corman's New World Pictures, known for its exploitation flick ethos, the film bears all the outward hallmarks of a high-concept b-movie, yet offers ambitious storytelling that aims higher than it needs to.

The film features Michael Pare, a young star continuing his rise after roles in Eddie and the Cruisers and Walter Hill's Streets of Fire . Appearing in their third film together, actors Nancy Allen and Bobby DiCicco also play pivotal parts.

Behind the scenes, several production changes suggest that this could have arrived as a much different movie than we know today, with more of an emphasis on horror and no romantic angles at all. A famous director was asked to helm the film but passed. On paper, if not in a military harbor near you, there's even a scientific theory to back up the wild MacGuffin that drives the movie's plot.

This is the untold truth of The Philadelphia Experiment .

Actual events in air quotes

"The Philadelphia Experiment" is an urban legend about a U.S. Naval experiment that purportedly took place in 1943 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Pennsylvania, with the U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Eldridge being rendered invisible to detection systems.

The tides of World War II had turned with the surrender of Italy to the Allies. With a sense that Germany was on the ropes, there was a great desire for the U.S. to shore up the gains the Allied forces had made. If they could get war craft into enemy waters without being seen, bringing with them the advantage of surprise, the war could end in short order. A ship with a cloaking device onboard could do the trick.

One problem: it's not true.

In 1955, writer and astronomer Morris K. Jessup purportedly received letters from unknown sources describing the experiment . Known for his belief in the supernatural and extraterrestrial, Jessup published books including The Case for the UFO (1955), The UFO Annual (1956), and The Expanding Case for the UFO (1957).

According to David Ritchie's 1994 book UFO: The Definitive Guide to Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena , Jessup claimed to have made a breakthrough regarding the Philadelphia Experiment on April 19, 1959. Just one day later, he was found dead in his car from carbon monoxide poisoning. The death was ruled a suicide , although conspiracy theorists believed he was silenced to keep from revealing things he was not meant to know.

John Carpenter's Philadelphia Experiment

The movie we know today as The Philadelphia Experiment could have been far different. It started as a script written by horror film icon John Carpenter , who was taken by the legend. In an interview , Carpenter said, "Great shaggy dog story. Absolute bull****, but what a great story. While I was writing it, I couldn't figure out the third act. A friend suggested the revenge of the crew against the people who put them there, but I thought it was too much like The Fog . Absolute bull****."

It is unclear how much of Carpenter's original story made it to the final shooting script. What eventually made it to the screen was a time-travel story wherein two sailors involved with the experiment are plucked off of the USS Eldridge in 1943 and deposited in 1984. Romantic elements between one of the sailors and a good Samaritan were added in later drafts.

Carpenter was given an Executive Producer credit, but did not get a screenwriting or story credit for The Philadelphia Experiment .

While it might seem strange that Carpenter would simply relinquish a script this way, it was not unprecedented. In the mid-1970s, he delivered a treatment and two drafts of a screenplay titled Eyes to Columbia Pictures. The script went through several revisions, ultimately arriving in theaters in 1978 as The Eyes of Laura Mars , directed by Irvin Kershner ( The Empire Strikes Back ).

Director Stewart Raffill: pirates, wormholes and aliens

The Philadelphia Experiment wound up being the second 1984 effort for director Stewart Raffill , following the sci-fi comedy The Ice Pirates .

It is not uncommon for a director to take a pass at the script to align it with his or her vision, nor is it uncommon for a script to have many other writers involved. Raffill is an uncredited screenwriter for The Philadelphia Experiment . He re-wrote the screenplay to include a love story between the lead characters while also toning down the science-based exposition. Other writers on the project besides John Carpenter and Raffill included Wallace Bennett and Don Jakoby ( Lifeforce, Arachnophobia ), who received story credits, while Michael Janover and William Gray ( The Changeling, Prom Night ) earned screenplay credits.

More consequential to pop culture, perhaps, is Raffill's follow-up feature, the 1988 movie Mac and Me . If you do not recognize the name, this is the thinly-veiled E.T. homage mercilessly teased by actor Paul Rudd on numerous appearances on The Conan O'Brien Show .

The cast of The Philadelphia Experiment

Leading the cast was Michael Pare, whose previous star turns included Eddie and the Cruisers and Streets of Fire . Joining him were Nancy Allen and Bobby DiCicco, who were castmates in two films before The Philadelphia Experiment : Steven Spielberg's 1941 (written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, of Back to the Future fame) and I Wanna Hold Your Hand (co-written and directed by Zemeckis).

Pare and DiCicco play two ill-fated sailors on board the USS Eldridge during the experiment who are sucked into a time vortex, winding up in the '80s on the grounds where a military installation has suddenly vanished. Allen plays a bystander who helps the two (after being carjacked by them), all the while being pursued by the U.S. military.

Miles McNamara and Eric Christmas play Dr. James Longstreet (in 1943 and 1984, respectively). Longstreet is the scientist behind the prototype cloaking device. Keen-eyed viewers will also spot character actor Stephen Tobolowsky ("Ned Ryerson" from Groundhog Day ) in one of his earliest roles as an assistant on the experiment.

A long, strange trip

The central conceit of The Philadelphia Experiment 's plot is the time vortex which has ripped the USS Eldridge and a military town in the Nevada desert out of their respective eras. The cause of this is the cloaking technology developed by Dr. James Longstreet who tempted fate once in 1943 during the experiment and then again in 1984, having not learned his lesson the first time. The technology has created a start and endpoint for the time vortex, bridging a Philadelphia harbor and a Nevada town, and trapping both in the middle of the wormhole.

One can make strong parallels between the Longstreet character and that of John Hammond, the eccentric entrepreneur from the first two Jurassic Park films. Both characters display unbound hubris that leads to disastrous results. In other words, the characters exemplify the admonition given in the latter film: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

The time travel narrative device has found its way into many different forms of pop culture, from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court to multiple episodes of the original Star Trek series to the Back to the Future series. The unique fingerprint The Philadelphia Experiment leaves on the trope is that the main protagonist is dragged into the future and not the past.

The science of The Philadelphia Experiment

Are wormholes possible? Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity says that space and time are inextricably tied and are, in fact, different descriptions of the same thing. A broad example is when you look up at the stars at night. The light you see from those stars was cast a very long time ago, and you are essentially looking into the past when you view them.

Further, any presence of mass, like the planets themselves, or energy will warp the fabric of space-time. That warping creates folds that can be "torn" and "patched," facilitating shortcuts between point "A" and point "B." These are wormholes. Problem is that they're only theoretical, with the math only suggesting their feasibility right now.

The first kind of wormholes to be theorized were  Einstein Rosen Bridges , which describe black holes as portals to parallel universes. However, such bridges would be highly unstable, and if it did not collapse upon entry, the pathway between endpoints would take a very long time to traverse — hardly a conventional shortcut.

What does this have to do with  The Philadelphia Experiment ? Well, in director Stewart Raffill's script rewrite, the love story between Michael Pare and Nancy Allen's characters was added, and science-based exposition was toned way down. Its absence doesn't harm the story. In fact, had it been included, it likely would have slowed down the narrative. But if the question is "Are wormholes possible?" the answer is "yes," at least on paper.

Urban legends

The genesis of The Philadelphia Experiment lies in the urban legend of the USS Eldridge and the debate over whether the incident actually occurred or not. It is not the only example of a work of fiction relying on such anecdotes with sketchy provenance.

The most famous of these would be Men in Black (1997), which relied heavily on the mythology of men dressed in black suits claiming to be government agents and using intimidation to silence UFO witnesses. Although the films starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are the most widely-known examples, there are several instances both before and after these using the same themes. The X-Files episode "Jose Chung's From Outer Space," for example, featured Jesse Ventura and Alex Trebek as men in black.

Fiction abounds with stories about wormholes, the time-space shortcuts that allow the Millennium Falcon to jump through hyperspace, the Enterprise to go to warp speed, and  Doctor Who 's  TARDIS to move from Earth to Gallifrey. The creation and manipulation of wormholes is the crucial mechanism for the videogame  Portal .

So it is with The Philadelphia Experiment . Dr. James Longstreet has essentially created a black hole in 1943 and another in 1984. Caught between these is a rift in space-time where both the USS Eldridge and the military town are essentially held hostage.

Life after the Experiment

The American Film Institute Catalog suggests that the budget for The Philadelphia Experiment was $9 million. Its worldwide take as reported by Box Office Mojo was $8,103,330. Measure that against the 10th highest-grossing film of 1984, Splash , with a worldwide gross of $69,821,334, and it becomes clear that the film underperformed.

Rotten Tomatoes only has 10 reviews logged, with a lowly 50% rating, but there is public goodwill for the film. Although tame by Roger Corman/New World Pictures standards, it retains the renegade spirit found in the studio's other efforts. One could imagine the studio heads saw it as a kind of Terminator -in-reverse with the protagonist arriving from the past instead of the future. It is a movie that brings its a-game to a b-movie milieu.

As an early entry in the videocassette rental boom of the 1980s and a stalwart of cable television, the movie earned enough name recognition to merit a sequel ... sort of. Philadelphia Experiment II , released in 1993, featured a different cast and crew. The SyFy network offered a made-for-television remake in 2012. Michael Pare returned in this version, but in a different role.

In the end, The Philadelphia Experiment has become a cult favorite thanks to audiences connecting with concepts that punched above their weight and with the underlying romance that was tacked on at a very late stage. It's a film that was never likely to transcend its limitations but earns points for earnestly willing to make the attempt.

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Based on an "actual event" that took place in 1943. About a US Navy Destroyer Escort that disappeared from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and sent two men 40 years into the future to 1984.

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The Philadelphia Experiment

Based on an "actual event" that took place in 1943. About a US Navy Destroyer Escort that disappeared from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and sent two men 40 years into the future to 1984.

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August 3, 1984,

Stewart Raffill

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Michael Paré, Nancy Allen, Eric Christmas, Bobby Di Cicco, Louise Latham, Kene Holliday

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The Philadelphia Experiment

Film details, cast & crew, max w anderson, kerry lee maher, vaughn armstrong, kene holliday, technical specs, stuart raffill, patrick desantis, mary lois grentham, gary brockette, vivian brown, deborah e dixon, rick schrand, rudy daniels, richard jewkes, pamela brull, debra troyer, bill smillie, brent s laing, michael paré, clay wilcox, james edgcomb, anthony r nuzzo, charles hall, jeffery s smith, stephan o'reilly, stephanie faulkner, michael villani, bobby dicicco, glenn morshower, stephen sachs, raymond kowlaski, nancy allen, ralph manza, robin krieger, stephen tobolowsky, jay bernard, lawrence doll, andrew bracken, rodney saulsberry, eric christmas, tony farrell, pamela doucette, lawrence lott, miles mcnamara, michael currie, david allen michaels, andrew mccartney, michael ruud, john k adams, gary alexander, lee berglund, charles berlitz, eubie blake, bob blongiewicz, barbara boguski, brent bowman, betzy bromberg, pegi brotman, steve caldwell, chris campbell, diane campbell, w stewart campbell, john carpenter, casey cavanaugh, larry cavanaugh, fernando celis, jeffrey cherov, randall crocker, douglas curtis, joshua cushner, catherine davis, chris dierdorff, jon epstein, glory fioramonti, gail joyce fortmuller, linda francis, joe garland, deborah gaydos, joe giannone, julia gibson, robert gravenor, william gray, john r harris, devon heffley, duane hensel, william hoy, holly hudson, reggie jackson, michael janover, love & kay job, eric lison johnson, sharon johnston, katherine kean, terry kelly, coni lancaster, richard le grand, steve lombardi, paula lumbard, annie maniscalco, manfred mann, ron mccausland, dr. thomas r mcdonough, joel b. michaels, juniko moody, william i moore, gerald north, joanne palace, connie papineau, michael paris, sarah pasanen, cate praggastis, lee praggastis, joseph raffill, jonathan seay, billy ray smith, charles ewing smith, bruce steinheimer, larry stensvold, phil strauss, randy stricklin, douy swofford, teresa thomas, eric tomlinson, neil travis, ken wannberg, bob willard, david lewis yewdall, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States August 1984

Released in United States Summer August 1, 1984

Completed shooting May 1984.

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The Philadelphia Experiment

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• "'The philadelphia Experiment' had a lot of script problems in its development that haven't been solved yet, but final result is an adequate sci-fi yarn"  Variety Staff : Variety
• It's a pleasant but fairly standard movie about a subject that's anything but. Raffill (...) seems to be in over his head with the high-tech aspects of his story. But at least he's able to keep it moving."  Janet Maslin : The New York Times

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The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

The Philadelphia Experiment is a 1984 American science fiction film.

It is inspired by an urban legend with questionable historical accuracy regarding a supposed test to render a military ship called the Eldridge invisible in 1943. It lead to a sequel in 1993 called Philadelphia Experiment II and a reimagined remake in 2012.

Per the conspiracy theory, the ship actually teleported miles away causing some sailors aboard to be trapped within the metal as in this movie it causes two of them to be sent nearly 40 years into the future.

• Michael Paré as David Herdeg
• Nancy Allen as Allison Hayes
• Miles McNamara as Young Jim Longstreet
• Ralph Manza as Older Jim Parker
• Debra Troyer as Young Pamela
• Stephen Tobolowsky as Barney
• Kene Holliday as Major Clark
• Joe Dorsey as Sheriff Bates
• Michael Currie as Magnussen
• Gary Brockette as Adjutant / Andrews
• James Edgcomb as Officer Boye
• Glenn Morshower as Mechanic
• Vaughn Armstrong as Cowboy

NBA draft 2024 Day 1 highlights: Zaccharie Risacher gets No. 1 pick

The 2024 NBA draft was the second in a row in which the top selection came from France. In fact, two Frenchmen, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, went No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, just one season after generational talent Victor Wembanyama was taken first by the Spurs.

Two other French natives were picked in the first round, with the Charlotte Hornets taking Tidjane Salaun with the sixth pick and the New York Knicks taking Pacome Dadiet at 25.

One of the other storylines tonight was the Bronny James question. LeBron’s son was not selected in the first round and will have to wait at least one more night before he hears his name called. The Southern Cal product disappointed in his freshman year, averaging only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 19.4 minutes per game. But he has clear potential, and teams could position themselves as (unlikely) landing spots for his famous father. 

Bronny James needs to wait another night

No team selected LeBron James' eldest son in the first round as the USC freshman hopes to hear his name called tomorrow night in the second round.

Celtics take Baylor Scheierman

With the final pick of the first round, the Celtics take a wing player from Creighton.

Dillon Jones' shooting could be on the rise

The Weber State standout has the physical strength required to take on the 3 at the NBA level, and he can also handle some playmaking responsibilities on offense.

While Jones did not shoot the ball well from 3 during his time at Weber State, he was an 82% foul shooter, a sign that there is room for positive growth. 

Boston Celtics are on the clock

The final pick of the first round is moments away as the recent champs are set to pick.

Utah Jazz use 29th pick on Isaiah Collier from USC

Collier is a guard who finished his freshman season for the underwhelming Trojans. Collier averaged 16.3 points per game last season on 49% shooting.

Denver Nuggets take Ryan Dunn from Virginia with 28th pick

The 2023 NBA champions take the forward who was on the ACC All-Defensive team and was among the best defensive players across the country last season.

ESPN is reporting that the Nuggets are sending Dunn to the Phoenix Suns.

The Minnesota Timberwolves make their pick

Minnesota, who made it to the Western Conference finals for the first time in two decades, selected Terrence Shannon Jr. from Illinois.

Shannon's college career was cut short by serious legal issues when he was charged with rape in Kansas in September. Shannon maintained his innocence and was acquitted at trial this month.

Dadiet is a work in progress

The 6-foot-8, 210 wing profiles as an athletic 3-and-D prospect at the next level, though he still has plenty of room to grow.

Dadiet needs more development before he’s ready to make an impact in the NBA, which shouldn't be a problem for the Knicks, who have OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges slotted ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Wizards use 26th pick on Dillon Jones

But ESPN is reporting that the Wizards via the Knicks are sending Jones to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Jones, the Weber State forward, averaged 20.8 points per game, along with 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Knicks select Pacome Dadiet

With the 25th pick, the Knicks select the wing player from France.

Dadiet is the fourth French player selected so far in the first round, including the top two picks overall.

N.Y. Knicks will trade 24th pick

ESPN is reporting that the Knicks are sending Kyshawn George of the University of Miami to the Washington Wizards.

The Knicks keep their 25th pick and will get the Wizards' pick at 26.

A native of Switzerland, George has the potential to be an effective contributor.

Milwaukee Bucks take AJ Johnson with the 23rd pick

Johnson goes to Milwaukee via the Next Stars program in the Australian National Basketball League. The California native was originally set for the University of Texas before he chose instead to play professionally overseas.

Dalton Knecht's long journey to the NBA

Jacob Pramuk, CNBC

Few basketball players who start on junior college teams make the NBA. Dalton Knecht now joins the group.

Knecht, selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, started his career at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. He then played at Division I Northern Colorado before he transferred to Tennessee for his final college season and won SEC player of the year honors.

The list of NBA players who spent time at junior colleges is illustrious. It includes Hall of Famers Bob McAdoo, Dennis Rodman, Dennis Johnson and Ben Wallace, along with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. 

Phoenix Suns pick DaRon Holmes II

Holmes' stay in the desert doesn't appear to be lasting long, as it is being reported that the Dayton University center is going to be traded to the Denver Nuggets.

New Orleans Pelicans take Yves Missi with 21st pick

Missi fills a hole for the Pelicans as an athletic center and an excellent rebounder and shot blocker.

The Baylor freshman just turned 20 years old and was on the Big-12 Conference All-Freshman team and the Big-12 All Defensive team. The 7-footer played 34 games during his freshman season and averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 6.4% from the floor across 23 minutes per game. 

Third school was the charm for Tyson

Jaylon Tyson played for three schools during his three years in college. He barely saw the floor at Texas, but he was far more effective at Texas Tech as a sophomore.

However, he truly broke out at Cal, where he averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 triples per game last season.

Jaylon Tyson to Cavaliers at No. 20

Greg Rosenstein

The Cal forward averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game last season as a junior. He was first-team All-Pac-12 and was a top-10 finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.

Ja’Kobe Walter picked by Toronto Raptors at No. 19

The Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season averaged 14.5 points while shooting 37.6% from the field and 34.1% from 3. He ranked as a Top 10 player out of high school.

Per ESPN, his parents combined Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to form his first name.

Can da Silva help Orlando next season?

Tristan da Silva, the younger brother of former Stanford standout Oscar da Silva, played four seasons at Colorado, with the final two being his best production-wise. As a senior, he accounted for 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.9 3-pointers, shooting 49.3% from the field and 83.5% from the foul line.

While da Silva landed in the middle of the pack among forwards in the standing and max vertical tests, he was one of the best in lane agility and sprints. He has good size and lateral agility for a wing, but he is not considered to be a lockdown defender at this stage in his career. The perimeter shooting is something teams can work with, however, as the league is always on the prowl for capable catch-and-shoot wings. His long-range shooting is particularly valuable to an Orlando team that ranked dead last in made 3-pointers last season.

Tristan da Silva selected at No. 18 by Orlando Magic

Da Silva, a Brazilian German player from Colorado, heads to Orlando. The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds a game last season.

At long last, Dalton Knecht is taken by Lakers

Los Angeles selected the Tennessee star, who averaged 21.7 points a contest (39.7% from 3). Despite his elite playmaking and scoring ability, he fell largely because of his age: 23.

76ers take Jared McCain at No. 16

The Duke freshman guard averaged 14.3 points and five rebounds a contest as a freshman. He shot 41% from 3-point range and hit 88.5 percent of his free throws. McCain's best talent is as a knockdown shooter: He connected on 41.4% of 3s.

Ware could see significant minutes for Heat

After playing only 15.8 minutes per game as a freshman at Oregon, Ware transferred to Indiana, where he enjoyed a breakout season. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game and brought home multiple Big Ten honors.

The 7-footer didn’t shoot 3s at a high volume, but he knocked down 42.5% of his 3-pointers while shooting 1.3 per game. He moves well for a center, and he was a lob threat in college, which is always a useful trait to NBA teams. Miami is notoriously weak at center behind Bam Adebayo, so Ware could see some meaningful minutes in his inaugural campaign.

Kel'el Ware goes to Heat at No. 15

The Indiana big man — who transferred from Oregon before last season — has the ability to produce on both ends of the floor. Ware averaged 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds a game for the Hoosiers and added 1.9 blocks.

Family connections — and not just Bronny

Many NBA fans are watching where LeBron James’ son Bronny will land in the draft. The family connections go deeper this year. Two of the top 10 picks today have brothers who play for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Washington Wizards’ second overall pick, Alexandre Sarr, is the younger brother of Oklahoma City’s Olivier Sarr. Cody Williams, selected by the Utah Jazz with the 10th pick, is the younger brother of Thunder star Jalen Williams.

Bub Carrington headed to Wizards (via Portland)

The Trail Blazers dealt this pick in the Deni Avdija trade earlier to the Wizards. Carrington, a Pitt guard, averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game.

How Devin Carter projects at NBA level

After having spent his freshman season at South Carolina, Carter flourished after he transferred to Providence. His second and final season with the Friars was his best, with Carter winning Big East Player of the Year.

The son of former NBA guard Anthony Carter, Devin averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 1 block and 2.5 3-pointers, shooting 47.3% from the field and 74.9% from the foul line. He was measured at 6-foot-2¼ at the NBA Draft Combine, but he is one of the most athletic players in this draft class.

Carter projects to play the point at the next level, and the improvement throughout his collegiate career bodes well for his NBA future. In Sacramento, Carter’s unlikely to be a starter because of the presence of De’Aaron Fox. However, Davion Mitchell’s struggles to make the backup point guard job his own may open the door for the former Providence standout to crack the rotation immediately.

Sacramento Kings take Devin Carter at No. 13

Carter, the 2024 Big East Player of the Year, averaged 19.7 points and 8.7 rebounds a contest for the Friars.

Did the Thunder get a steal?

Topic, the young Serbian guard, won’t turn 19 until after the draft, which should make him appealing to the rebuilding teams searching for a player to orchestrate the offense. In 23 games this past season, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1 steal and 1.1 triples, though he shot just 30.6% from beyond the arc.

His deep shot is a question mark, as is his defense; however, his playmaking and finishing ability should both be strengths for him. Topic suffered a partially torn ACL in May, which will affect his development in the short term. He is likely to miss time during training camp, but his ceiling is too high for this injury to dramatically affect how fantasy managers should view him.

Oklahoma City, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference last season, has the luxury to take a big swing on a player with a top-5 ceiling. Topic’s development could come along quicker than expected after Josh Giddey was traded to the Bulls shortly before the draft.

Nikola Topic goes to Thunder at No. 12

ESPN's Jay Bilas just called him the best passer in the draft. He missed time because of a torn ACL and could miss his entire rookie season. Topic excels at the pick-and-roll.

Buzelis could play a big role as a rookie

Buzelis opted to go the route of the G League instead of playing in college. He played 30.9 minutes per game for the Ignite and averaged 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.9 blocks and 0.9 triples across 34 minutes per game. His shooting splits were suboptimal (.455/.261/.696), but he was still able to flash some upside as a scorer throughout the season, even if the results weren’t always great.

Still, a 6-foot-10 forward who can play with the ball in his hands and still make a statistical impact defensively should be incredibly enticing. He was born in Chicago, and now he’ll get the chance to represent his hometown team.

The final G League Ignite players were taken

The 2024 draft caps a short-lived experiment in the NBA. The Pistons selected G League Ignite forward Ron Holland with the No. 5 pick, while the Chicago Bulls took Ignite forward Matas Buzelis 11th.

Holland, Buzelis and any other players selected from the program this year will be the last chosen directly after playing for the team, which was set up in 2020 to develop top NBA prospects. G League Ignite ended after last season.

When the team launched, Ignite players could make tens of thousands of dollars or more to play for the program instead of playing college basketball, where they received scholarships but no earnings. When college athletes got the ability to make money from their names, images and likenesses in the ensuing years, the need for Ignite waned.

Current NBA players who came through the Ignite program include Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga and Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson. 

Matas Buzelis goes to hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, at 11

The G League Ignite guard averaged 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds a contest. Buzelis played his senior high school season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas but grew up outside Chicago. Awesome moment!

Cody Williams' fit in Utah

Cody, the younger brother of Thunder star Jalen Williams, spent one season at Colorado before deciding to turn pro. Limited to 24 games because of injury, the 6-foot-7 wing averaged 11.9 points, 3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.7 3-pointers in 28.4 minutes per game.

Williams shot 41.5% from 3-point range, but that was on limited volume, as he attempted just 41 of his 194 shots from beyond the arc. While he isn’t an athletically explosive wing, Williams is a solid offensive option when he is allowed to attack opposing defenders in transition. At this stage in his career, Cody is further ahead defensively than offensively.

Williams has plenty of room to grow on both ends of the floor, but the physical tools are there. In Utah, he joins a team that needed to add length and athleticism on the wing, so the opportunity to play early should be there.

Utah Jazz go with Cody Williams at No. 10

The Colorado forward averaged 11.9 points and shot 55.2% from the field while making the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. His brother is Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Williams was +850 to be drafted 10th overall.

What Dillingham brings to Minnesota

The 6-foot-2 guard started only one game at Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t one of its best players all season long. He averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1 steal and 2 triples in 23.3 minutes per game and flashed his elite shooting and ballhandling prowess.

There are questions about his size and defensive ability, but he has the talent to be an offensive menace. He is one of the best shooters in the draft and has no issues creating his own shot. He’s an electric scorer with the tools to thrive in the modern NBA.

Dillingham is already on the move to Minnesota after the Spurs drafted him with their second pick in the top 10. It is unclear what a trade package looks like, but Dillingham could be the successor to Mike Conley and provide an offensive punch off the bench in year one.

Zach Edey headed to Grizzlies at No. 9

Edey, the 7-foot-4 center from Purdue, was the national player of the year after averaging 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds a contest.

Timberwolves take Rob Dillingham at No. 8

Minnesota traded with San Antonio for the pick. The Kentucky guard averaged 15.2 per game last season.

Clingan could have immediate impact for Trail Blazers

After having won a national championship with UConn as a freshman, Clingan decided to run things back before he entered the NBA draft. That resulted in another ring for him, and he became one of the top prospects for many teams.

He averaged 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks in just 22.5 minutes per game this season, which were significant improvements after he played just 13.1 minutes a game as a freshman. Clingan measured in at nearly 7-foot-2 at the combine, and he should be able to contribute on the defensive end immediately as a bigger body that can provide a different look to slow down some of the league’s elite centers.

Portland has two centers under contract, Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams, so Clingan’s selection may mean one (or both) of those veterans is on the way out.

Trail Blazers take UConn big man Donovan Clingan at No. 7

While Stephon Castle provided perimeter production for UConn, the back-to-back champs, Clingan did it inside. At a massive 7-foot-2 and 282 pounds, he will help Portland with scoring, rebounding and defense around the rim. Farther away from the hoop? That’s the issue. He hit only 58.3% from the free-throw line and 25% from 3-point land. 

How Salaun fits with the Hornets

Salaun, an 18-year-old forward from France, has been playing for Cholet Basket since 2021. A smooth forward who reportedly has a 7-foot, 2-inch wingspan, he averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.2 steals and 1.4 3-pointers in 22.7 minutes per game this season.

Salaun starred at the 2023 Basketball Without Borders camp during NBA All-Star Weekend, and the potential is there for him to be a problem on both ends of the floor at either forward position.

The height of Salaun’s NBA ceiling depends on his growth as a perimeter shooter and playmaker, as the physical tools and motor are there for him to be an impactful defender. He’ll be an intriguing option who could see plenty of minutes right out of the gate for the rebuilding Hornets.

Kobe Bryant picked 28 years ago today by Charlotte.

Brian Hamilton, NBC Sports

Had Charlotte kept him in North Carolina, oh, how the fortunes of two franchises would have drastically changed.

Charlotte Hornets take Tidjane Salaun at No. 6

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1 steal over 23.2 minutes in 49 games across competitions last year.

He also played on France's national team at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.

Detroit Pistons select Ron Holland at No. 5

Holland, a forward out of G League Ignite, averaged 18.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game in his lone season last year.

He was the first betting upset of the night. Holland was +2000 to be the fifth overall selection.

San Antonio Spurs taking Stephon Castle at No. 4

A playmaker who can play either guard position, Castle has the body and athleticism teams covet. His best asset is he’s an elite defensive player. UConn coach Dan Hurley constantly asked him to lock down the opposing teams’ best backcourt players, and he did just that en route to a national championship. Castle’s biggest concern is his shooting ability, as he shot just 26.7% from 3-point range. 

Second straight year without a college No. 1 pick

For the second straight year, the top pick NBA draft pick did not play at a U.S. college. It’s the first time in two decades that the No. 1 pick has come from outside the college basketball system for consecutive years. French prospects Zaccharie Risacher and Victor Wembanyama were first off the board this year and last year, respectively.

The top pick did not have college experience for four straight drafts from 2001 to 2004, as Kwame Brown, LeBron James and Dwight Howard were selected out of high school and Yao Ming was chosen from the Chinese Basketball Association.

Houston Rockets pick Reed Sheppard at No. 3

Reed Sheppard | 6-2 guard | 20 years old | Kentucky

Sheppard, a guard, is a tad undersized at just under 6-foot-2, but he makes up for his lack of frame with IQ and versatility. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season while hitting 53.6% of his shots. He was also deadly from 3-point range, making 52.1% of his attempts from distance. 

Wizards select Alex Sarr at No. 2 overall

Alex Sarr | 7-0 big man | 19 years old | Perth Wildcats

Sarr is a very long, athletic big man who is arguably the best defensive player in the draft. With his 7-foot-4 wingspan, he is great at blocking or altering shots in the post and can guard multiple positions. The questions lie on the offensive side, though. He averaged only 9.7 points per game on 52% shooting in the Australian league. Compared to players like Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, Sarr can be scary if his offensive output matches his defensive. 

Hawks take Zaccharie Risacher at No. 1 overall

Atlanta took Zaccharie Risacher, a 6-8 wing/forward from JL Bourg in France, at the top.

A big and long playmaker, Risacher is known as a great passer, a solid ball handler and a strong defender in the French league. He showed improved scoring ability this season, but there are questions about his ability to become a knockdown shooter. In his first 34 games this season, he made 48.2% of his 3s; however, he hit only 32% over the final 31 games. Which numbers are for real? That’s what teams are looking to determine. 

The Atlanta Hawks are on the clock at No. 1

Atlanta has five minutes to make the first overall selection. Many see it picking between two Frenchmen: Risacher and Sarr. 

The draft presents major value for NBA teams

High-spending teams with championship hopes have more at stake than usual in this year’s draft.

New salary rules that take effect this offseason limit teams’ ability to make roster moves when they hit two spending levels known as aprons. For teams spending well over the league’s estimated $141 million salary cap, finding a contributor on a cheap rookie contract is more important than ever.

Take the Dallas Mavericks, who got valuable playing time from rookie Dereck Lively II during their NBA Finals run this year. Lively, the 12th overall pick in last year’s draft, cost the Mavericks only about $5 million, a bargain relative to what a similar veteran may have cost.

So who may need to make the most out of its draft picks Wednesday? The Phoenix Suns (picking 22nd) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (picking 27th) are among the teams with the highest projected payrolls entering the offseason.

Which team will draft Purdue big man Zach Edey?

There has been buzz that the Portland Trail Blazers — who have picks No. 7 and No. 14 — have interest in Edey. Portland at No. 7 also is seen as the absolute floor for UConn’s Clingan. Portland’s interest in Clingan and Edey is a little strange considering the Trail Blazers are already paying Deandre Ayton a lot of money to be their old-school center, and they have Robert Williams backing him up.

Utah at No. 10 and Sacramento at No. 14 both worked out Edey and reportedly were impressed. Both are looking for a defensive center to soak up some minutes. If Edey drops to No. 15, the Heat might grab him, although it’s unlikely Edey will get past the Trail Blazers at No. 14 (unless they draft a center at No. 7 or make an unexpected move).

Which NBA draft had the most All-Stars?

The 1996 NBA draft class had 11 players selected for at least one All-Star team.

• Kobe Bryant (18)
• Allen Iverson (11)
• Ray Allen (10)
• Steve Nash (8)
• Jermaine O’Neal (6)
• Ben Wallace (4)
• Antoine Walker (3)
• Peja Stojaković (3)
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas (2)
• Marcus Camby (1)
• Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1).

Will the Lakers draft Bronny James?

Probably, although they are not the only team interested. The Lakers have the No. 55 pick in the draft (near the end of the second round), and that appears to be Bronny’s floor.

However, other teams have some interest. Bronny worked out for Phoenix, his agent Rich Paul mentioned Minnesota and Dallas having interest, and a Toronto assistant GM said yesterday that Bronny was in consideration for the Raptors.

Bronny James is the biggest liability for sportsbooks

He is the biggest liability at sportsbooks to go first overall. Let’s all acknowledge he is not going to be drafted first overall and probably will not even hear his name called until Day 2.

James, the son of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, declared for the draft after a single, uninspiring season at USC. No question LeBron James feels the best place for Bronny to develop his game is at the professional level. While there still is an ounce of mystery as to where LeBron will play next season, King James most likely stays in L.A., and that more than likely means Bronny hears his name on Day 2, when the Lakers make their selection at pick No. 55.

Shop around for the best price, but you can find Bronny to the Lakers for -120 at some books. Surprisingly only 32% of the public betting on James’ being drafted have him being selected by the Lakers.

Potential top pick's Fit

Alex Sarr with a very basic rundown of his outfit ... it's "cream colored with shiny buttons."

Which NBA draft has the most MVPs?

Two draft classes had three MVPs selected, 1996 and 1984:

1996:  Steve Nash  (2 MVPs),  Kobe Bryant  (1 MVP),  Allen Iverson  (1 MVP)

1984:  Michael Jordan  (5 MVPs),  Charles Barkley  (1 MVP),  Hakeem Olajuwon  (1 MVP)

Knicks re-sign a key piece

Not exactly draft news, but on the heels of trading for Mikal Bridges , the Knicks appear to be re-signing OG Anunoby, ESPN reports. The Knicks acquired Anunoby in December in a trade with the Raptors.

Which teams are most likely to trade their draft picks?

Every pick is available at the right price. This isn’t a draft with a “you can’t pass him up” player. Hawks GM Landry Fields said he likes this draft and  intends to keep his No. 1 overall pick , but he admitted his phone is ringing and he’s still talking to teams.

Houston is the team likeliest to trade its first-rounder. It wants to become a playoff team now and would like to move the No. 3 pick to help bring in players who can do that (or push the draft pick down the road).

There has also been talk about the Spurs’ combining their two picks (Nos. 4 and 8) to get a player or move up in this draft.

Wizards, Blazers make trade

Per ESPN: Washington is dealing forward Deni Avdija to the Trail Blazers for Malcom Brogdon, tonight’s 14th overall pick and a 2029 pick.

Avdija, only 23 years old, averaged 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season with the Wizards.

NBA prospects have arrived

Top players hoping to have their names called have made it to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for tonight's draft. Check it out below.

How to watch the NBA Draft

Date:  Wednesday, June 26

Time:  8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Location:  Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

Network:  ESPN and ABC

Will Donovan Clingan be drafted No. 1 overall?

Buzz has been building for a couple of weeks in league circles that the Hawks are really high on Clingan after he had a strong workout for them. Atlanta is going to reshape its roster this offseason, but if the Hawks plan to keep one of Trae Young or Dejounte Murray to stay competitive (retooling around the guard), picking the defensive center makes sense (it allows them to trade center Clint Capela and restock the roster).

However, Risacher is still most likely to go No. 1 and appears to be on top of most teams’ draft boards (and most serious mock drafts). Risacher is young and looks like he could develop into a prototypical NBA wing. Most teams would take him No. 1.

The betting markets still have Risacher as the favorite to go first (-260), with Clingan a distant second (+270).

If the Hawks keep the No. 1 pick —  as GM Landry Fields said they most likely would, but he’s listening to calls  — they might take Risacher, but Atlanta might be happier trading down a few spots, still getting Clingan plus adding another pick or player in the swap.

Nets trying to trade into this draft

Brooklyn traded away every pick in its race to build a win-now team and bring in Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, then surround them with winning role players. No need to rehash how poorly that went, but it means the Nets are without a pick in this draft. 

SNY’s Ian Begley reports  the Nets are confident they will find a pick they can deal for and become part of this draft.

Will Alex Sarr be drafted No. 1 overall?

It’s highly unlikely, as he is almost a lock to the Wizards at No. 2. Any team that trades up to No. 1 wants Clingan or Risacher, not Sarr. While there are rumors that the Hawks are considering grabbing the French center, Sarr didn’t work out for Atlanta, and multiple reports suggest this is just a smokescreen to try to get the Wizards to trade up a spot to get their guy.

Does LeBron James want to play with his son?

Sure, but it’s not the priority it once was — and it’s fair to ask whether if it’s Bronny’s dream. (How many kids really want to go to work with their dad every day?) In previous years, LeBron said he wanted to play with Bronny a couple of times, which led some teams to think that if they drafted Bronny, they might get a package deal. LeBron toned that down this season. Then, LeBron and Bronny’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, worked to crush the concept, as he said in an  interview with Jonathan Givony of ESPN .

“LeBron is off this idea of having to play with Bronny," Paul said. "If he does, he does. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t.”

LeBron and Bronny aren’t a package deal. For example, there were rumors that Phoenix might draft Bronny in hope that LeBron would go there, but all it can offer LeBron is a veteran minimum deal (have fun asking him to take a $47 million pay cut).

“LeBron is also not going to Phoenix for a minimum deal. We can squash that now,” Paul said.

Betting nuggets for the top of the draft

Alexandre Sarr opened as the favorite (-200) to be drafted first overall, but his decision not to work out for the Hawks have seen his odds (+600) take a substantial hit. Currently, Zaccharie Risacher (-250) is the favorite to hear his name called first tonight.

The 6-foot-9 small forward from France is no lock atop the draft as UConn's big man, Donovan Clingan (+240), is gaining steam in the marketplace. Sarr’s odds to go No. 2 to Washington are -600. Bettors should take note of those odds and recognize the intel the books more than likely have that the Wizards are high on Sarr.

Because there is no clear favorite to go No. 1, bettors also need to speculate whether Atlanta will even be making this pick. There are rumblings San Antonio wants to move up. It can offer picks No. 4 and No. 8 if need be. Do they see Risacher’s skills complementing Wemby’s? Or do they want to pair up the Rookie of the Year and Clingan?

Full draft order

• Atlanta Hawks
• Washington Wizards
• Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
• San Antonio Spurs
• Detroit Pistons
• Charlotte Hornets
• Portland Trail Blazers
• San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Chicago Bulls
• Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
• Sacramento Kings
• Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Orlando Magic
• Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers)
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• New Orleans Pelicans (via Milwaukee Bucks)
• Phoenix Suns
• Milwaukee Bucks (via New Orleans Pelicans)
• New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
• New York Knicks
• Washington Wizards (via Los Angeles Clippers)
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Denver Nuggets
• Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City)
• Boston Celtics

Hold up ... the draft is now two days?

Yes. Typically the entire two-round draft is over one night, but it has changed.

Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, told NBA.com why it made this move.

“Based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms, we believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round. Two nights of prime-time coverage will also enhance the viewing experience for our fans and further showcase the draftees.”

Who could get traded?

Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans is at the top of that list.

Expect a flurry of trades during this year’s draft, but if you were going to bet on one player’s being moved, it should be Ingram. The Pelicans have been actively testing the trade market for the wing, who averaged 20.8 points a game last season but never fully meshed with Zion Williamson.

The Pelicans are seeking players who better fit with their core, plus they want picks. If Ingram isn’t moved at the draft, he will be early in free agency.

Will Bronny James be drafted in the first round?

One should never say never around the NBA, but it is highly, highly unlikely Bronny hears his name on the first day of the draft.

Bronny isn’t NBA-ready as a player and most likely needs a couple of years of development — if a team doesn’t think LeBron is coming, Bronny isn’t a first-rounder on his own.

His agent, Rich Paul, is doing everything he can to get Bronny a regular NBA contract — not a two-way deal — but being a first-round pick means multiple years of guaranteed money. Teams don’t want to be locked into Bronny for that long. The second round is where teams looking to roll the dice on players pick up their guys.

Greg Rosenstein is the sports editor for NBC News Digital.