2021 NBA Draft: Time, how to watch/live stream, top picks, first round order

The NBA Draft is finally here. After a delayed start to the 2020-21 season and nine days removed from the Milwaukee Bucks’ first NBA Championship since 1971, the next generation of professional players will be selected.

All eyes will be on the Detroit Pistons, who have the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft. They last picked first in 1970, taking St. Bonaventure center Bob Lanier, who spent 10 seasons with the organization. This time, Detroit will most likely pick Oklahoma State’s 6-foot-8 point guard Cade Cunningham.

The 19-year-old traveled to Michigan for a pre-draft workout with the Pistons earlier this week, and already said that Detroit fits him. He also signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Nike – which he wore at OSU, where Cunningham was named a consensus All-America.

Other top prospects in this year’s draft include shooting guard Jalen Green (G League Ignite), center Evan Mobley (Southern Cal) and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs. When they are picked and where they go will be determined Thursday night.

The Houston Rockets have three total picks in the NBA Draft, and all three are in the first round. They won the second overall pick after posting a 17-55 record this past season, and then will make back-to-back selections after acquiring Portland’s No. 23 and Milwaukee’s No. 24 picks.

Also taking to the podium three times on Thursday will be the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the No. 6, 16 and 18 picks in the draft. In total, the Thunder have six picks, the most selections this year.

When is the NBA Draft?

The 2021 NBA Draft will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. This year’s event will be hosted at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will be in-person, with about 20 prospects scheduled to attend.

How to watch on television

Both rounds of the NBA Draft will be live on ESPN starting at 8 p.m. ET. ABC also will televise the first round of the draft live for the first time.

How to stream

The NBA Draft also will be streamed on fuboTV, which requires a subscription or a free seven-day trial.

NBA draft order

1. Detroit
2. Houston
3. Cleveland
4. Toronto
5. Orlando
6. Oklahoma City
7. Golden State (from Minnesota)
8. Orlando (from Chicago)
9. Sacramento
10. New Orleans
11. Charlotte
12. San Antonio
13. Indiana
14. Golden State
15. Washington
16. Oklahoma City (from Boston)
17. Memphis
18. Oklahoma City (from Miami via the LA Clippers, Philadelphia and Phoenix)
19. New York
20. Atlanta
21. New York (from Dallas)
22. Los Angeles Lakers
23. Houston (from Portland)
24. Houston (from Milwaukee)
25. LA Clippers
26. Denver
27. Brooklyn
28. Philadelphia
29. Phoenix
30. Utah

Seven teams will not make a selection in the first round, pending any trades: the Trail Blazers, Bucks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Contact Alyssa Hertel at ahertel@usatoday.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.