2024 NBA Draft Odds: Risacher Remains Favorite at No. 1

Despite having just a 3% chance of winning the lottery, the Atlanta Hawks received the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Hawks will have an offseason of change after missing the playoffs with a 36-46 overall record last year. But what will they do with the No. 1 pick?

The latest NBA Draft odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook help answer that question.

NBA Draft Odds – No. 1 Overall Pick

Prediction for No. 1 Pick: Donovan Clingan (+450)

• Pick originally made at +1100 odds on May 16

I will always have that CLV on Donovan Clingan.

After grabbing a +1100 flier on Clingan to be the top pick, the UConn big man was once trading as short as +180 in a two-player race to be the first name called in this year’s draft.

But it’s becoming increasingly likely that Zaccharie Risacher is the No. 1 overall pick, as he passed Alex Sarr as the NBA betting favorite during draft week.

Risacher odds have gone from +425 to -450, while Sarr is now +1500 after starting with -300 odds.

Clingan is technically in the mix until the Hawks are on the clock on Wednesday night, but I’m not counting on cashing my ticket.

My original argument was that the odds were too long for an Atlanta team needing frontcourt help, especially since the Hawks haven’t drafted a non-college player in the first round since 2013.

Clingan, a 7-foot-2, 280-pound center, won consecutive national championships at UConn to end his collegiate career. Last season, Clingan averaged 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 22.6 minutes per contest.

I’m still not convinced Risacher is the right pick for Atlanta, but my opinion doesn’t really matter in the end.

NBA Draft Betting Splits: No. 1 Overall Pick

Bronny James is the biggest liability in the No. 1 pick market, but BetMGM isn’t too concerned with that happening.

Risacher has received 38.3% of the handle in this market.

Clingan has netted 22.1% of No. 1 pick bets.

Recent No. 1 Picks in NBA Draft

When was the last time the Atlanta Hawks had the No. 1 pick?

This is the first time the Atlanta Hawks have had the No. 1 pick since 1975.

Atlanta drafted David Thompson with the first pick in 1975. Thompson played nine years (seven with the Denver Nuggets) and was a five-time all-star.

Thompson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Recent Atlanta Hawks First-Round Selections

NBA Draft FAQs

When is the 2024 NBA Draft?

The 2024 NBA Draft will occur on June 26-27, 2024. Wednesday’s Round 1 will begin at 8 p.m. ET, and Thursday’s Round 2 will start at 4 p.m. ET.

Where is the 2024 NBA Draft?

The first round will be at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and the second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.

How can I watch the 2024 NBA Draft?

Both nights of the NBA Draft will air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.