The 2024 NBA Draft is about to begin in under a half hour – at the time of publishing – as basketball fans from around the world will be tuning in to watch the next group of the league’s future find out which team they will be playing.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Out of the massive group of viewers drawing their attention to this special event, former NBA assistant and current Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts has no idea what is going to happen and is excited because of the mysteriousness.
“Obviously I am a coach but I am a fan of two things: the Minnesota Vikings and the NBA Draft,” Tibbetts said, with a smirk. “I am a big mock draft guy, usually know the NBA Draft really well. Just from a fan perspective, I don’t know anything about this year’s draft because I have been busy with our season. I am excited to watch because I feel like I am going in blind.”
“I am a fan of two things: the Minnesota Vikings and the NBA Draft.”
Our @AlecCipollini asked Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts about how special the #NBA Draft is and here is his response ????.#ValleyTogether #WNBA #Skol pic.twitter.com/bwyiW6gItF
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 26, 2024
Tibbetts previously spent two years with the Orlando Magic (2021-23), eight with the Portland Trail Blazers (2013-21) and two with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-13).
Along his career path to where he is today, he appreciated the time in the NBA when working with some of the best athletes in all of sports and has transitioned the same work ethic into the WNBA with the Mercury.
Recalling what makes the NBA Draft so remarkable every year, Tibbetts remembers what it was like seeing a player being selected to one of his former teams and how they can change the trajectory of the franchise as a whole.
“In the NBA, there are different levels of teams,” Tibbetts said. “There are teams that go young and those are franchise-changing picks. The top five to seven picks, you hope those players become the face of your franchise and what you are about for the next five, seven or 10 years. It is an exciting time for those franchises. Obviously here with the [Phoenix] Suns, they are just trying to add a piece that will hopefully someday play in the rotation.
Now in Phoenix and in a new league, Tibbetts has shied away from paying close attention to the top prospects about to be drafted into the NBA and will watch from afar.
With the Suns and Mercury being interconnected with one another, he joked around when asked if he listened in to conversations that the NBA team has had during the draft process.
“I stay out of the way, we got enough to worry about here with the Mercury,” Tibbetts said. “This is what the scouts and front office live for.”
Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts talked about if he listens in the Phoenix Suns’ pre-draft conversations, then a ball came in flying behind him ????. #ValleyTogether #WNBA pic.twitter.com/S8sDtrIOuh
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 26, 2024
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
