By the end of the draft, around 40% of the players selected in it were born from countries outside the United States. It would remain the highest influx of international players selected in the modern NBA draft era until the
2016 NBA draft, where almost half of the selected players were born in countries outside the US. In addition, four of the players selected in the draft were
Russians, which not only marked the highest number of players born in that region to be taken in one draft, but also was the highest representation of a country in one draft until 2016 when five
Frenchmen would be taken in the draft.
After the completion of the regular season,
Emeka Okafor, the Bobcats' historical first rookie draft pick back when they were considered an expansion franchise,[4] was named
Rookie of the Year, while
Ben Gordon earned the
Sixth Man Award, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to do so.[5]
Dwight Howard has become an
NBA Champion, eight-time All-Star, has received seven All-NBA selections, and a three-time
NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee. He also had the distinction as the only NBA player straight out of high school to start all 82 games as a rookie. There are also four other players that would be named All-Stars at some point in their careers, and
Al Jefferson would be named to an All-NBA team.
Andre Iguodala would win four championships with the
Golden State Warriors and was named
Finals MVP in 2015. The draft is also notable for multiple players coming straight from high school being drafted within a few picks from each other. This is currently the most recent draft class with no remaining players active in the NBA, as
Andre Iguodala announced his retirement in 2023.
^Nationality indicates the player's national team or representative nationality. If a player has not competed at the international level, then the nationality indicates the national team which the player is eligible to represent according to
FIBA rules.
Notable undrafted players
These players not selected in the draft have played at least one game in the NBA.
Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They have no remaining college eligibility.
If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under the contract.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
They are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates players born on or before December 31, 1982, were automatically eligible for the 2004 draft.
They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA within the United States, and have played under that contract.
^
abcThe Clippers traded No. 2 pick to the Bobcats for No. 4 and No. 33 picks on June 21, 2004. The Bobcats agreed to select
Predrag Drobnjak from the Clippers in the Expansion Selection. "Bobcats deal with Clippers, move up to No. 2". USA Today. June 22, 2004.
Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2007.
^Born in what is now South Sudan, Luol Deng became a naturalized British citizen in 2006 and played for Great Britain in international competitions.
^
abThe Suns traded the No. 7 pick to the Bulls for a second-round pick (No. 31) and $3 million in cash on the draft day. "Suns trade draft pick". Associated Press. June 24, 2004.
^The Knicks traded this pick along with
Antonio McDyess,
Howard Eisley,
Charlie Ward,
Maciej Lampe, the rights to
Miloš Vujanić and a future first-round pick (protected through 2010) to the Suns for
Stephon Marbury,
Penny Hardaway and
Cezary Trybanski on January 5, 2004. Sheridan, Chris (January 5, 2004). "Marbury traded to Knicks". Associated Press. The Suns traded this pick along with
Tom Gugliotta, a future first-round pick (acquired from New York and is protected through 2010) and cash considerations to the Jazz for
Keon Clark and
Ben Handlogten on February 19, 2004. "Jazz send Clark, Handlogten to Suns for Gugliotta". Associated Press. February 19, 2004.
^
abThe Pistons traded the No. 25 pick along with
Chucky Atkins and
Lindsey Hunter to the Celtics; and
Bobby Sura and
Željko Rebrača and the No. 17 pick (received from the Bucks) to the Hawks. In return, the Pistons received
Mike James from the Celtics and
Rasheed Wallace from the Hawks. The Celtics also traded Chris Mills to the Hawks. The trade was announced on February 19, 2004. Golen, Jimmy (February 19, 2004). "Celtics get Atkins, Hunter draft pick for James". Associated Press.
^
abThe Rockets traded the No. 21 pick along with
Glen Rice and two future second-round draft picks (from Chicago; No. 51 in the 2005 NBA draft and No. 46 in the
2006 NBA draft) to the Jazz for
John Amaechi and the No. 55 pick (received from Sacramento in the Keon Clark trade) on September 30, 2003. "Jazz trade John Amaechi". NBA.
Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2007.
^The Jazz traded the rights to Pavel Podkolzine to the Mavericks for a future first-round pick (#27 in the 2005 NBA draft) on the draft day. "Jazz Draft Three; Trade One". NBA. Archived from
the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2007.
^The Nets traded the draft rights to Viktor Khryapa to the Trail Blazers for Eddie Gill and cash considerations on the draft day. "Nets trade 22nd pick overall to Portland". ESPN.
Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2007.
^The SuperSonics traded this pick to the Grizzlies for a 2005 second-round draft pick (No. 48) and cash considerations on draft day. "Grizzlies sign Emmett, Burks to two-year deals". Associated Press. July 7, 2004.
^The Suns traded this pick to the Magic for
Donnell Harvey on December 23, 2003. "Suns get Harvey in trade with Magic". Associated Press. December 23, 2003.
^The Magic traded this pick to the Grizzlies for cash considerations on the draft day. "Grizzlies sign Emmett, Burks to two-year deals". Associated Press. July 7, 2004.
^The Raptors traded this pick to the Bulls for a 2003 second-round pick (#45 pick) on June 26, 2003. Gray, Kevin (June 27, 2003). "Toronto trades for Bonner". The Union Leader.
^The Cavaliers traded this pick along with
Lamond Murray to the Raptors for
Michael Stewart and a future first-round pick (#22 in the 2007 NBA draft) on September 26, 2002. "Cavaliers Trade Murray to Raptors". The Washington Post. September 26, 2002.
^The Warriors traded this pick to the 76ers for
Jiří Welsch on June 26, 2002. The 76ers traded this pick along with
Monty Williams and cash considerations to the Magic for a conditional second-round pick on December 23, 2003. "Sixers trade Monty Williams to Magic for draft pick". Associated Press. December 23, 2003. The Magic traded this pick to the Hawks for
Anthony Johnson on February 24, 2000. Sheridan, Chris (February 24, 2000). "Only one minor deal as trading deadline passes". Associated Press.
^The Hawks traded the draft rights to Viktor Sanikidze to the Spurs for a future second round draft pick (#59 in the 2005 NBA draft) and cash considerations on the draft day. "Spurs Acquire Sanikidze from Atlanta". NBA.
Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
^
abThe Kings traded No. 55 along with
Keon Clark and a 2007 second-round pick to the Jazz for the No. 48 pick on August 5, 2003. "Kings Trade Keon Clark". NBA.
Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
^The Nuggets traded this pick to the Magic for
Don Reid and a future first-round pick (#22 in the 2006 NBA draft) on August 1, 2002. "Nuggets acquire F Don Reid". Associated Press. August 1, 2002. The Magic traded this pick along with
Mike Miller,
Ryan Humphrey, and a first-round pick (#27 in the
2003 NBA draft) to the Grizzlies for
Drew Gooden, Gordan Giricek and cash considerations on February 19, 2003. "Magic ship Miller to Grizzlies". Canada: CBC. February 21, 2003.
Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
^The Rockets traded this pick to the Nuggets and
Kenny Thomas to the 76ers; the Nuggets traded
James Posey to the Rockets; the 76ers traded a first-round pick (#16 in the 2005 NBA draft) along with
Art Long and
Mark Bryant to the Nuggets in a three-team deal on December 18, 2002. "76ers get Thomas, Posey to Rockets in three-team deal". Agence France-Presse. December 19, 2002. The Nuggets traded this pick to the Mavericks for a second-round pick (#57 pick in 2003 NBA draft) on June 26, 2003. "Xue Yuyang Joins Denver After Dallas Draft". China Internet Information Center. June 28, 2003.
Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
^
abThe Rockets traded the draft rights to
Luis Flores and cash considerations to the Mavericks for the draft rights to Vasileios Spanoulis on the draft day. "Rockets Trade for Spanoulis in 2004 NBA Draft". NBA.
Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
^The Grizzlies traded this pick to the Spurs for the rights to
Gordan Giricek on June 28, 2002. "Grizzlies sign Croatian guard". Associated Press. July 17, 2002.