With the 2025 NBA Draft just a couple of weeks away, the league has begun sending out green room invitations to this year’s top prospects. For those unfamiliar, the green room is a designated area at the draft for players projected to be selected early—typically within the top 10—or who had standout seasons. It’s meant to spotlight future stars with a walk across the stage, a handshake from Commissioner Adam Silver, a quick interview, and plenty of photo opportunities.
But there’s a downside. If a player receives an invite and ends up waiting much longer than expected to be picked, the spotlight can become uncomfortable. Rashard Lewis, for example, endured a tough wait through the entire first round in 1998. NFL fans may recall similar situations with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn.
Speaking of the NFL, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders may have made the right call by skipping the green room. Once projected as a top pick before last season, Sanders didn’t go until the fifth round of last month’s draft. Had he attended, the media frenzy would’ve only intensified.
So far, 13 players have been invited to this year’s NBA Draft green room. One of them is Matas Jakucionis, though it’s unclear whether he’ll attend. While he’s expected to be a first-round pick, slipping outside the top 10 wouldn’t be a total surprise given his recent dip in draft stock. He might be better off watching the draft from home, surrounded by family and friends, and avoiding the stress of an uncertain spotlight.
