The 2004 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2004, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm (EDT). In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players. The NBA announced that 56 college and high school players and 38 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2004 draft. On May 26, the NBA draft lottery was conducted for the teams that did not make the NBA playoffs in the 2003–04 NBA season. The Orlando Magic, who had a 25 percent chance of obtaining the first selection, won the lottery, while the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls were second and third respectively. As an expansion team, the Charlotte Bobcats had been assigned the fourth selection in the draft and did not participate in the lottery. The Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round pick due to salary cap violations.
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 Russian-born players to be taken in one draft, but also was the highest representation of a country other than the US in one draft until 2016 when five Frenchmen would be taken in the draft.
The second-overall pick, Emeka Okafor out of Connecticut, the Bobcats' historical first rookie draft pick back when they were considered an expansion franchise, was named Rookie of the Year. Third-overall pick Ben Gordon, also out of Connecticut, earned the Sixth Man of the Year Award, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to do so.
Dwight Howard has become an NBA Champion, eight-time All-Star, has received eight 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. As of the end of the 2022–23 NBA season, Andre Iguodala was the last remaining active player from the 2004 class. Iguodala announced his retirement in 2023.
Draft selections
{|class=wikitable
|-
| G || Guard
| F || Forward
| C || Center
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%"| Position
! width="16%"| Nationality
! width="35%"| Team
! width="20%"| School/club team
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1
| bgcolor="#ff9"| ^
| C/PF <!-- http://www.nbadraft.net/players/dwight-howard -->
|
| Orlando Magic
| Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy <small>(Atlanta)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2
| bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | <sup>~</sup>
| PF/C
| <br>
| Charlotte Bobcats <small>(from L.A. Clippers)</small>
| Connecticut <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3
|Ben Gordon
| SG
|
| Chicago Bulls
| Connecticut <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4
|
| PG
|
| Los Angeles Clippers <small>(from Charlotte)</small>
| Wisconsin <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 6
|
| G/F
|
| Atlanta Hawks
| Stanford <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 7
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|<sup>+</sup>
| SF
| <br>
| Phoenix Suns <small>(traded to Chicago)</small>
| Duke <small>(Fr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 8
|
| C
|
| Toronto Raptors
| BYU <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 9
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|<sup>+</sup>
| SF
|
| Philadelphia 76ers
| Arizona <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 10
|
| SF
|
| Cleveland Cavaliers
| Oregon <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 11
|
| C
|
| Golden State Warriors
| Skonto <small>(Latvia)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 12
|
| C
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| Bakersfield HS <small>(Bakersfield, California)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 13
|
| PG
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Lincoln HS <small>(Brooklyn, New York)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 14
|
| PF
|
| Utah Jazz
| Minnesota <small>(Fr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 15
| bgcolor="#CCFFCC"|<sup>x</sup>
| PF/C
|
| Boston Celtics
| Prentiss HS <small>(Prentiss, Mississippi)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 16
|
| SG
|
| Utah Jazz <small>(from New York via Phoenix)</small>
| Nevada <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 17
|
| SF
|
| Atlanta Hawks <small>(from Milwaukee via Denver and Detroit)</small>
| Saint Joseph's <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 21
|
| C
|
| Utah Jazz <small>(from Houston,</small> <small>traded to Dallas)</small>
| Metis Varese <small>(Italy)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 22
|
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets <small>(traded to Portland)</small>
| CSKA Moscow <small>(Russia)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 23
|
| SG
|
| Portland Trail Blazers <small>(from Memphis)</small>
| CSKA Moscow <small>(Russia)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 24
|
| PG
|
| Boston Celtics <small>(from Dallas)</small>
| Saint Joseph's <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 25
|
| SG
|
| Boston Celtics <small>(from Detroit)</small>
| Oklahoma State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 26
|
| SG
|
| Sacramento Kings
| Western Carolina <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 27
|
| SG
|
| Los Angeles Lakers
| Snaidero Udine <small>(Italy)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 28
|
| PG
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| Breil Milano <small>(Italy)</small>
|-
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 29
|
| C
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Colorado <small>(Jr.)</small>
|-bgcolor="lightgray"
|align=center| 1
|align=center| –
| Forfeited Pick
|
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves <small>(forfeited their first-round pick due to salary cap violations)</small>
|
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 30
|
| C
|
| Orlando Magic <small>(traded to Cleveland)</small>
| FC Barcelona <small>(Spain)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 31
|
| C
|
| Chicago Bulls <small>(traded to Phoenix)</small>
| Atlanta Hawks
| Southeastern Illinois <small>(So.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 35
|
| F/G
|
| Seattle SuperSonics <small>(from L.A. Clippers,</small> <small>traded to Memphis)</small>
| Texas Tech <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 36
|
| PG
|
| Orlando Magic <small>(from Phoenix,</small> <small>traded to Memphis)</small>
| Memphis <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 37
|
| PG
|
| Atlanta Hawks <small>(from Philadelphia)</small>
| Texas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 38
|
| PG
|
| Chicago Bulls <small>(from Toronto)</small>
| Duke <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 39
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Toronto Raptors <small>(from Cleveland,</small> <small>traded to Miami)</small>
| Roseto Basket <small>(Italy)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 40
|
| SF
|
| Boston Celtics
| Mississippi <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 41
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|<sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Seattle SuperSonics
| North Carolina Central <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 42
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| Atlanta Hawks <small>(from Golden State via Philadelphia and Orlando,</small> <small>traded to San Antonio)</small>
| Dijon <small>(France)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 43
|
| SF
|
| New York Knicks
| UCLA <small>(Fr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 44
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| New Orleans Hornets
| Florida State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 45
|
| SF
|
| Charlotte Bobcats <small>(from Milwaukee)</small>
| Michigan <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 46
|
| C
|
| Portland Trail Blazers
| Yonsei University <small>(South Korea)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 47
|
| PF
|
| Miami Heat <small>(traded to Toronto)</small>
| Morehead State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 49
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| PF
|
| Memphis Grizzlies <small>(from Denver via Orlando)</small>
| Khimik Yuzhny <small>(Ukraine)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 50
|
| PG
|
| Dallas Mavericks <small>(from Houston via Denver,</small> <small>traded to Houston)</small>
| Maroussi <small>(Greece)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 51
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SF
|
| New Jersey Nets
| FC Barcelona <small>(Spain)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 52
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| San Antonio Spurs <small>(from Memphis)</small>
| Xavier <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 53
|
| SF
|
| Miami Heat <small>(from Dallas)</small>
| Vanderbilt <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 54
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| SG
|
| Detroit Pistons
| Missouri <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 55
|
| PG
|
| Houston Rockets <small>(from Sacramento</small><small> via Dallas)</small>
| Los Angeles Lakers
| Providence <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 57
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| San Antonio Spurs
| Skha Jakutia Yakutsk <small>(Russia)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 58
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| PG
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves
| Gonzaga <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 59
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"| <sup>#</sup>
| G
|
| Indiana Pacers
| Georgia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Notable undrafted players
These players not selected in the draft have played at least one game in the NBA.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="19%"| Player
! width="1%"| Position
! width="16%"| Nationality
! width="20%"| School/club team
|-
|
|C
|
|AEK Athens <small>(Greece) 1982</small>
|-
|
|PG
|
|Seton Hall <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG
|
|Cincinnati <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C/PF
|
|DePaul <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C/PF
|
|Coastal Christian Academy <small>(Virginia Beach, Virginia) (HS Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SF
|
|Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C
|
|Kent State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG
|
|USC <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SG
|
|Kentucky <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C
|
|Paykan Tehran <small>(Iran) 1985</small>
|-
|
|SF
|
|Fresno State <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|C
|
|Iowa <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|PF
|
|Texas <small>(Sr.)</small>
|-
|
|SF
|
|Georgia <small>(Sr.)</small>
|}
Early entrants
College underclassmen
After seeing a couple of years where they missed the previous year of 75 underclassmen testing their early entry in 2001, this year saw an at the time record-high 92 players declare their initial entry into this year's draft. However, this year also saw an at the time record high 52 underclassmen from college, overseas, or high school withdraw their names from the draft, thus leaving only 40 total underclassmen officially declaring their entry into the NBA draft. The following college basketball players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
- Chris Acker – G, Chaminade (sophomore)
- Trevor Ariza – G/F, UCLA (freshman)
- Brandon Bender – F, Robert Morris (junior)
- Evan Burns – F, San Diego State (freshman)
- Josh Childress – F/G, Stanford (junior)
- Cortez Davis – F, Midland College (sophomore)
- Luol Deng – F, Duke (freshman)
- / Ben Gordon – G, Connecticut (junior)
- Devin Harris – G, Wisconsin (junior)
- David Harrison – C, Colorado (junior)
- JaQuan Hart – G, Eastern Michigan (junior)
- Kris Humphries – F, Minnesota (freshman)
- Sani Ibrahim – F, Gulf Coast CC (sophomore)
- Andre Iguodala – F, Arizona (sophomore)
- Kevin Martin – G, Western Carolina (junior)
- Emeka Okafor – F, Connecticut (junior)
- Randy Orr – C, Georgia Perimeter (sophomore)
- Jason Parker – F, Chipola (junior)
- Donta Smith – F/G, Southeastern Illinois (sophomore)
- Kirk Snyder – G, Nevada (junior)
- Harvey Thomas – F, Baylor (junior)
- Delonte West – G, St. Joseph's (junior)
High school players
This would be the tenth straight year in a row where at least one high school player would declare their entry into the NBA draft directly out of high school after previously only allowing it one time back in 1975. It would also be famous for marking the third (and currently final) time that a #1 pick was selected directly out of high school. This year also saw players like LaMarcus Aldridge, Jermaine Bell, Ivan Chiriaev, and Maurice Shaw all initially declare entry for this year's draft, but ultimately withdraw from it and decide to enter college instead. The following high school players successfully applied for early draft entrance.
|}
Invited attendees
The 2004 NBA draft is considered to be the 26th NBA draft to have utilized what is properly considered the "green room" experience for NBA prospects. The NBA's green room is a staging area where anticipated draftees often sit with their families and representatives, waiting for their names to be called on draft night. Often being positioned either in front of or to the side of the podium (in this case, being positioned somewhere within The Theater at Madison Square Garden), once a player heard his name, he would walk to the podium to shake hands and take promotional photos with the NBA commissioner. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. From there, the players often conducted interviews with various media outlets while backstage. However, once the NBA draft started to air nationally on TV starting with the 1980 NBA draft, the green room evolved from players waiting to hear their name called and then shaking hands with these select players who were often called to the hotel to take promotional pictures with the NBA commissioner a day or two after the draft concluded to having players in real-time waiting to hear their names called up and then shaking hands with David Stern, the NBA's commissioner at the time.
The NBA compiled its list of green room invites through collective voting by the NBA's team presidents and general managers alike, which in this year's case belonged to only what they believed were the top 15 prospects at the time. Despite the higher amount of invites for this year's draft when compared to the previous year's draft, there would still be a couple of discrepancies involved with the invitations at hand with the missing invitation for #10 pick Luke Jackson and the missing invite for future All-NBA Team member Al Jefferson. With that in mind, the following players were invited to attend this year's draft festivities live and in person.