The NBA draft has featured two rounds since 1989. Currently, how the format works is that Adam Silver announces the first-round picks while Mark Tatum announces the second-round picks. Many are curious to know why it’s that way.
Why Does Mark Tatum Announce the Draft Picks in the Second Round Instead of Adam Silver?
Tatum has been announcing the NBA Draft’s second-round picks instead of Silver because it’s part of the job. Since being appointed as the NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, he has announced the league’s second-round draft picks instead of Silver. He continued his role tonight in Day 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Bruce Thornton is selected 31st overall by the @nyknicks in the 2026 NBA Draft!
Watch on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/u6YQ4pgRCY
— NBA (@NBA) June 25, 2026
According to his bio on NBA.com, “Mark Tatum was appointed NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer on February 1, 2014, following unanimous approval by the NBA Board of Governors.”
“Tatum, who joined the NBA in 1999, is responsible for the NBA’s global business and league operations, including international strategy, partnerships, events, team business, grassroots and elite basketball development, and communications.”
Silver announcing only the draft’s first-round picks while Tatum announcing only the draft’s second-round picks is not a new development in the NBA, as Silver did the same thing eight years back when he had Tatum’s exact role when David Stern was the NBA Commissioner.
Once Stern retired as the NBA Commissioner in 2014, Silver took his role, and Tatum took Silver’s.
MORE: BREAKING: Lakers, Bulls Complete Trade Shortly Before Second Round of 2026 NBA Draft
Since then, Tatum has spent the last 12 years announcing the NBA’s second-round picks, as it’s part of his role as NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer. Until the NBA makes any changes in the near future, he will continue to do so.
If and when Silver steps down, Tatum could take over as the league’s commissioner and announce the first-round picks of the NBA Draft, while someone else could take his role.
That’s not all Tatum does around draft time. He is also the one who announces which teams were awarded which lottery picks the month before the draft. Again, this is not a new development in the NBA, as Silver did the same thing when he had Tatum’s role under Stern.
The irony is that back when Stern announced the first-round draft picks, fans would routinely boo him, but cheer Silver when he announced the second-round picks. Nowadays, fans give Silver the same treatment they gave Stern, while Tatum gets the same treatment Silver got when he had his role.
There’s no telling if history will repeat itself if and when Tatum takes Silver’s place.
