As a veteran NBA analyst with roots in Greek immigrant culture and Chicago’s data-driven sports scene, I’ve seen it all. The 2024 draft’s biggest mistake isn’t just a bad pick—it’s systemic. Marouki was overvalued; Jeluba, a talented South Sudanese center, was discarded too early. This isn’t about talent—it’s about misaligned analytics, cultural bias in scouting, and the cost of ignoring global talent pipelines. Here’s what the numbers really show.