Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner will have to wait one more day for his NBA dreams to come true.
Kalkbrenner, widely considered a first-round pick entering this year's draft, wasn't selected with any of the 30 picks in Wednesday's opening round.
The second round begins at 7 p.m. Thursday (on ESPN and ABC), with Kalkbrenner likely to be taken in the first few picks.
Throughout draft week, the 7-foot-1 rim protector was linked to Boston, the 2024 NBA champs who hold the No. 32 pick. But the center-needy Celtics took Spanish wing Hugo Gonzalez with the 28th pick.
Minnesota, needing a reserve big behind Rudy Gobert, has pick No. 31, though the Wolves drafted French center Joan Beringer at No. 17 overall.
Phoenix seemed like another likely landing spot for Kalkbrenner, the reigning Naismith and NABC defensive player of the year. Until the Suns took Duke 7-footer Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick then trading No. 29 to Charlotte for Mark Williams, filling their need for frontcourt depth.
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Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024-25 Creighton men's basketball season
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Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) shoots a layup during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Villanova at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton players cheer from the bench during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ty Davis (9), left, and Jasen Green (0) celebrate after their victory over Xavier in a men's college basketball game at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) walks away after addressing fans during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Mason Miller (13) poses for a portrait during Creighton men's basketball media day in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) goes up for a layup against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Fredrick King (33) goes up for a shot against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Sterling Knox (4) celebrate with head coach Greg McDermott after his 328 win at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton mascot Billy Bluejay dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton players celebrate after their fans rushed the court after defeating Kansas, 76-63, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot above Seton Hall's Emmanuel Okorafor (23) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Seton Hall's Garwey Dual (33) dunks the ball against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) is celebrated after a call agaisnt Seton Hall's Jahseem Felton (15) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after a basket against Xavier during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Billy Bluejay waves a flag during player introductions before the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) dribbles the ball against Marquette during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Mason Miller (13) looks to pass the ball away from Marquette's Kam Jones (1) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Connecticut at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates going into a timeout after dunking the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. MEGAN NIELSEN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against DePaul at CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. NIKOS FRAZIER, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) walks out during pre-game introductions before the first half af a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) carries his son Tommy Jay as he walks out during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025. CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD
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