The second round is next, but mercifully for this live blogger, this will conclude the Guardian’s live coverage of the 2023 NBA Draft. For a summary of the last few hours, we strongly suggest you read our full report, linked below. Ciao!
NBA 2023 Draft: the first round
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, F. Alabama
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson, G/F, Overtime Elite
6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
7. Washington Wizards (via the Indiana Pacers): Bilal Coulibaly, F, France
8. Indiana Pacers (via the Washington Wizards) Jarace Walker, F, Houston
9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via the Dallas Mavericks): Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky
11. Orlando Magic (via the Chicago Bulls): Jett Howard, G, Michigan
12. Dallas Mavericks (via the Oklahoma City Thunder): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
13. Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick, G, Kansas
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn
15. Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan
16. Utah Jazz (via the Minnesota Timberwolves): Keyonte George, G, Baylor
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
18. Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr, F, UCLA
19. Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara
20. Houston Rockets (via the Los Angeles Clippers): Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova
21. Brooklyn Nets (via the Phoenix Suns): Noah Clowney, F, Alabama
22. Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke
23. Portland Trail Blazers (via the New York Knicks): Kris Murray, F, Iowa
24. Dallas Mavericks (via the Sacramento Kings): Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette
25. Detroit Pistons (via the Boston Celtics): Marcus Sasser, G, Houston
26. Indiana Pacers (via the Cleveland Cavaliers): Ben Sheppard, F, Belmont
27. Charlotte Hornets (via the Denver Nuggets, essentially): Nick Smith Jr, G, Alabama
28. Utah Jazz (via the Philadelphia 76ers): Brice Sensabaugh, F, Ohio State
29. Denver Nuggets (via the Indiana Pacers): Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via the Milwaukee Bucks): Kobe Brown, F, Missouri
The Los Angeles Clippers select Kobe Brown with the 30th pick
With the 30th pick, the last the first round, the Los Angeles Clippers select Missouri forward Kobe Brown. So a Kobe will be playing NBA basketball in Los Angeles.
The Indiana Pacers select Julian Strawther with the 29th pick (for the Denver Nuggets)
The Indiana Pacers trade No 29 to the Denver Nuggets. On their behalf, they select Gonzaga forward Julian Strawther.
The Utah Jazz select Brice Sensabaugh with the 28th pick
At No 28, a pick they received via the Philadelphia 76ers, the Utah Jazz select Ohio State forward Brice Sensabaugh.
Also, the Celtics have traded out of the first round with that selection. Has Brad Stevens switched bodies with Bill Belichick?
Celtics trade 25th pick in NBA Draft to Pistons for 31st pick, two future seconds https://t.co/q3Dxw3HujL pic.twitter.com/D1dHRhxiuQ
— CelticsBlog (@celticsblog) June 23, 2023
Some house cleaning here: the details on that Dallas Mavericks trade earlier are out and that clears up the matter of the trade exception created earlier.
The Kings have traded Richaun Holmes and the draft rights to Olivier-Maxence Prosper to the Mavericks.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 23, 2023
Dallas will absorb Holmes' contract using the TPE created by trading Davis Bertans to OKC.
H/T @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/PS9HN3gszg
The Charlotte Hornets select Nick Smith Jr with the 27th pick
The Charlotte Hornets are now picking at No 27, a pick they received from the Denver Nuggets (it’s more complicated than that, but that’s the Cliff Notes version).
With it, they select Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. Smith Jr is a sneaky scorer but inconsistent. He’s the definition of a late first-round gamble but that doesn’t mean that those gambles don’t work out all the time.
Updated
The Indiana Pacers select Ben Sheppard with the 26th pick
With the No 26 pick, which they received from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Indiana Pacers have selected Belmont forward Ben Sheppard.
The Detroit Pistons trade for the 25th pick
The Memphis Grizzlies select Marcus Sasser with the 25th pick (for the Detroit Pistons)
Okay, never mind, the Boston Celtics have moved the 25th pick, which they received from the Memphis Grizzlies, to the Detroit Pistons. On their behalf, the Grizzlies select Houston guard Marcus Sasser.
As a Boston Celtics fan, albeit a disgruntled one after the Smart trade, I must admit that I am hoping they go with Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr, who is a bit of a risky selection but probably the best talent still remaining on the board here at No 25.
Theoretically, the Memphis Grizzlies have the 25th pick, but they will be trading it to the Boston Celtics in the Marcus Smart trade.
Sacramento Kings trade the 24th pick
Sacramento Kings select Olivier-Maxence Prosper with the 24th pick (but for the Dallas Mavericks)
We have a trade late here in the first round! The Sacramento Kings select Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper at No 23 but on behalf of the Dallas Mavericks.
Updated
Speaking of the Sacramento Kings, they are picking next at No 24. It feels so sad, we were so close to having brothers on the same team!
The Portland Trail Blazers select Kris Murray with the 23rd pick
At No 23, the Portland Trail Blazers select Iowa forward Kris Murray, whose brother Keegan Murray plays for the Sacramento Kings. We’re about to have sibling rivalry games in the Western Conference!
Updated
Next on the clock are the Portland Trail Blazers, with a pick they received from the New York Knicks.
I just realized that this means that we won’t be getting Knicks fans booing the team’s first-round pick this time around which is traditionally one of the most enjoyable things about holding the NBA Draft in New York.
The Brooklyn Nets select Dariq Whitehead with the 22nd pick
At no 22, the Nets choose Duke guard Dariq Whitehead, who is not among those attending so I do not feel so bad about not having written anything about him.
Deja vu! The Brooklyn Nets are on the clock once more, this time with their own 22nd pick.
The Brooklyn Nets select Noah Clowney with the 21st pick
At No 21, the Nets go with Alabama forward Noah Clowney, a versatile defender and streaky three-point shooter who is something of a project.
Next up, the Brooklyn Nets will be up with the 21st pick, this one coming via the Phoenix Suns.
The Houston Rockets select Cam Whitmore with the 20th pick
Villanova forward Whitmore’s stock initially rose after an impressive pro day performance, he’s one of those players whose highlight reel hints at future stardom. Whitmore has the type of sheer athleticism that is impossible to teach and is often unstoppable getting at the rim. Whether he will develop as an all-around player is the question mark but if he does, he could end up being a steal.
Updated
Rumors out there that the Rockets, after nailing their first pick by getting Amen Thompson, will take advantage of Cam Whitmore’s slide by taking him here. Not a bad first round for the Rockets, if so. Whatever concerns there are about Whitmore, he’s definitely worth the risk here.
And one of my favorite traditions: the ESPN broadcast draft fashion montage. This one is set to James Brown, whose music makes everything better.
Next up the Houston Rockets, with the No 20 pick that received from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Golden State Warriors select Brandin Podziemski with the 19th pick
At No 19, the Warriors go with Santa Clara guard Brandin Podziemski.
How many teams are passing on this guy pic.twitter.com/6AdyryugC2
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 22, 2023
I think this guy will be a great fit in Miami. I just feel it.
Next up come the Golden State Warriors, fresh off the acquisition of Chris Paul, who will be picking here at No 19.
The Miami Heat select Jamie Jaquez Jr with the 18th pick
Nope. At No 18, the surprise Eastern Conference champion Heat go with UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Updated
The player slipping down the board this time around? That would be Villanova forward Cam Whitmore. The word on Twitter is that there are some injury concerns with him.
Could Whitmore be heading to the Miami Heat at No 18? Let’s find out!
The Los Angeles Lakers select Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th pick
Selecting at No 17, the Lakers go with Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
A combination point guard and shooting guard, the hope for Jalen Hood-Schifino is that he can improve upon his iffy three-point shooting. It’s hard to thrive with just an impressive midrange game in the modern NBA, particularly when you haven’t proved that you can make up for it on the free-throw line. On the defensive end, however, he should be NBA-ready.
Updated
Next on the clock, the Los Angeles Lakers. Who will be LeBron James’s next teammate? We’ll find out soon, but first a commercial break.
The Utah Jazz select Keyonte George with the No 16 pick
With the 16th pick, the Jazz go with Baylor guard Keyonte George. George is one of those players who has shown plenty of skills but there’s a question about whether his game will translate when the competition ramps up in the pros, particularly on the defensive end. He has the ability to slither through opposing defenses, making him a potential beneficiary of frustration fouls from opposing players.
Every college basketball player looks 13 and every college baseball player looks 33
— Tommy Tomlinson (@tommytomlinson) June 23, 2023
I blame Rob Manfred, somehow.
Now the Utah Jazz are on the clock again, with a pick they received from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Also, I’m running out of players that I have prewritten bios for so I will be slightly less verbose from here on out (except for the fact that I will still use words like “verbose”).
The Atlanta Hawks select Kobe Bufkin with the 15th pick
The Atlanta Hawks select Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin with the 15th overall pick.
Bufkin’s stock rose during his workouts. A two-way player who helps on both offense and defense, he’s capable of making spectacular plays while also capable of making ugly ones. Should he focus on limiting his turnovers, he averaged nearly two a game with Michigan, it feels like his scoring ability should keep him in the league.
We’re almost halfway through here! Up next come the Atlanta Hawks who have the 15th overall pick.
The New Orleans Pelicans select Jordan Hawkins with the No 14 pick
With the 14th pick, the Pelicans go with Jordan Hawkins, the guard who was just part of UConn’s championship-winning team.
There’s always room in this league for shooters and that describes Jordan Hawkins, who hit 38.8 from the three-point line last year at UConn. There are still some questions regarding his frame.
Here’s another wrinkle for Dallas trading down earlier in the draft, they’ve created a trade exception for themselves in the process.
The Dallas Mavericks will generate a $17M trade exception from salary dumping Davis Bertans.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 23, 2023
They project to be $74M below the luxury tax with 7 players. They'll use that flexibility toward re-signing Kyrie Irving, utilizing their new $17M TPE, and the $12.2M non-tax MLE. https://t.co/doeow5Sj6v
The New Orleans Pelicans will now take a break from figuring out what to do with Zion Williamson to pick here at the No 14 slot.
The Toronto Raptors select Gradey Dick with the No 13 pick
In one season at Kansas, Gradey Dick made 40.3% of his three-point attempts and he was not shy in letting it rip. That fact alone probably justifies him going high in the draft but he’s skinny and something of a defensive liability which might confine him to the role of a specialist. Of course, three-point specialists have never been more valuable than they are now.
Updated
Dereck Lively II is the 30th Lottery selection from Duke, the most of any school since 1985. pic.twitter.com/wInh0vTLMb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2023
Oh. Good for them, I guess.
Now on the clock, unless I miss yet another trade, the Toronto Raptors who have the 13th pick.
The Oklahoma City Thunder select Derrick Lively II with the No 12 pick (for the Dallas Mavericks)
With the twelfth pick, the Thunder pick Derrick Lively II, who will be then sent to the Mavericks. (All on paper, of course, they won’t actually force him to make the journey.)
A big man who can get to the basket, whether to score or block shots, Dereck Lively II’s currently not much of a scoring threat after averaging just 5.2 points at Duke last season and his three-point touch was nonexistent. He’s 7-foot-1 and plenty athletic, however, so he’s an intriguing prospect who could bloom into a serious impact player in the right circumstances.
Jett Howard’s dad? That just happens to be NBA star Juwan Howard, who was also his coach in Michigan. This draft is very much a family affair.
So now the Oklahoma City Thunder will be picking at No 12 but for the Dallas Mavericks.
Orlando Magic select Jett Howard at No 11
With the 11th pick, the Magic select Michigan shooting guard Jett Howard. Jett Howard shot 36.8% from the three-point line and is one of those players who can do just about anything on the court even if he’s not projected to be one of those high-ceiling type players.
And here are the details of the Thunder-Mavericks trade.
FULL TRADE DETAILS:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 23, 2023
Thunder receives:
Cason Wallace (No. 10 pick)
Davis Bertans
Mavericks receive:
No. 12 pick
(via @wojespn)
The Orlando Magic are now on the clock for the 11th pick of the Draft, which they received from the Chicago Bulls.
No, things will not be getting less complicated from here on out.
The details of the Wizards-Pacers trade, which seems like a win for Indiana right now. Who knows how the players will develop however.
FULL TRADE DETAILS:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 23, 2023
Wizards:
Bilal Coulibaly
Pacers:
Jarace Walker
Two 2nd Round Picks
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/ukGAqnyEAO
The Dallas Mavericks select Cason Wallace at No 10 (for the Oklahoma City Thunder)
The Dallas Mavericks select Kentucky guard Cason Wallace with the No 10 pick, which they will then send to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A consummate hustler, Cason Wallace is a tenacious defender and a solid offensive player if not yet a steady scoring threat. In Kentucky, Wallace was fourth in the SEC in steals and has shown skills in forcing turnovers. In other words, he’s one of those players who can make himself a complete nuisance for his opponents.
The Dallas Mavericks trade the No 10 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock… and the pick is on the move. They are trading it to the Oklahoma City Thunder, swapping the 10th pick for the 12th.
Updated
The Utah Jazz select Taylor Hendricks at No 9
At 6-foot-8, UCF forward Taylor Hendricks has the size to play center, but probably not the bulk. Hendricks has turned himself into an NBA prospect partly by increasing his three-point percentage, improving from 34% in high school to 39.4% in college, while making over 80% of his free throws. If there’s one concern, it’s how much of this improvement was true growth as opposed to a statistical aberration and whether Hendricks will be exposed once he enters a higher level of competition.
Updated
The Utah Jazz are now on the clock with the No 9 pick as I switch over the ESPN broadcast, which is not ridiculously behind.
That was a very weird trade, but my figure is that the Indiana Pacers were going to pick Jarace Walker anyways so decided to deal with the Wizards who wanted to reach up for Coulibaly for reasons known only to them.
The Washington Wizards select Jarace Walker at Number 8 (for the Indiana Pacers)
At 6-foot-7, 249 lbs, Jarace Walker is going to be able to step into the league and immediately start defending. What’s less sure if he will have the offensive game to develop as an all-around player, as he only averaged 11.2 points per game while playing for Houston last year and has struggled at the free throw line. Still, with his size and ability, he’s going to be a monster assuming he develops an outside shot.
Indiana Pacers trade No 7 pick to Washington
The Indiana Pacers select Bilal Coulibaly at No 7
Here’s a weird one, the Indiana Pacers have selected forward Bilal Coulibaly from France with the seventh overall pick, but will be sending him to the Washington Wizards in a trade.
Coulibaly benefits from being Wembanyama’s teammate in France, but the forward is not just a product of reflected glory. Coulibaly is exactly the kind of gritty defense-first player who has already shown he could be an ideal sidekick for a potential generational player, that’s something every would-be contender needs. He will have to work on both his ballhandling and shooting going forward, however.
The Orlando Magic select Anthony Black with the Number 6 pick
With the sixth pick, the Orlando Magic choose Arkansas guard Anthony Black. ABC has decided not to show it, so they could talk about the Thompson Twins. Sigh.
At 6-foot-6, Anthony Black’s tall for a guard which gives him an advantage in finding teammates with his passes. Black is also a two-way player who can deftly defend his position. It’s still unclear whether Black will have enough ability to create shots for himself, meaning it’s unclear whether he will thrive as a scorer in the NBA. Still, the court awareness is already there and that should go a long way and he could fill it in other positions.
That was the first time that brothers have been selected in the Top 5 of the NBA draft. A big win for nature over nurture.
The Orlando Magic are now on the clock. Unfortunately for them, there are no more Thompson brothers left on the table.
Detroits Pistons select Ausar Thompson with the No 5 pick
Yes, the Detroit Pistons select Ausar Thompson with the fifth overall pick.
Ausar’s main skillset on the offensive end is driving to the basket and getting to the rim and scoring, averaging 21 points per game with the Overtime Elite’s City Reapers. On top of that, he’s also a versatile defender who can steal and block shots. If there’s one thing against him, it’s that he’s not great as a spot-up shooter, which means that he might not be a threat from long distance.
Updated
Amen Thompson is the 1st player from Overtime Elite (OTE) to be drafted into the NBA.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2023
He's the 2nd to play in the NBA (Dominick Barlow).
He will not be the last. I’m making that prediction.
The Detroit Pistons are now on the clock and here now comes an interesting possibility: we could have twins selected back-to-back in the first round of the NBA Draft. I have to think that hasn’t happened before, but I could be wrong.
Houston Rockets select Amen Thompson at No 4
With the fourth pick, the Rockets are going with Amen Thompson.
Guard Amen Thompson was one of two Thompson Twins who brushed up their skills in Atlanta’s Overtime Elite pro basketball league. The 6-foot-7 Thompson has been called a “Taller Ja Morant,” but luckily only for reasons only relating to his on-court play. Fantasize about an ideal player who could operate like a big man but excel at creating shots for others with accurate passes? Well, Amen Thompson could be the answer to your dreams.
That was a no-brainer pick for the Trail Blazers who, essentially, were always going to pick whichever of Miller or Henderson was still available with the third pick. Now on the clock, the Houston Rockets!
Portland Trail Blazers select Scoot Henderson at No 3
The Portland Trail Blazers select guard Scoot Henderson.
The youngest player to ever turn pro, although not with the NBA, Scoot Henderson began his career with the G League Ignite at age 17 where he played two seasons, Henderson’s most impressive offensive skill set is his ability to get to the rim, he’s a dunk machine. As a point guard, he’s more of a Russell Westbrook type than a traditional distributor. His success in the modern NBA may come down to how his three-point shot will develop.
Updated
The Portland Trail Blazers are at the pick with the No 3 pick. The ESPN analysts emphasise that Miller was never charged with a crime.
Here comes the third pick!
The Charlotte Hornets select Brandon Miller at No 2
The Charlotte Hornets choose Alabama’s Brandon Miller with the No 2 pick. I guess they did their research and are comfortable with him.
Miller is the top college player in this year’s draft, a long-distance shooter who made 38.4% of his three-point attempts last season. The SEC Player of the Year is a skilled passer who has also improved at getting to the rim as he has progressed. His abilities are undeniable, it’s only a matter of his off-the-court judgment.
Updated
The Charlotte Hornets are now on the clock with the second pick. While owner Michael Jordan has sold the team, by all accounts this pick will be made under his watch.
The Spurs have had a bit of success at getting the top pick in the right years:
San Antonio Spurs 1st overall picks:
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) June 23, 2023
— Victor Wembanyama (2023)
— Tim Duncan (1997)
— David Robinson (1987)#Spurs | #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/l6yAgPuG6C
San Antonio Spurs select Victor Wembanyama at No 1
The San Antonio Spurs, obviously, select center France’s Victor Wembanyama with the first selection of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Thanks to media hype, nearly every NBA draft brings with it, its own “generational” prospect. However, when it comes to Victor Wembanyama, it feels impossible not to believe the hype. At 7-foot-5, the big man was France’s defensive player of the year while leading the league in points, rebounds and blocks. The LeBron James comparisons only refer to his potential impact, however, his game is so unique that analysts struggle to find an appropriate comparison.
It’s so clearly going to be Wembanyama that they aren’t even doing any speculation, ABC has switched to a puff-piece interview with the French big man.
The San Antonio Spurs are on the clock. They have five minutes to select. I am on the edge of my seat.
Adam Silver welcomes us all. He’s still a bit stiffer than his late predecessor David Stern, who was always at his best in these situations.
NBA Draft begins!
And the official 2023 NBA Draft broadcast has begun! It’s time to settle down for the next few hours as the future of the league begins now!
We’re getting close to the official start of the 2023 NBA Draft. In preparation for the drafting of twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson, may I recommend listening to the following?
Yes, I could have gone with “Hold Me Now,” but that would be too obvious.
The biggest controversy heading into the draft? Kansas’s Gradey Dick’s outfit: are you a fan or not? Me? I love “Midnite Vultures” era Beck, so I’m all for it.
Gradey Dick and Dorothy… two Kansas natives!#NBADraft presented by State Farm
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2023
⏰ 8 PM ET on ABC/ESPN pic.twitter.com/XU0PFMb0iR
Predictions
Hunter, AK here. Who do you think's going #1? I'll hang up and listen
— AK Lingus (@aklingus) June 22, 2023
I won’t lie, feeling pretty good about the top overall pick here!
After that, this boils down to me listening to experts and then making educated guesses. That’s the number one rule about draft night: it’s impossible to figure out what every team is doing, particularly since there is a lot of secrecy and misdirections in the time leading up to it.
The good news is you don’t have to worry about getting anything wrong tonight: so send your predictions throughout the night either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt).
Okay, that’s enough procrastinating, here are my predictions for the first five picks.
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
2. Charlotte Hornets: Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson, G/F, Overtime Elite
The Boston Celtics add Kristaps Porzingis
The rebuilding Wizards have been quite busy in the last 24 hours, having also sent big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal that also ships off Boston’s Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. In the deal, the Celtics receive Porzingis and first-round picks in both this year's and next year’s draft. Meanwhile, the Wizards will receive Memphis’s Tyrus Jones alongside Boston’s Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari (plus, just for funsies, one of the Celtics’ second-round picks from later tonight).
If that’s a bit much to handle, well, first of all, I very much feel for you. Second of all, hopefully, you’re ready for more complicated trades, because those always seem to happen this time of year. Just trying to figure out which team has which team’s original sometimes involves a certain amount of archeological research by the time Commissioner Adam Silver starts reading from the card.
Chris Paul
As is often the case, we had a few trades leading into the NBA Draft. Just hours ago, the Golden State Warriors sent off the slumping Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards in exchange for veteran Chris Paul. Considering that the Warriors already have Steph Curry at point guard, it seems likely that the no-doubt HOFer will have to come off the bench but considering that he’s still looking for the first championship ring of his long career, he might be willing to make the tradeoff.
Chris Paul got traded twice in one book tour.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 22, 2023
Preamble
Hello, welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the first round of the 77th annual NBA Draft, which is being held in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Once a year, the NBA replenishes itself with a fresh influx of young talent, most of which has traditionally come from college. That, however, is slowly changing.
Obviously, it’s no secret that a growing number of NBA players began their professional careers outside the US, including reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokić. In fact, the top player in the 2023 NBA Draft will almost certainly be France’s Victor Wembanyama. Not to spoil things for you but we’re in for a replay of 1997, when the San Antonio Spurs famously won the Tim Duncan sweepstakes. The only question is whether San Antonio will just waste our time and let the clock hit triple digits before making it official.
So, no, there won’t be much suspense at the number one spot but there will be plenty of surprises afterward. This year, the top college pick could very well be Alabama’s Brandon Miller but there are still concerns about his judgment after he provided a gun to a teammate who used it to kill a woman.
Should he fall, it could benefit a player who skipped college in order to join other professional basketball leagues in the US. Outside Wembanyama and Miller, the projected top ten include the likes of Scoot Henderson, of the G League Ignite, and brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson, who both play for the upstart Overtime Elite.
Could we conceivably have a draft where the first college player isn’t selected until the fifth overall pick? Almost certainly not! However, it is on the table for what promises to be an entertaining 2023 NBA Draft. If you wish to join in with your comments, questions or concerns, feel free to send us them via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or through Twitter (to @HunterFelt). The NBA Draft is scheduled to start sometime at about 8 pm EST, but we’ll be back before then with predictions and news around the league.
How to watch the 2023 NBA draft (and order of selection)
The draft starts at 8pm ET on Thursday at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.
Viewers in the US can watch it on ABC, ESPN or via the NBA league pass. International viewers can watch it via NBA league pass.
The draft order is:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Charlotte Hornets
3. Portland Trail Blazers
4. Houston Rockets
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Orlando Magic
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Washington Wizards
9. Utah Jazz
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Toronto Raptors
14. New Orleans Pelicans
15. Atlanta Hawks
16. Utah Jazz
17. Los Angeles Lakers
18. Miami Heat
19. Golden State Warriors
20. Houston Rockets
21. Brooklyn Nets
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Portland Trail Blazers
24. Sacramento Kings
25. Memphis Grizzlies
26. Indiana Pacers
27. Charlotte Hornets
28. Utah Jazz
29. Indiana Pacers
30. LA Clippers
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a little more on tonight’s (almost certain) No 1 pick:
Victor Wembanyama’s NBA story is now underway. The NBA draft – one that Wembanyama’s towering shadow has hung over for months, blocking much of what is usually part of the process – is on Thursday night, and he will be selected No 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
“Ever since I knew about the draft, exactly how it worked, I wanted to be first,” Wembanyama said on Wednesday. “I think I started to realize I could be a professional basketball player at the age of 12. Tomorrow, something’s going to happen, something that I’ve been thinking [about] for years and years, I can’t really describe how I feel right now. I just know I’m going to have trouble sleeping tonight, for sure.”
There has been no debate about who the Spurs should take with the No 1 pick, no discussion of which player might be a better fit, no real attempts to raise any red flags about the presumed selection.
When a player like Wembanyama comes along – and maybe none ever has – there’s no real reason to drum up any drama. The Spurs are not going to pass up someone who is listed at 7ft 4in but has the skills of a player much smaller.
You can read the full story below:
