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The highly anticipated 2023 NBA draft is finally here. The San Antonio Spurs have had little to think about since they won the NBA draft lottery in May.
France center and generational prospect Victor Wembanyama was their choice at No. 1. Whoever won the draf lottery had Wembanyama No. 1 on the draft board.
The 7-foot, 4-inch phenom is on his way to play for Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich. Wembanyama should rejuvenate a franchise that won four NBA titles from 1999-2014 and that has a history of turning international players into stars and champions.
USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest news, updates, analysis and more as the draft unfolds. Follow along.
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92
To no surprise, the French phenom is selected with the first overall pick, instantly making the San Antonio Spurs must-watch television. He dominated the court while playing in France’s top professional level, leading the league in points per game (21.6), rebounds (10.4) and blocks (3.0). At 7-foot-4, his athleticism, shot making and defensive prowess is something few have seen in the NBA, and executives believe it won’t be long before he’s one of the best players in the league.
NBA Draft Hub: Live NBA Draft picks, draft grades, news and analysis
No. 2 Charlotte Hornets, Brandon Miller, Alabama
The national freshman of the year brings length to Charlotte, and becomes another exciting young piece for the Hornets. Miller was a clear NBA talent in his lone season with the Crimson Tide, averaging 18.8 and 8.2 rebounds per game, while also showing some range from beyond the arc. Miller has the size to be disrupter on defense, but what’s going to be the key to his success is having a consistent shot. When Miller gets hot, it’s tough to stop, and he’ll complement LaMelo Bell well by playing on the wing.
No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
If it weren’t for Wembanyama, Henderson had all the capabilities of being the first overall pick. The first player to sign with the G League Ignite for two seasons, Henderson is explosive with the ball and can shake off defenders at will. He averaged 16.1 points per game last season, and his midrange shooting is some of the best in the class. Another explosive guard may be what Damian Lillard needs to make the Trail Blazers a contender, as the backcourt becomes one of the most exciting in the league.
No. 4 Houston Rockets, Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
One half of the Thompson twins, Amen Thompson has insane size (6-foot-7) for someone so skilled with ballhandling and court vision. He has a great feel for the game and finding open guys, averaging 6.8 assists last season. But in the playoffs, Thompson turned it up a notch with 9.2 assists per game. Thompson can also drive into the paint with his explosiveness and is tough to defend on fastbreak opportunities. If Thompson can develop his midrange and 3-point shot, he could be one of the most dangerous point guards in the league. The Rockets are one of the youngest teams in the league, and Thompson could be bring Houston some long-needed success.
Wembanyama is seen as a generational prospect. How did other similar NBA picks do?
France center Victor Wembanyama is the no-brainer top pick and a generational prospect who is predicted to transform whichever franchise he joins, a rare combination in sports.
In February, scouts said that passing on Wembanyama in the draft would be a fireable offense. LeBron James called Wembanyama “an alien” and “generational talent.” Kevin Durant said the NBA is “really in trouble” when the 7-foot-4 center joins the league. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski proclaimed Wembanyama as the greatest prospect in sports.
As generational as Wembanyama might be, there have been other highly touted prospects who have entered the NBA. Some lived up to the hype, rising to the occasion for memorable careers. Others, well, not so much. Here’s how some of the most anticipated NBA prospects fared in the league. — Anthony Gharib
How good is Victor Wembanyama?
San Antonio won the Victor Wembanyama lottery in May, and within the next few months we might have a sense of how the Spurs’ likely first-round draft pick’s skills translate to the NBA. The 19-year-old sensation, who has wowed at the highest amateur levels, powered his French professional team Metropolitans 92 to the LNB Finals. The Mets 92, though, were swept Thursday in the five-game series by favorite AS Monaco, a team with several former NBA players.
Wembanyama scored just eight points for the Mets 92 in the first-game blowout loss, but he bounced back in the final two games with 19 and 22 points, respectively, and seven rebounds and multiple blocks in each. Wembanyama couldn’t help Mets 92 end their championship drought, but that may have little correlation to his future success in the NBA.
And, it’s a bit of apples and oranges to compare a stellar high school career like LeBron James’, a one-and-done college career like Anthony Davis’ or even a four-year college career like Tim Duncan’s – the Spurs’ last No. 1 pick. So here’s a look at how his stature compares with others who have played in the NBA.
Here is a look at Wembanyama’s stats.
Victor Wembanyama height
Wembanyama is listed at 7-foot-4.
— Jim Sergant
Top NBA draft prospects 2023
Here is a look at some of the top prospects in the draft.
∎ Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92, Forward/center, 19 years old, 7-4, 230 pounds, France
2022-23 stats: 21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals
With his size and skill set, Wembanyama is one of the most lauded prospects of the past three decades. Execs believe he is the kind of player who will turn a team into a title contender.
∎ Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite, Guard, 19 years old, 6-2, 196 pounds
2022-23 stats: 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.1 steals
Henderson, who at 17 became the youngest player in G League history in 2021, is the total package. He is a master at midrange, can knock down a shot from behind the arc and finish at the rim, while getting it done on the defensive end. He can immediately impact any team.
∎ Brandon Miller, Alabama, Small forward, 20 years old, 6-9, 200 pounds, freshman
2022-23 stats: 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals
The national freshman of the year, Miller’s long, lanky frame and athleticism will translate quickly at the next level, though he needs to become a more efficient shooter in the pros.
∎ Cam Whitmore, Villanova, Forward, 18 years old, 6-7, 235 pounds, freshman
2022-23 stats: 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.4 steals
A physical wing and active offensive player who likes contact, Whitmore operates from the perimeter with his jump shot or his dribble-drive to the basket but is also comfortable playing off the basketball. He has power and finesse when finishing at the rim.
∎ Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite, Guard, 20 years old, 6-7, 215 pounds
2022-23 stats: 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.3 steals
He is an outstanding athlete with great size and strength for a guard and flourishes in transition with his leaping ability. He can finish at the rim with either hand. Twin brother Ausar is also a projected lottery pick.
How many rounds are in the NBA draft?
The NBA draft has two rounds.
NBA draft order
Here is the order for every single pick.
- San Antonio
- Charlotte
- Portland
- Houston
- Detroit
- Orlando
- Indiana
- Washington
- Utah
- Dallas
- Orlando (from Chicago)
- Oklahoma City
- Toronto
- New Orleans
- Atlanta
- Utah (from Minnesota)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Miami
- Golden State
- Houston (from Los Angeles)
- Brooklyn (from Phoenix)
- Brooklyn
- Portland (from New York)
- Sacramento
- Memphis
- Indiana (from Cleveland)
- Charlotte (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City)
- Utah (from Philadelphia via Brooklyn)
- Denver (from Indiana via Boston)
- LA Clippers (from Milwaukee via Houston)
- Detroit
- Denver (from Houston via Indiana)
- San Antonio
- Charlotte (from Charlotte via Philadelphia and Atlanta)
- Boston (from Portland via Atlanta, LA Clippers, Detroit, and Cleveland)
- Orlando
- Oklahoma City (from Washington via New Orleans)
- Sacramento (from Indiana)
- Charlotte (from Utah via New York)
- Indiana Pacers (from Denver via Dallas and Oklahoma City)
- Charlotte (from Oklahoma City via New York and Boston)
- Washington (from Chicago via Los Angeles Lakers and Washington)
- Portland (from Atlanta)
- San Antonio (from Toronto)
- Memphis (from Minnesota)
- Atlanta (from New Orleans)
- Los Angeles Lakers
- LA Clippers
- Cleveland (from Golden State via Utah and New Orleans)
- Oklahoma City (from Miami via Boston, Memphis, and Dallas)
- Brooklyn
- Phoenix
- Minnesota (from New York via Charlotte)
- Sacramento
- Indiana (from Cleveland via Milwaukee and Detroit)
- Memphis
- Washington (from Boston via Charlotte)
- Milwaukee
NBA draft eligibility requirements
Can anybody enter the draft? Here are the rules of eligibility for the NBA draft.
Age: The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement says that all players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft.
One-and-done rule: The collective bargaining agreement says that “at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school)” in order for a player to be eligible for the NBA draft.
International players: According to the collective bargaining agreement, an international player is defined as one “(i) who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for at least the three (3) years prior to the Draft, while participating in the game of basketball as an amateur or as a professional outside of the United States; (ii) who has never previously enrolled in a college or university in the United States; and (iii) who did not complete high school in the United States.”
Draft limits: A player seeking to be a part of the NBA can only enter two drafts. A player also cannot join the NBA unless he has met the eligibility requirements for the draft. — Victoria Hernandez
NBA draft forfeited picks
The Chicago Bulls and Philadelpha 76ers each forfeited a second-round pick in the NBA draft for violating rules around free agency talks.
NBA draft 2023 projections
France’s Victor Wembanyama will go No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs in Thursday’s NBA draft. The second pick remains a choice between Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.
It is a deep draft among lottery picks beyond Wembanyama, Miller and Henderson. Here is the top five in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft:
- Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 (France), Forward/center, 19 years old, 7-4, 230 pounds
- Hornets: Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite, Guard, 19 years old, 6-2, 196 pounds
- Trail Blazers: Brandon Miller, Alabama, Small forward, 20 years old, 6-9, 200 pounds
- Rockets: Cam Whitmore, Villanova, Forward, 18 years old, 6-7, 235 pounds
- Pistons: Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite, Guard, 20 years old, 6-7, 215 pounds
How many picks are in the NBA draft?
The NBA draft usually has 60 total picks. This year, there are 58 total picks as the Chicago Bulls and Philadelpha 76ers each forfeited a second-round pick for violating rules around free agency talks.
No. 1 NBA draft picks
Here are the No. 1 picks this century.
- 2022: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
- 2021: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
- 2020: Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2019: Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
- 2018: Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
- 2017: Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2016: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
- 2015: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- 2014: Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2013: Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2012: Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets)
- 2011: Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2010: John Wall (Washington Wizards)
- 2009: Blake Griffin (LA Clippers)
- 2008: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
- 2007: Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers)
- 2006: Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors)
- 2005: Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks)
- 2004: Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
- 2003: LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- 2002: Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)
- 2001: Kwame Brown (Washington Wizards)
- 2000: Kenyon Martin (New Jersey Nets)
Gilbert Arenas: Wembanyama only has to worry about two players in the NBA
Former NBA stars Gilbert Arenas and Iman Shumpert gave their two cents on how the 19-year-old French phenom Wembanyama will do in the NBA on Fubo Sports’ “No Chill with Gilbert Arenas” podcast.
Arenas has high expectations for the center, especially given that regular season MVP Joel Embiid and Finals MVP Nikola Jokic are the only two dominant players at the position.
“He’s gonna be a star. The reason is, there’s only two centers that he’s gotta worry about,” he said. “… I’m putting him at the 5 because he only has to worry about Embiid for two games and then Joker for six. … You gonna get killed for six games, but other than that, it’s just lunch meat out there for you.”
Shumpert said teams are going to throw the best they can at him despite position.
“They’re gonna put whoever can move with him the best,” he said. “Certain people are just not gonna guard him.”
The “Dancing with the Stars” champion explained Wembanyama will grow into his potential naturally.
“Just develop, put that weight on, get your confidence up to realize nobody can stop you,” he said. “That’s the scary part. When they give you 20 shots a game and start letting you realize, you’ll figure it out.” — Victoria Hernandez
Scoot Henderson’s first Puma player edition shoe released
It’s a big week for Henderson, a likely top three pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Henderson will be busy seeing his NBA dreams come true as he walks the stage in Brooklyn. But, it’s not the only thing he’ll be celebrating — his first player edition shoe with Puma released on Thursday.
The presumed No. 2 pick signed a deal with Puma last year at the age of 18. Puma is launching Henderson’s new All-Pro Nitro shoe colorway and decided to celebrate it in a huge way.
A massive billboard with Henderson wearing his new shoes appeared on Flatbush in Brooklyn this week. His colorway is inspired by Henderson’s hometown of Marietta, Ga. plus his “Overly Determined To Dominate” mantra, according to ESPN’s Nick DePaula.
The shoes colors include red, light blue and white, matching the colors of two teams that may select Henderson on Thursday: The Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers. — Anthony Gharib
NBA draft betting odds
The draft is one of many events NBA fans can wager on. Victor Wembanyama is the overwhelming favorite to be drafted first overall, and the betting odds reflect that. He is listed at –10,000 odds to be the first name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, according to BetMGM. But the second and third picks are where things could get interesting. BetMGM has Brandon Miller listed as the favorite to go second overall at -550, while Scoot Henderson is +250 to be the second pick and -450 to go third overall. — Richard Morin
NBA draft odds 2023
There are plenty of odds when it comes to the NBA draft. First, teams that miss the playoffs enter into a lottery system to determine their first-round selection. For example, the team with the worst record in the regular season has a 14% chance to claim the top pick. This season, the San Antonio Spurs won the first overall pick despite only having tied for the second-worst record during the 2022-23 season. — Richard Morin
These six teams have the most at stake in 2023 NBA draft
The Spurs are on the clock, but there’s no suspense surrounding the No. 1 overall pick with generational talent Victor Wembanyama destined for San Antonio.
Wembanyama headlines Thursday’s 2023 NBA draft. However, there is uncertainly following the consensus top choice. What will the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers do at the top of the draft? Will Orlando make magic happen with its two lottery selections? Could the Los Angeles Lakers trade the No. 17 pick?
All 30 clubs have some decisions to make. USA TODAY Sports explores NBA teams with much at stake ahead of the draft. — Tyler Dragon
Brandon Miller stands by Paul George as GOAT
NBA Draft prospect Brandon Miller is sticking by his GOAT pick.
After setting the internet ablaze on Wednesday by dubbing Paul George as the greatest basketball player of all-time over LeBron James and Michael Jordan, Miller doubled down on his controversial selection: “I grew up watching Paul George and I think Paul George is my GOAT.”
Miller clarified that he didn’t mean any disrespect toward James or Jordan.
“I’m not knocking LeBron (James) or Michael Jordan,” he told USA TODAY Sports on the 2023 NBA Draft red carpet in Brooklyn Thursday. “I know they are all great players. LeBron is the best in the league now and I know Jordan was the best in the league at the time.” — Cydney Henderson
NBA mock draft: Final first-round projection runs deep after Victor Wembanyama
France’s Victor Wembanyama will go No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs in Thursday’s NBA draft.
Unless something drastic happens, the Spurs are setting up their present and future with the player many believe is a generational, franchise-transforming player.
The second pick remains a choice between Alabama forward Brandon Miller and G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.
“That’s a difficult decision,” ESPN’s Jay Bilas said. “I would lean toward Miller because of the shooting. In a league that values shooting, he can really shoot it.”
It is a deep draft among lottery picks beyond Wembanyama, Miller and Henderson.
“I have Cam Whitmore of Villanova rated fourth,” Bilas said, adding, “After that, there are a number of really good players available. The Thompson twins (Amen and Ausar) are both really talented and can absolutely play.”
Here’s our mock draft ahead of Thursday’s big night for the NBA and top prospects.
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