NBA Draft 2023: First Round Pick Top 10
The 2023 NBA draft, has finally concluded. Ever since the San Antonio Spurs clinched the NBA draft lottery in May, the focus has been firmly on them.
Making the most of their top spot, the Spurs have selected the French center Victor Wembanyama, a talent heralded as a generational prospect. The choice of Wembanyama as the number one pick was never shrouded in uncertainty or misdirection. It was clear from the onset that he was destined to be the first pick for whichever team won the draft lottery.
This towering 7-foot, 4-inch prodigy is set to join forces with the legendary Gregg Popovich, a coach with an esteemed place in the Hall of Fame. The induction of Wembanyama is expected to spark a renaissance for the Spurs, a franchise that has enjoyed a rich legacy of success including four NBA titles between 1999 and 2014.
Here is the list of NBA Draft 2023 Top 10 Picks.
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.The most anticipated prospect to hit the NBA since LeBron James 20 years ago. Wembanyama possesses a skill set unlike any player in the NBA with his 8-foot wingspan and the way he can shoot from beyond 3-point range. 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. This is the third No. 1 overall pick the five-time champion Spurs have landed in franchise history after No. 1 overall selections David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
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 th
e 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. Prior to the NCAA tournament, Miller shot over 40% from 3-point range on seven attempts per game. The Hornets were the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA this past season (shooting 33%) and could use his size at 6-9 and consistent shooting on the perimeter alongside LaMelo Ball.
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. Henderson is the best guard in this draft class and can grow into a pro learning from Dame Lillard. 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. Henderson will bring tremendous court vision and playmaking to the Trail Blazers..
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. The Rockets could be looking to make a move this offseason with James Harden rumored to want to return to Houston. Adding another young, athletic guard to the current roster doesn’t make a ton of sense but if the Rockets are drafting the best available prospect, Amen is it and they’ll have to figure out the pieces and fit once he gets to Houston.
No. 5 Detroit Pistons, Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
The other half of the Thompson twins, Ausar has fantastic size (6-foot-7) for a guard. But Thompson has freakish athleticism and can pretty much do anything asked of him on the offensive end. He can score, pass and rebound, and dominated as a two-time Overtime Elite Finals MVP. His explosiveness on the defensive end is also a plus; he can read passing lanes and his long frame allows him to disrupt any offensive flow. Like his brother, he can also develop a 3-point shot, but he’ll be a nice addition alongside the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft Cade Cunnigham. The pick also makes the Thompsons the first set of brothers drafted in the same draft since Markieff and Marcus Morris in 2011. It is also the second time brothers have been drafted in top 5 in the common draft era, but first time in same draft. other time was Lonzo Ball in 2017 and Lamelo Ball in 2020. Ausar showed better improvement as a perimeter shooter than brother Amen and can slide in alongside the wing next to Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ively. Ausar is one of the most athletic guards in this draft class, a tenacious defender and has a high IQ. He can switch out playing the 1, 2 or 3 and plays an up-tempo game.
No. 6 Orlando Magic, Anthony Black, Arkansas
A big point guard, Black is a true floor general and has a great knack for finding open players in rhythm. Black is a pass-first guard but has a nice shooting touch that defenders will have to respect. He averaged 34.9 minutes a game for the Razorbacks, so his durability shouldn’t be a question, but he will need to gain some strength to handle some of the bigger defenders in the league. He’ll likely play alongside Cole Anthony, but he will become a favorite of Paolo Banchero. Black has the potential to be one of the best guards in this draft class with his size as a primary ball-handler, vision in the open court and length on defense. Black was one of the best passers in college basketball this past season and has high upside.
No. 7 Indiana Pacers, Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92
Playing on the same team as Victor Wembanyama meant scouts galore and Coulibaly showed his worth. He averaged just give points in 18 minutes per game, but his improvement throughout the season skyrocketed him up draft boards. At 6-foot-7, 190 pounds, Coulibaly fits the build for a 3-and-D player many around the NBA continue to desire. He’ll take some time to develop but is a prospect who can pay off in the future. Coulibaly is one of the biggest risers of the draft and was playing for his French team, Metropolitans 92, up until last week. He’s one of the youngest players in this class and will need some development before he starts to log consistent minutes. Coulibaly is a solid 6-7 and has a wingspan of 7-3. His length allows him to be very effective on defense, and he showed improvement to his outside jumper over the course of the season.
No. 8 Washington Wizards, Jarace Walker, Houston
Someone who isn’t afraid on the defensive end, Jarace Walker has a solid frame with a long wingspan that can match up with anyone in the post and can be an instant rim protector. On the opposite end, the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year is a difficult matchup for any coaching staff to figure out, as he can overpower smaller defenders, run past bigger defenders, and knock down jump shots. Walker becomes the first top-10 pick out of Houston since Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in 1984. Walker has one of the most NBA-ready bodies in this class with his 6-8, 250-pound frame. He’s a hybrid 4 who has shown potential in extending his game outside the key. Walker’s defensive versatility and the way he can guard the switch solidified himself as a top-10 prospect, and he’ll likely see early rotational minutes during his rookie season.
No. 9 Utah Jazz, Taylor Hendricks, Central Florida
Probably the most unknown lottery prospect, Hendricks might be the most NBA-ready player other than Wembanyama as he becomes the first UCF player ever selected in the first round. He may look slim, but he was just as dominant as any big in college basketball last season. While being able to shoot wherever he wants. He led UCF in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.0 rebounds per game), while averaging an astounding 1.7 blocks per game. By being a dynamic scoring threat with the ability to guard any position, Hendricks has the potential to be Rookie of the Year, and his style of play will fit perfectly in today’s NBA. Paired with Walker Kessler, good luck going against the Utah bigs. Hendricks is that 3-and-D player every team looks for in the draft, and with his added length at 6-9 he can play more of the stretch-4 position. He shot the ball well during his one year at UCF (39.4% from 3) and is a two-way scorer who is comfortable taking players off the dribble.
No. 10 Dallas Mavericks, Cason Wallace, Kentucky
The 6-foot-4 guard is a strong defender who showed flashes of his on-ball ability with the Wildcats. He also shot the ball well from deep, netting 34% of his 3-pointers in his lone Kentucky season. Wallace still has strides to make as a playmaker but can step right into the NBA as a defensive guard who can shoot. Wallace can assist on that side of the ball as a rookie, taking the load off offensive stars. Wallace is the 62nd Kentucky draftee since the NBA went two rounds in 1989, tying Duke for most in that period. Wallace is arguably the best on-ball defensive guard in this class and can comfortably guard both backcourt positions at a high level. He’s a tough guard who loves to turn the corner and get downhilil. Wallace showed he can play on and off the ball during his one year at Kentucky, and he could be the next great guard to come out of coach John Calipari’s system to hit the NBA.
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