With the first two rounds of the 2023 NBA Draft in the books, let’s break down the ten players most likely to succeed.
Basketball fans will always look back on the 2023 NBA Draft because of how unique this class is compared to recent history. For example, a college freshman has been the first overall pick in the NBA Draft for the last 13 years. This year, Alabama forward Brandom Miller was the lone college prospect selected in the top five. The Crimson Tide freshman was picked second overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
Metropolitans 92 forward Victor Wembanyama became the first international player to be selected first overall directly after playing a season professionally overseas since 2006 when the Toronto Raptors drafted Andrea Bargnani out of Benetton Treviso in Italy.
Amen, and Ausar Thompson became the first pair of brothers to get drafted in the top five of the same draft within the four major sports leagues since 1999, when Daniel and Henrik Sedin were taken back-to-back by the Vancouver Canucks. The twin brothers played together last season for G League’s Overtime Elite.
The difference between the NBA and every other major sports league is that there are several paths to getting drafted into the NBA. Whether it is the international path, the NCAA collegiate path, or even the G-League, prospects get to go up against NBA-ready players. This class is special because you see talent coming from all different directions.
That said, let’s look at the ten players most likely to succeed in this year’s NBA Draft.