NBA Mock Draft 2023 – Player Analysis and Predictions
The NBA Draft marks the beginning of a new season. The most prominent talents around the planet are looking for their place under the sun in the strongest basketball league. The draft carries with it many question marks. Is he the young player that the franchise needs? What if they chose someone else? This year at the Draft lottery, the San Antonio Spurs team got the chance to pick the first pick. The draft is scheduled for June 22. In this article, we will give you our NBA Mock Draft 2023, the first ten lottery picks, and free predictions of which NBA franchise they could end up in.
1st Pick – Victor Wembanyama (C) – Metropolitans 92 (San Antonio Spurs)
Personal data: 01.05.2004, height 224cm, reach 244cm, weight 104kg.
Victor Wembanyama is one of the most considerable talents to come out of the NBA Draft. Thanks to his incredible height, reach, mobility, and superb basketball skills.
He towers over all the other players on the field with a height of 224 centimeters and an incredible arm span of 244 centimeters. Although he is thin and long, he has exceptional coordination and is very talented with the ball in his hands. Unlike the other players in the Draft, he has been playing professional basketball for a long time. With Asvel, he also played in the Euroleague, while he led Metropolitans to the final of the French championship this season.
Victor is multi-talented and excels at both ends of the court. On the defensive end, he changes the game with his length in the racket. He jumps quickly and covers the field well. As he gains strength, his interior defense will only improve. He is also a capable defender on the perimeter, with swift feet and good lateral agility for a player of his size.
Victor is thin and still lacks strength. No doubt, he will always have a slim build but will undoubtedly develop as he grows up. There is no area of his game where he lacks skill or ability – he just needs to continue to improve his skills and decision-making and work on his strength and body.
The San Antonio Spurs have had the opportunity to select the first pick in the Draft twice so far, and they selected Admiral Robinson and Tim Duncan. It’s Victor Wembanyama’s turn!
Comparison: The taller version of Kevin Durant
22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks for Victor Wembanyama in his final game in Europe. Showed his tremendous skill-level, feel for the game, defensive instincts and versatility covering ground on the perimeter and putting a lid on the rim. Spectacular season for the No. 1 pick. pic.twitter.com/Sy2ubtTYOE
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 15, 2023
2nd pick – Brandon Miller (SF) – Alabama (Charlotte Hornets)
Personal data: 22.10.2002, height 212cm, reach 219cm, weight 92kg.
Miller will almost certainly be in the TOP 3 first picks in the Draft. Still, according to his playing characteristics, he is more suited to the Hornets than Henderson. So we expect him to go second in the NBA Mock Draft 2023.
Miller is tough to guard, as he can shoot over guards, dribble bigger defenders and use his dribble to get to the hoop or shoot from mid-range. He has a great jump shot that is very difficult to defend. He shot nearly 40% from three this season.
Unlike Wemby, Henderson, and other players in the Draft, he is not a top athlete, but he has an excellent first step with which he makes a difference. It is necessary to add strength, increase muscle mass and improve the finish of the attack under contact. He has enough height for a winger and enough speed to be a problem in the league. He is a good passer who can create for himself and his teammates from the wing position.
Brandon plays with great energy and transfers that same energy to both the audience and his team. One of the best clutch players in the Draft.
Comparison: Rudi Gay
3rd Pick – Scoot Henderson (PG) – G League Inginite (Portland Trailblazers)
Personal data: March 2, 2004, height 192 cm, reach 198 cm, weight 88 kg.
Henderson is a strong and explosive player with a strong build. This guard is very penetrating and finishes most of his actions at the rim. He has all the necessary dimensions and speed needed to be a top NBA playmaker. Long arms and a low center of gravity can make Henderson an elite defender.
He is a creative finisher who is at his best when he aggressively goes to the basket, and scores points with the racket or from mid-range positions. Henderson is a player who can give any team extra speed, but he is expected to make a difference on both ends of the field in the future.
Henderson needs to work on his shooting, which would take his game to a whole new level. In his first season in the G League, he shot just 17% from three. We believe that the Hornets will skip him from the second position because they are relatively well-filled in a playmaker position. Therefore, we expect Henderson to be the third choice in the NBA Mock Draft and end up with the Trailblazers.
Comparison: Derrick Rose
Scoot Henderson showing off his passing, ball skills, shooting and of course his elite athleticism in front of the Portland Trail Blazers pic.twitter.com/Tn6gqK2quY
— Utility Sports (@_utilitysports) June 3, 2023
4th Pick – Cam Whitmore (SF) – Villanova (Houston Rockets)
Personal data: 08.06.2005, height 198cm, reach 202cm, weight 106kg.
Whitmore is a perfect fit for the Rockets right now. He brings what the Rockets lack most at the moment: strength and toughness in the guard positions and low wing. Whitmore is a powerful player and an athletic powerhouse who contributes above all in rebounding and defensively. With his physical characteristics, Whitmore is ready from the first game to contribute to the franchise that chooses him on both sides of the field.
His speed and power are elusive for most wingers. Technically, he is not at the highest level for now, but in all aspects of the game, he has a massive room for improvement, which certainly puts him at the very top of the players in this Draft.
Comparison: Lou Dort
5th Pick – Jarace Walker (PF) – Houston (Detroit Pistons)
Personal data: 4.9.2003, height 203cm, reach 209cm, weight 109kg.
Walker is a big winger with exceptional natural strength. He has broad shoulders, a solid body, good mobility, and vertical explosion. It fits the profile of a modern four or five in a small lineup. That’s why he’s perfect for the Detroit Pistons, who need such a strong four.
Walker is a versatile player who can play different roles on both ends of the court. He can guard opponents in different positions and has the strength to deal with “real” centers in the racket. He protects the rim well, especially coming from the side.
Comparison: Paul Milsap
The mid post is an area that I envision Jarace Walker thriving in at the NBA level due to his mix of power, shot making, touch and ball skills. As he tightens up his handle, it makes sense to give him more mid post isos than the traditional wing isos to begin his career pic.twitter.com/dIUmXCxRvv
— Jam Hines (@jamontheboards) June 17, 2023
6th Pick – Amen Thompson (PG/SG) – City Reapers (Orlando Magic)
Personal data: 30.3.2003, height 201 cm, reach 213 cm, weight 98 kg.
Thompson is a player who, unlike most young players, skipped college and sought his way to the NBA through the G League. This is a player who, with his physical and athletic abilities, makes a massive difference in the defensive positions. He has an excellent first step with which he makes a difference and finds the penetration to the hoop. He can still improve significantly in his shooting, especially for three points and from the free-throw line.
Although Orlando currently has great defenders, we believe they will not miss a possible “steal” of the Draft.
Comparison: Shaun Livingston
7th Pick – Taylor Hendricks (PF) – UCF (Indiana Pacers)
Personal data: 22.11.2003, height 206cm, reach 223cm, weight 95kg.
Hendricks is a perfect fit for the Pacers, who, in tandem with Turner, could further spread the racket and hit from a half distance for three points as well. A player who is very mobile and fast and brings additional mobility to the racket. With height and a strong body, Hendricks is an athlete who quickly leaves the floor and dunks attractively, and is always a threat on the offensive rebound.
He stands out as an excellent defender who can guard players in the 3-5 positions and has a natural feel for the block. Hendricks is exactly the type of versatile tall player that is in high demand in today’s basketball.
Comparison: Jeremi Grant
8th Pick – Anthony Black (PG) – Arkansas (Washington Wizards)
Personal data: 20.1.2004, height 201 cm, width 210 cm, weight 90 kg.
A very turbulent summer is ahead for the Wizards after the Beal trade, and they desperately need a quality playmaker with points in his hands and an excellent creator. Black is definitely a player that fits the style of the Wizards. He has a lot of room for improvement, especially in shooting and developing his body. Black is one of the best assistants and creators of this generation.
Comparison: Josh Giddey
9th Pick – Bilal Coulibaly (SF) – Metropolitans 92 (Utah Jazz)
Personal data: 26.7.2004, height 201 cm, reach 206 cm, weight 90 kg.
Another player who comes from the French Metropolitans is just proof that significant work has been done in the previous years in this French team. Bilal did not play as significant a role as Wemby in creating the historic result of the team from the Paris area, which played in the final of the championship. This young player has great athleticism, speed, and agility. Offensively, he can improve his shooting a lot, particularly if he changes his shooting mechanics. For his age, he is very strong and attacks the hoop from the front, and he finishes his actions at high percentages.
Comparison: Mini Giannis
10th Pick – Ausar Thompson (SG) – City Reapers (Dallas Mavericks)
Personal data: 30.3.2003, height 201 cm, reach 213 cm, weight 99 kg.
Ausar is the twin brother of Amen Thompson, who we predicted to be the sixth pick in this Draft. There are two very similar stylistic players, but Amen has more potential in shooting and creation. Ausar is a more prominent athlete than Amen, and he focuses much more on the spot-up game, that is, to become a real 3D player. His shortcomings are his play with the ball and in creation, but that is precisely why he is an ideal fit for the Mavs, where the ball is not intended to be in his hands but to finish and play defense.
Comparison: Jason Richardson
