Victor Wembanyama Headlines The 2023 NBA Draft Class

The 2023 NBA Draft was one of the most anticipated drafts in the history of the event. Held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 22, 2023, the draft featured a cast of enormously talented NBA hopefuls dressed in their finest fits—including international phenom Victor Wembanyama.

Now a global spectacle, players from professional leagues around the world, the states, and collegiate ranks all gathered to hear the names called by Commissioner Adam Silver. As expected, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Wembanyama as the No.1 overall pick. 7-foot 2-inch hooper, who played professional ball with the Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A in France, is considered to be the best NBA prospect since LeBron James.

Accompanied by his siblings, Wembanyama was overcome with emotion as he accomplished his lifelong goal of making it to the NBA. “Best feeling of my life,” Victor Wembanyama said as he fought back tears. "Probably the best night of my life. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long. It's accomplishing something that I've been dreaming of my whole life. Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much, I got to cry."

"Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much."

—Victor Wembanyama and his siblings were emotional after he was drafted No. 1 overall pic.twitter.com/YRlkTcMpbl

— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2023

The Charlotte Hornets selected Alabama’s Brandon Miller as the overall second pick, a freshman forward from the University of Alabama. He shared his excitement about teaming up with LaMelo Ball.

"Melo is my guy," Miller said. "I think with Melo, as good of a point guard as he is, I think I just kind of fill in a place for him[on the court]. And I know he’s a great vet, and he’s going to be the big brother for me away from home."

Heading to the Portland Trail Blazers is Scoot Henderson, a guard with the G League Ignitemwho, was chosen as the third pick. After being selected, he described what kind of player he intends to be as a Trail Blazer.

"They’re getting a dog that’s going to come in and be hungry," Henderson said. "I’m young, but I have a mature mindset. I’m going to work and make a real impact not just on the basketball side but in the community."

For the first time in NBA history, a set of twin brothers were chosen back-to-back in the top 5. Amen Thompson was selected by the Houston Rockets as the fourth pick, and the Detroit Pistons took Ausar Thompson as number 5. The Thompson twins are the second set of brothers to be drafted in the top 5, following Lonzo Ball (2017) and LaMelo Ball (2020).

“I’m just excited. Excited to be a Rocket,” Amen said. “Being in the NBA and playing with these athletic guys, I feel like my best brand of basketball is running. We're a young team, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

“I’m super excited. I’ve never seen anything like this, so it feels nice to make history with Amen,” Ausar said. "I’m super excited to meet my coaches, and we’re trying to contend [for the postseason]."

Of course, NBA Draft Night would not be complete without some fireworks. Besides all the moves that took place during the draft, some blockbuster deals made that caused a seismic shift in the NBA landscape

The Washington Wizards dealt Center/Forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-player deal that included Celtics guard Marcus Smart being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala. The Wizards will receive point guard Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies. To make the deal happen, Porzingis agreed to opt into his $35 millon player option right before the midnight deadline on June 21, 2023.

After being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Washington Wizards for shooting guard Bradley Beal on June 18, 2023, point guard Chris Paul was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for swingman Jordan Poole.

The 2023 NBA Draft Class is full of potential, and only time will tell which draftees will become major contributors to the league. With NBA Summer League right around the corner, the world will get to see the new players in action very soon.

Below is the entire list of the first-round picks of the 2023 NBA Draft:

1. San Antonio: Victor Wembanyama, C, France

2. Charlotte: Brandon Miller, SF, Alabama

3. Portland: Scoot Henderson, PG, G League Ignite

4. Houston: Amen Thompson, PG, Overtime Elite

5. Detroit: Ausar Thompson, SG, Overtime Elite

6. Orlando: Anthony Black, SG, Arkansas

7. Indiana: Bilal Coulibaly, SF, France (traded to Washington)

8. Washington: Jarace Walker, PF, Houston (traded to Indiana)

Utah: Taylor Hendricks, PF, UCF

10. Dallas: Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky (traded to Oklahoma City)

11. Orlando (from Chicago): Jett Howard, SG, Michigan