What to know about the 2023 NBA draft
- The San Antonio Spurs capped a month of hype and hope by picking multi-skilled French big man Victor Wembanyama with the overall No. 1 selection of the NBA draft Thursday night in Brooklyn.
- Five of the top 10 picks draft did not play at a U.S. college. Two played in France, one played in the NBA's developmental G League, and two played in the U.S.-run Overtime Elite League.
- Amen Thompson went No. 4 to Houston, and moments later, his twin brother Ausar Thompson went No. 5 to Detroit. Never before have twins been picked in the top 10 of the same draft.
- The first several picks of the 2023 NBA draft went largely as expected.
Clock ticking on second round
The second round goes much more quickly. There’s only two minutes between picks instead of five minutes between selections in Round 1, and no long family hugging sessions since most players selected in Round 2 aren’t physically present at the draft. And there’s only 28 picks, since two second-rounders were forfeited.
Philadelphia and Chicago were stripped of their second-round picks after the league found they broke rules last summer by talking to free agents too early. The 76ers had next year’s second-round pick stripped for the same reason.
A look back: When David Stern clapped back at boo birds
Booing NFL and NBA commissioners has become a time-honored and hilarious tradition at draft nights of their sports.
One of the more notable boo salutes came 10 years ago in Brooklyn when the late David Stern was visibly amused by fan disapproval.
"I can't hear you," Stern said during one chorus of boos.
He later signaled with his right hand for fans to up their booing game.
Stern flipped some boos to laughs when he said: "We've had to explain to our international audience that the boo is an American sign of respect."
Stern turned over emcee duties for the second round of 2013 picks to his top deputy, current commissioner Adam Silver, who was then greeted that night, of course, with boos.
That's a wrap for the first round: Kobe Brown goes to Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers took Missouri's Kobe Brown with the 30th overall pick, dropping a curtain on the first round.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pound wing connected on 45.5% of his 3-pointers for the Tigers.
The Detroit Pistons have the No. 31 selection, the first of the second round.
Julian Strawther taken by Pacers but likely headed to Nuggets
Gonzaga forward Julian Strawther was picked by the Indiana Pacers with the 29th selection, but is expected to be sent to the Denver Nuggets.
The Los Angeles Clippers, with a pick from the Milwaukee Bucks and via Houston Rockets, are on the clock for the final selection of the first round.
With third pick of night, Utah Jazz take OSU's Brice Sensabaugh
The Utah Jazz completed their three-pick first round, selecting Ohio State forward Brice Sensabaugh at No. 28.
Sensabaugh made 40.5% of his 3-point shots for the Buckeyes last season.
The Indiana Pacers are on the clock.
Charlotte Hornets add Nick Smith Jr. at No. 27.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Nick Smith Jr. with the 27th pick, adding an explosive guard to their lineup.
Smith played at the University of Arkansas, where he battled some injuries.
Indiana Pacers take Belmont's Ben Sheppard at No. 26.
Belmont guard Ben Sheppard went to the Indiana Pacers with the No. 26 pick.
Sheppard was an elite scorer, netting 18.1 points per game for the Bruins while connecting on 41.5% of his 3-pointers.
The Charlotte Hornets are on the clock.
Grizzlies take Marcus Sasser, who is expected to go to Pistons in trade
The Memphis Grizzlies took Houston guard Marcus Sasser with the 25th pick, and he's expected to be traded to the Detroit Pistons.
The Indiana Pacers are on the clock.
Wembanyama looks forward to sampling San Antonio's delicacies
Sacramento Kings draft Olivier-Maxence Prosper, reportedly trade him to Dallas
The Sacramento Kings, one of the more exciting young teams in the NBA but fell to the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs, drafted Olivier-Maxence Prosper — and will reportedly trade him to the Dallas Mavericks.
Prosper is a tall, athletic guard who played college ball at Marquette University in Milwaukee.
