Five Players to Watch Out For in the NBA 2023 Drafts
The excitement of the star-studded All-Star Weekend is still fresh in our minds, and soon we’ll be gearing up for the 2023 NBA draft. As a passionate NBA fan, I’m eager to uncover the top prospects for this year’s draft. After a thorough research, I’ve compiled a list of the most valuable players to keep an eye on. Let’s dive in and discover who could be the next big names in the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 center from France, has been touted as a once-in-a-generation talent. Wembanyama was the lead scorer in the Betclic Elite League with points (22.1) with rebounds (9.6) and blocked shots (3.3).
He was the known as the youngest player to be chosen as the MVP of the LNB All-Star Game. Victor had a brilliant game. He scored 27 points – 12 rebounds and four assists – and lead his side to the 136-128 victory over the World team on December 29.
Just to give you an idea about his impact on the game, no player has had a 22+ points and three+ blocks per game since 1999. Shaquille O’Neal was the last player to achieve that feat in the 1999-2000 season. He has a unique combination of size, athleticism, and skill, and has been dominating the competition in Europe. According to SI’s mock draft, he is projected to go No. 1 overall.
Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren is a 7-foot-1 center from Minnesota who is being compared to Kevin Durant in the world of basketball. The long and lanky center out of Gonzaga is an excellent shooter for his size and has a great feel for the game.
He recently led his high school team to a state championship and is considered one of the top players in the country. In his school’s 3 March Madness games, Holmgren averaged 13.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and a mammoth 4.3 blocks per game.
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr. is a 6-foot-10 power forward from Georgia who is known for his shooting and versatility. He averages 42 percent from the 3-point range on 5.5 attempts per game while averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
The big man can also knock down his free throws at a strong clip, averaging 79.9 percent from the charity stripe this season. He has the athleticism and the ability to drive past defenders and is certainly worthy of consideration for the first pick.
His father Jabari Smith was the 45th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Drafts. Now, he is all set to take the court to continue the legacy of his father.
G Scoot Henderson
Despite suffering a fractured nose and concussion that kept him off the court for over a month, Henderson made a comeback on Dec. 27 and has been averaging 20 points and six assists per game since returning to the Ignite.
Playing under NBA spacing and rules has made him more comfortable, and his explosiveness and decision-making skills set him apart from other guards at the top of the draft.
Henderson expressed his love for the spacing, saying that he can now drive and kick whenever his team needs a three or a good shot from one of his teammates.
G Amen Thompson
At Overtime Elite, Thompson is recorded as averaging 16.2 points, six rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
He is a versatile guard who can play on or off the ball. His quick first step, decision-making while getting downhill, and defensive toughness make him an intriguing prospect at No. 3. Like his twin brother Ausar, Thompson is so crafty around the rim and a meticulous student of the game.
While these five players are certainly the cream of the crop in the 2023 draft class, there are surely to be plenty of other talented prospects to keep an eye on.
With the draft still more than a year away, there is plenty of time for these players to continue developing and improving their games. It will be exciting to see how the draft order shakes out and which teams end up with these top prospects.
