The Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Rockets have already secured the top odds of landing the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. That should come as a relief to each of the struggling franchises since they will have a chance to select highly coveted 7-foot-3 phenom Victor Wembanyama first.
In fact, a recent eye-popping highlight proves he’s worth the hype. Wembanyama attempted a step-back three but missed, only to follow up his own miss with a dunk. Take a look:
https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1642585517224067072?s=20
NBA Draft: A single play shows why teams are eager to select Wembanyama.
Those who watch Wembanyama on a regular basis are often left in awe of his abilities. While it’s a play that few players can make, this is just par for the course for the presumptive number-one pick.
Next month’s NBA draft lottery will decide who gets the privilege of selecting the most hyped prospect ever. While the Pistons have the worst record in the NBA, four teams have at least a 10 percent chance of landing him.
That unpredictability adds further intrigue to what is shaping up to be a closely watched draft process. Then there is the possibility of another team, who missed out on the number one pick, trying to buy their way to the top. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the most picks to trade, even though they will likely make the play-in tournament this season.
They could also offer last year’s number-two overall pick, Chet Holmgren. Meanwhile, San Antonio has the second-highest number of first and second-round picks available to deal. That includes a top-five selection in this year’s draft as well as a rising star in Keldon Johnson, who is on a team-friendly contract for the next five seasons.
No matter what happens, it’s clear that the team who ends up with the first overall pick has a golden ticket on their hands in Wembanyama. And if he makes plays like this in the NBA, he will be worth the hype.