2023 NBA Draft Live Tracker: Grading every pick made
The 2023 NBA Draft will set the stage for an exciting summer. Follow along as we grade every pick live.
The 2023 NBA Draft will introduce the next generation of stars into the league, starting with the obvious No. 1 pick out of France. While Victor Wembanyama has been the belle of the ball, he’s not the only potential All-Star or projected NBA contributor. There’s a lot of talent in this draft — especially near the top.
Once again blessed by the NBA draft lottery gods, the San Antonio Spurs will make the first overall selection when the draft commences at 8 PM E.T. in New York. From there, the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets will get the party started.
This live tracker will be updated throughout the night as the picks come in, grading each selection based on team fit, player upside, and how the board falls around it. We can also expect several trades at the night progresses, so stay tuned to our 2023 NBA Draft Live Trade Tracker as well!
2023 NBA Draft grade: No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
France. player. Victor Wembanyama. 1. 29. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. C
Grade: A+
Victor Wembanyama in next in the Spurs’ increasingly long line of transcendent big men. Standing 7-foot-5 with an 8-foot wingspan, Wemby’s singular physical gifts are only the tip of the iceberg. He also happens to be preternaturally skilled, capable of running one-legged 3s, crisp dribble moves, and elegant finishes in the post.
He will immediately elevate the Spurs’ shoddy defense, potentially well above the level of respectability. His length and mobility in the paint is a potent mix and he’s quick enough to guard on the perimeter too, although quicker guards can still get the best of him. The thing is, even if Wembanyama is beat at the point of attack, he’s more capable than most of making a swift recovery due to his Stretch Armstrong length.
The Spurs will proceed cautiously with Wembanyama’s health given the natural concerns tied to his absurd high and extreme skinniness, but the 19-year-old has put in the work to maintain his health and prevent injuries.
Wembanyama will be the sun around which San Antonio’s offense and defense orbits for the next decade if all goes according to plan. He has genuine playmaking upside off the dribble, he’s comfortable scoring at all three levels, and he could sneak into the DPOY conversation before you know it.
From our NBA Draft Big Board:
"Victor Wembanyama, generously listed at 7-foot-5 and 220 pounds over at ESPN, will be the No.1 overall pick in 2023. He’s the most hyped prospect since LeBron James and probably the most unique prospect in modern NBA history. He’s everything the league currently values — length, dynamic shooting, defensive versatility, scalable offense — plugged into the most absurd physical frame one could think of. There aren’t too many holes in Wembanyama’s game. He’s an excellent movement shooter with what might be the first actually unguardable jumper. Despite his high center of gravity, he’s more than capable of negotiating tight spaces off the bounce and fluidly moving into his pull-up jumper. Slower defenders are vulnerable to straight-line drives. His length and touch make up for his lack of strength finishing inside. On defense, he just inhales shots in the paint and is too long to actually drive by. Even if you get a step on Wembanyama, he’s capable of channeling Mr. Fantastic to swat the ball from behind."