NFL
By: Melo Williams
The 2022-2023 NBA regular season and playoffs are complete and the Denver Nuggets won their first team championship in the team’s history.
The next chapter in this season before it’s complete is the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 22.
We all know Victor Wembanyama is going No. 1 overall to the San Antonio Spurs.
After the first pick, things will get very interesting starting with the Charlotte Hornets’ number two pick, followed by the Portland TrailBlazers, Houston Rockets, and Detroit Pistons to round off the top five.
This draft could have some surprises with NBA teams trading picks or players setting them up for when free agency begins next month. So don’t be surprised by anything that may happen in this years Draft.
With my general manager hat on, here are my 2023 NBA Mock Draft predictions.
1. Spurs
Victor Wembanyama
Ht/Wt: 7′ 5″/220 lbs
Position: C
Team: France
Class: Intl.
2. Hornets
Brandon Miller
Ht/Wt: 6′ 9″/200 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Alabama
Class: Freshman
3. Blazers
Scoot Henderson
Ht/Wt: 6′ 2″/195 lbs
Position: PG
Team: Ignite
Class: G League
4. Rockets
Amen Thompson
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/200 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Overtime Elite
Class: –
5. Pistons
Cam Whitmore
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/225 lbs
Position: SF/PF
Team: Villanova
Class: Freshman
6. Magic
Jarace Walker
Ht/Wt: 6′ 8″/220 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Houston
Class: Freshman
7. Pacers
Ausar Thompson
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/207 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Overtime Elite
Class: –
8. Wizards
Anthony Black
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/195 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Arkansas
Class: Freshman
9. Jazz
Gradey Dick
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/200 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Kansas
Class: Freshman
10. Mavs
Taylor Hendricks
Ht/Wt: 6′ 9″/210 lbs
Position: PF
Team: UCF
Class: Freshman
11. Magic
Cason Wallace
Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/185 lbs
Position: PG
Team: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
12. Thunder
Jordan Hawkins
Ht/Wt: 6′ 5″/175 lbs
Position: SG
Team: UConn
Class: Sophomore
13. Raptors
Keyonte George
Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/185 lbs
Position: SG
Team: Baylor
Class: Freshman
14. Pelicans
Nick Smith
Ht/Wt: 6′ 5″/185 lbs
Position: PG/SG
Team: Arkansas
Class: Freshman
15. Hawks
Jalen HoodSchifino
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/215 lbs
Position: PG/SG
Team: Indiana
Class: Freshman
16. Jazz
Kobe Bufkin
Ht/Wt: 6′ 4″/180 lbs
Position: PG/SG
Team: Michigan
Class: Sophomore
17. Lakers
Bilal Coulibaly
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/230 lbs
Position: SF
Team: France
Class: Intl.
18. Heat
Brice Sensabaugh
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/235 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Ohio State
Class: Freshman
19. Warriors
Dereck Lively
Ht/Wt: 7′ 1″/215 lbs
Position: C
Team: Duke
Class: Freshman
20. Rockets
Kris Murray
Ht/Wt: 6′ 8″/225 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Iowa
Class: Junior
21. Nets
Rayan Rupert
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/192 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: NZ Breakers
Class: Intl.
22. Nets
Gregory Jackson
Ht/Wt: 6′ 9″/215 lbs
Position: PF
Team: South Carolina
Class: Freshman
23. Blazers
Ben Sheppard
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/190 lbs
Position: SG
Team: Belmont
Class: Senior
24. Kings
Jett Howard
Ht/Wt: 6′ 8″/215 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Michigan
Class: Freshman
25. Grizzlies
Leonard Miller
Ht/Wt: 6’10″/210 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Ignite
Class: G League
26. Pacers
Noah Clowney
Ht/Wt: 6’10″/210 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Alabama
Class: Freshman
27. Hornets
Dariq Whitehead
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/190 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Duke
Class: Freshman
28. Jazz
James Nnaji
Ht/Wt: 6’10″/225 lbs
Position: C
Team: Barcelona
Class: Intl.
29. Pacers
Colby Jones
Ht/Wt: 6′ 6″/205 lbs
Position: SG
Team: Xavier
Class: Junior
30. Clippers
Maxwell Lewis
Ht/Wt: 6′ 7″/195 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Pepperdine
Class: Freshman
Thanks for reading my 2023 NBA Mock Draft. Let me know your thoughts about my Mock Draft and what players you’re looking forward to being drafted and to where.
Follow Melo on Twitter and Instagram: @_MeloWilliams
