2023 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0; who comes after Wembanyama and Scoot?
The top of the 2023 NBA Draft has been talked about for a couple of years. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 18-year-old from France, has been talked about as a generational talent since a video went viral of him playing Rudy Gobert. However, over the past year, Scoot Henderson, the latest lottery pick from the G-League Ignite program, is not in that top tier of prospects.
At this point, it is hard to see anyone else getting into the same conversation as Wembanyama and Henderson. Starting at three is where things get interesting in the 2023 NBA Draft. Three through about ten or so, you see a handful of interchangeable players. When putting together an actual 2023 NBA Mock Draft, a lot of picks in this range could go to team fit.
At the point of this NBA Draft Big Board, we are about a month or so into the season. Teams and players have only played around ten games. Nineteen of the players talked about in the first round are one-and-done guys, part of the 2022 high school class. Six players on the initial big board chose routes outside of college basketball. This big board will continue to be fluid until draft night on June 23.
Here is the 2023 NBA Draft Big Board version 1.0.
1. C Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92/France)
7-3, 225 pounds | January 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 11 games, 31.7 minutes, 23.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 3.1 blocks, 51.4% FG, 31.5% 3P
2. PG Scoot Henderson (G-League Ignite)
Profile | 6-2, 195 pounds | February 2004 (18 y.o)
2022-23 stats: 6 games, 28.5 minutes, 21.2 points, 4.5 rebounds. 5.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.0 blocks, 48.5% FG, 47.1% 3P
3. F Brandon Miller (Alabama)
Profile | 6-9, 200 pounds | November 2002 (20 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 33.4 minutes, 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 blocks, 37.9% FG, 42.9% 3P
4. PG Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)
Profile | 6-6, 200 pounds | January 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 7 games, 25.6 minutes, 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.9 steals. 0.7 blocks, 54.7% FG, 16.7% 3P
5. F GG Jackson (South Carolina)
Profile | 6-9, 215 pounds | December 2004 (17 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 33.7 minutes, 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks, 43.7% FG, 36.6% 3P
6. SG Nick Smith (Arkansas)
Profile | 6-4, 180 pounds | April 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 4 games, 24.5 minutes, 14.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks, 43.5% FG, 31.3% 3P
7. SF Cam Whitmore (Villanova)
Profile | 6-6, 235 pounds | July 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 3 games, 23.3 minutes, 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.0 blocks, 50% FG, 35.3% 3P
8. PG Cason Wallace (Kentucky)
Profile | 6-4, 195 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 32.3 minutes, 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 52.9% FG, 51.6% 3P
9. PG Anthony Black (Arkansas)
Profile | 6-6, 195 pounds | January 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 33.1 minutes, 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, 56.9% FG, 44.0% 3P
10. F Jarace Walker (Houston)
Profile | 6-8, 240 pounds | September 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 10 games, 24.1 minutes, 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, 47.6% FG, 37.5% 3P
11. SG Gradey Dick (Kansas)
Profile | 6-8, 205 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 31.0 minutes, 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.1 blocks, 48.0% FG, 45.3% 3P
12. C Kel’el Ware (Oregon)
Profile | 7-0, 210 pounds | April 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 10 games, 24.6 minutes, 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.7 blocks, 47.4% FG, 29.6% 3P
13. C Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
Profile | 7-0, 230 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 12 games, 27.3 minutes, 14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, 43.2% FG, 33.3% 3P
14. SG Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)
Profile | 6-6, 200 pounds | January 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 7 games, 26.4 minutes, 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.4 blocks, 52.7% FG, 35.7% 3P
15. SF Kris Murray (Missouri)
Profile | 6-8, 215 pounds | August 2000 (22 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 8 games, 31.4 minutes, 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 50.0% FG, 37.8% 3P
16. SG Keyonte George (Baylor)
Profile | 6-3, 185 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 27.3 minutes, 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.2 blocks, 39.8% FG, 32.9% 3P
17. SF Jett Howard (Michigan)
Jett Howard | 6-7, 215 pounds | September 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 30.2 minutes, 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.2 blocks, 48.9% FG, 42.4% 3P
18. SF Rayan Rupert (NZ Breakers/New Zealand)
6-6, 185 pounds | May 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 20.39 minutes, 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks, 34.0% FG, 20.0% 3P
19. PF Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida)
Profile | 6-9, 210 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 8 games, 32.6 minutes, 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.5 blocks, 50.0% FG, 45.7% 3P
20. SG Ricky Council, IV (Arkansas)
Profile | 6-6, 205 pounds | August 20021 (21 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 10 games, 36.2 minutes, 19.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.2 blocks, 52.6% FG, 31.4% 3P
21. SF Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
Profile | 6-7, 195 pounds | July 2022 (20 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 30.7 minutes, 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks, 60.8% FG, 50.0% 3P
22. SG Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State)
Profile | 6-6, 235 pounds | October 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 19.2 minutes, 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 48.8% FG, 50.0% 3P
23. PF Leonard Miller (G-League Ignite)
Profile | 6-10, 215 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o)
2022-23 stats: 11 games, 29.4 minutes, 16.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, 51.1% FG, 30.3% 3P
24. SF Dariq Whitehead (Duke)
Profile | 6-6, 215 pounds | August 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 16.1 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 36.9% FG, 26.1% 3P
25. SF Julian Phillips (Tennessee)
Profile | 6-8, 195 pounds | November 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 26.4 minutes, 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 blocks, 38.7% FG, 21.1% 3P
26. F Jalen Wilson (Kansas)
Profile | 6-8, 225 | November 2000 (22 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 10 games, 33.8 minutes, 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, 42.6% FG, 36.5% 3P
27. SF Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan)
Profile | 6-9, 175 pounds | January 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 games, 33.2 minutes, 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 44.3% FG, 36.6% 3P
28. C Dereck Lively (Duke)
Profile | 7-1, 230 pounds | February 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 11 games, 17.5 minutes, 4.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.0 blocks, 60.0% FG, 0.0% 3P
29. SG JJ Starling (Notre Dame)
Profile | 6-5, 205 pounds | March 2004 (18 y.o.)
2022-23 stats: 9 points, 32.6 minutes, 12.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, 43.6% FG, 25.7% 3P
30. F Dillon Mitchell (Texas)
Profile | 6-8, 205 pounds | October 2003 (19 y.o.)
2022-23: 8 games, 20.3 minutes, 8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.1 blocks, 68.2% FG, 0.0% 3P stats