The 2023 NBA draft is the most anticipated draft pick since 2003, when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James with the No. 1 overall pick. Victor Wimpanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom, is the best prospect for an NBA draft pick since James, and he has He was projected as a generational talent who could change the course of any team that lands first place. Many teams made moves off last season and during the regular season to put themselves in favorable positions to land Wimpanyama.
Yahoo Sports takes a look at which teams have the best odds of getting the coveted prospect out of France, how the draft lottery works and other notable prospects in the draft after Wembanyama.
Here’s everything viewers need to know about the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
2023 NBA Draft Lottery date, time, and how to watch
The 2023 NBA Lottery will take place at 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday on ESPN. The lottery itself will take place at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
Follow the NBA Draft Lottery live draw
NBA draft lottery draw
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Orlando Magic
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Washington Wizards
9. Utah Jazz
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Toronto Raptors
14. New Orleans Pelicans
How does the NBA draft lottery work?
The draft lottery results will be broadcast live with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum revealing the sealed envelopes, announcing the draft lottery results in descending order. Prior to broadcast, an actual lottery to determine picks 1 through 4 takes place in a separate room with NBA officials and representatives of the participating teams, the select media and the accounting firm Ernst & Young, who oversees the drawings.
For the actual lottery, 14 ping pong balls are dropped into a lottery machine while a league representative selects four balls at random, revealing a combination of four numbers. There are 1,001 possible combinations with 1,000 of these combinations being assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. If a group of the same team appears more than once, the score is discarded and another group of four balls is drawn.
After the first four selections are determined, the remaining selections are ranked in reverse order, based on win/loss record.
Odds of landing in pick #1
The 14 teams that do not make the playoffs have a chance to get the first pick, depending on their regular season records. Here are each team’s odds in the draft lottery and how they finished the regular season. The teams with the worst records are ranked at the top of the lottery.
1. Detroit Pistons: 14%, 140 groups
2. Houston Rockets: 14%, 140 groups
3. San Antonio Spurs: 14%, 140 groups
4. Charlotte Hornets: 12.5% 125 groups
5. Portland Trail Blazers: 10.5%, 105 combinations
6. Orlando Magic: 9%, 90 groups
7. Indiana Pacers: 7.5%, 75 groups
8. Washington Wizards: 6%, 60 groups
9. Utah Jazz: 4.5% 45 formulations
10. Dallas Mavericks: 3%, 30 groups
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls): 2%, 20 groups
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: 1.5% 15 formulations
13. Toronto Raptors: 1% 10 groups
14. New Orleans Pelicans: 0.5% 5 formulations
Who is Victor Wimbanyama?
The 7-foot-4 quarterback currently plays for the Metropolitans 92 in the French League Betclic Élite where he leads all players in points (21.8), rebounds (10.3) and blocks (3.1) per game. Wimbanyama is comfortable handling the ball like a keeper, and can shoot from deep and He does things on the field that no other player in the world can do now. Comparing Wembanyama in the NBA is a mix between Kevin Durant and Rudy Gobert with his shooting mechanics on offense and the way he protects the edge and changes shots on defense.
Other players who are expected to be at the top of the NBA Draft
Scott Henderson
Henderson is a 6-3 guard and is the best guard in the draft. He spent two seasons with G League Ignite and dominated the competition at only 19 years old, sometimes going up against players twice his age. Henderson averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 assists per game last season and Wimpanyama came head to head in October when he impressed every NBA scout and executive in the ring.
Brandon Miller
Miller, a 6-9 winger, was named SEC Player of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year during his only season at Alabama. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 38.4% from 3-point range on 7 attempts per game. Miller’s intangible assets on the field are off the charts with his height, skill set and defensive versatility, but off the field there is a huge problem. Henderson and Miller are both potential runners-up, depending on which team lands on Tuesday night.
Amen Thompson
Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game during his final season with the Overtime Elite and is one of the most athletic guards in this draft class with his rushing transfer and first step on the wing. The 6-7 Guard is superior to its twin brother, the Ausar, as the primary ball coach and is more flexible in decision-making on the slope.
Osar Thompson
Ausar is a tenacious defender who can protect all positions on the perimeter and is the best shot blocking guard in this draft class. Thompson averaged 16.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his elite extra season, and although his 3-point jump shot was room for development, he showed improvement during his final season with OTE. Ossar is comfortable playing on or off the ball, but is most comfortable on the wing, playing alongside his brother throughout his career.
NBA draft date, time and location
The NBA Draft will take place on June 22 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from the Barclays Center in New York.
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