Victor Wembanyama is officially a San Antonio Spur.
After years of anticipation, the French phenomenon joined the NBA Thursday night as the first pick of the NBA draft. As widely expected, the Spurs picked the 7-foot-4 center expected to change position and take San Antonio out of the lottery back into NBA prominence.
Wembanyama follows in the footsteps of fellow players David Robinson and Tim Duncan in San Antonio, who were voted No. 1 overall and inducted into the Hall of Fame while together leading the Spurs to five NBA championships. Spurs fans don’t have to wait long to see him. Head coach Gregg Popovich confirmed after the selection that Wembanyama will play Summer League games.
“We’re talking about what he should do in the future,” Popovich told reporters. … “He will participate in the Summer League. To what extent, we don’t know yet.”
The Hornets selected Alabama’s Brandon Miller as their No. 2 pick, picking the forward 6-9 against G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson. The Portland Trail Blazers then took the opportunity to pick what is widely considered the second pick of the draft and drafted Henderson in 3rd place.
Follow pick-by-pick live updates, analysis and scores from Yahoo Sports below.
What: NBA draft, two rounds totaling 58 picks (two picks forfeited for violating manipulation rules)
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
If: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET
TV: ABC (first round only); ESPN (first and second round)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver poses for a photo with potential NBA first-round draft picks at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
What you should know about the 2023 NBA Draft
Follow the 2023 NBA Draft live updates, tips and analysis
Full 2023 NBA draft order
First round
1.San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, C, France
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, G, G League Ignite
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson, G Overtime Elite
5. Detroit Piston: Ausar Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black, G, Arkansas
7. Washington Wizards (from Pacers): Bilal Coulibaly, F, France
8. Indiana Pacers (by Wizards): Jarace Walker, F, Houston
9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
10. Oklahoma City Thunder (by Mavericks): Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky
11. Orlando Magic (by Bulls): Jett Howard, G, Michigan
12. Dallas Mavericks (by Thunder): Dereck Lively II, C, Duke
13. Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick, G, Kansas
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn
15. Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan
16. Utah Jazz (by Timberwolves): Keyonte George, G, Baylor
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
18.Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, UCLA
19. Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara
20. Houston Rockets (by Clippers): Cam Whitmore, G, Villanova
21. Brooklyn Nets (from Phoenix): Noah Clowney, F, Alabama
22.Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead, G, Duke
23. Portland Trail Blazers (from New York): Kris Murray, F, Iowa
24. Dallas Mavericks (by kings): Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette
25. Detroit Pistons (by grizzlies above Celts): Marcus Sasser, G, Houston
26. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland): Ben Sheppard, F, Belmont
27. Charlotte Hornets (from Denver via New York and Oklahoma City): Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
28. Utah Jazz (from Philadelphia to Brooklyn): Brice Sensabaugh, F, Ohio State
29. Denver Nuggets (reported on trade with Indiana via Boston): Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Milwaukee via Houston): Kobe Brown, F, Missouri
Second round
31. Detroit piston
32. Denver Nuggets (reported trade with Indiana via Houston)
33.San Antonio Spurs
34. Charlotte Hornets (from Charlotte to Philadelphia and Atlanta)
35. Washington Wizards (reported trade with Boston via Portland, Atlanta, Clippers, Detroit and Cleveland)
36.OrlandoMagic
37. Denver Nuggets (reported trading via Oklahoma City, Washington and New Orleans)
38. Sacramento Kings (from Indiana)
39. Charlotte Hornets (from Utah via New York)
40. Los Angeles Lakers (reported move via Indiana Pacers, Dallas, Oklahoma City)
41. Charlotte Hornets (from Oklahoma City via New York and Boston)
42. Washington Wizards (from Chicago via Los Angeles Lakers and Washington)
43. Portland Trail Blazers (from Atlanta)
44. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto)
45. Memphis Grizzlies (from Minnesota)
46. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)
47. Indiana Pacers (reported trade with Lakers)
48.Los Angeles Clippers
49th Cleveland Cavaliers (from Golden State via Utah and New Orleans)
50. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami via Boston, Memphis and Dallas)
51. Brooklyn Nets
52. Phoenix Suns
53. Minnesota Timberwolves (from New York via Charlotte)
54. Sacramento Kings
55. Indiana Pacers (from Cleveland via Milwaukee and Detroit)
56. Memphis Grizzlies
– Forfeited pick by Chicago
– Forfeited pick by Philadelphia
57. Washington Wizards (from Boston via Charlotte)
58.Milwaukee Bucks