ESPN unveils 2023 NBA mock draft ahead of college basketball season

Even with the NBA season right around the corner, that’s not stopping some to look ahead to next year’s NBA Draft. The loaded class in 2023 has plenty of GMs looking forward to who could be on their rosters in a year’s time. After a massive matchup on Tuesday night between the top two projected picks, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has released an updated mock for the 2023 NBA Draft.

Victor Wembanyama, the 18-year old Frenchman, remains at the top of Givony’s latest mock. After the 7’3 prospect put up an absurd 37-point, seven three-pointer, five-block performance, he practically has NBA decision-makers tripping over each other to select him come next June.

1. Houston Rockets: PF/C Victor Wembanyama – Metropolitans 92
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: PG Scoot Henderson – G-League Ignite
3. Orlando Magic: G Amen Thompson – Overtime Elite
4. Indiana Pacers: G Nick Smith – Arkansas Razorbacks
5. San Antonio Spurs: SF Cameron Whitmore – Villanova Wildcats
6. Utah Jazz: C Dereck Lively – Duke Blue Devils
7. Detroit Pistons: SG Keyonte George – Baylor Bears
8. Sacramento Kings: F Ausar Thompson – Overtime Elite
9. Washington Wizards: F Dillon Mitchell – Texas Longhorns
10. Charlotte Hornets: C Kel’el Ware – Oregon Ducks
11. New York Knicks: G/F Dariq Whitehead – Duke Blue Devils
12. Portland Trailblazers: SG Terquavion Smith – NC State Wolfpack
13. New Orleans Pelicans: G Cason Wallace – Kentucky Wildcats
14. Orando Magic: PF Jarace Walker – Houston Cougars
15. Los Angeles Lakers: SG Anthony Black – Arkansas Razorbacks
16. Atlanta Hawks: G/F Rayan Rupert – New Zealand Breakers
17. Toronto Raptors: SF Julian Phillips – Tennessee Volunteers
18. Cleveland Cavaliers: G/F Gradey Dick – Kansas Jayhawks
19. Utah Jazz: SF Brandon Miller – Alabama Crimson Tide
20. Brooklyn Nets: PF GG Jackson – South Carolina Gamecocks
21. Brooklyn Nets: F Leonard Miller – G-Leage Ignite
22. Charlotte Hornets: C Adem Bona – UCLA Bruins
23. New York Knicks: PF/C Kyle Filipowski – Duke Blue Devils
24. Miami Heat: G/F Sidy Cissoko – G-League Ignite
25. LA Clippers: G/F Nikola Durisic – Mega MIS
26. Phoenix Suns: F Jordan Walsh – Arkansas Razorbacks
27. Memphis Grizzlies: F Chris Livingston – Kentucky Wildcats
28. Houston Rockets: SG JJ Starling – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
29. Indiana Pacers: G Marcus Sasser – Houston Cougars
30. Golden State Warriors: PG Amari Bailey – UCLA Bruins
31. Houston Rockets: C James Nnaji – Barcelona
32. Oklahoma City Thunder: PF Arthur Kaluma – Creighton Bluejays
33. Orlando Magic: PG Nolan Hickman – Gonzaga Bulldogs
34. Sacramento Kings: SG Jordan Hawkins – UConn Huskies
35. San Antonio Spurs: SF Julian Strawther – Gonzaga Bulldogs
36. Charlotte Hornets: SF Jaime Jacquez – UCLA Bruins
37. Detroit Pistons: G/F Andre Jackson – UConn Huskies
38. Sacramento Kings: C Ousmane Ndiaye – Baskonia
39. Denver Nuggets: C Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky Wildcats
40. Philadelphia 76ers: SG Caleb Love – North Carolina Tar Heels
41. Minnesota Timberwolves: PF Kris Murray – Iowa Hawkeyes
42. Boston Celtics: F/C Daimion Collins – Kentucky Wildcats
43. Los Angeles Lakers: F Alex Fudge – Florida Gators
44. Los Angeles Lakers: F Harrison Ingram – Stanford Cardinals
45. Atlanta Hawks: PF/C Mouhamed Gueye – Washington State Cougars
46. Atlanta Hawks: PF Coleman Hawkins – Illinois Fighting Illini
47. Toronto Raptors: G/F Matthew Cleveland – Florida State Seminoles
48. Cleveland Cavaliers: C Ryan Klakbrenner – Creighton Bluejays
49. Memphis Grizzlies: SG Matthew Murrell – Ole Miss Rebels
50. Brooklyn Nets: PF/C Drew Timme – Gonzaga Bulldogs
51. Philadelphia 76ers: G/F Colby Jones – Xavier Musketeers
52. Chicago Bulls: Forfeited
53. Denver Nuggets: SF Kevin McCullar – Kansas Jayhawks
54. Boston Celtics: PF DaRon Holmes – Dayton Flyers
55. LA Clippers: PF Roko Prkacin – Girona
56. Phoenix Suns: SF Mantas Rubstavicius – Lietkabelis
57. Memphis Grizzlies: SF Michael Caicedo – Barcelona
58. Milwaukee Bucks: C Zach Edey – Purdue Boilermakers
59. Boston Celtics: C Jamarion Sharp – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
60. Milwaukee Bucks: PF/C Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana Hoosiers

Wembanyama is joined by Scoot Henderson and Amen Thompson as the Top-3 picks in ESPN’s mock draft. What’s interesting about that is none of the three are playing college basketball. As for college, the first player off the board is Arkansas’ Nick Smith who was the No. 3 player in On3’s 2022 Consensus Top Recruits.

Kentucky leads the way with four selections projected in the draft. Duke and Arkansas are right behind with three picks apiece, but each of their trios are projected as first-round picks.

In a packed draft class, Tuesday’s battle between Wembanyama and Henderson further separated themselves from the pack. There’s a lot of basketball left to play, though, with the college and pro seasons right around the corner.