ESPN unveils full, two-round 2023 NBA Mock Draft entering draft week

With the 2023 NBA Draft just two days away, the final predictions and projections from across the association are being filed in. Considering the prospect that Victor Wembanyama is, much of the shine has been taken away from the top of the draft. Still, based on ESPN’s latest mock draft, the other 57 selections should have plenty of interest to offer.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo completed the mock for ESPN that dropped on Tuesday morning. After the obvious pick of Wembanyama by the San Antonio Spurs, they leaned with star Alabama freshman Brandon Miller at No. 2 over Scoot Henderson of the G-League Ignite before having Houston’s Jarace Walker and both of the Thompson twins going in the top-six picks.

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama – Metropolitans 92
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller – Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Portland Trailblazers: Scoot Henderson – G-League Ignite
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson – Overtime Elite
5. Detroit Pistons: Jarace Walker – Houston Cougars
6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson – Overtime Elite
7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks – UCF Knights
8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black – Arkansas Razorbacks
9. Utah Jazz: Cam Whitmore – Villanova Wildcats
10. Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively II – Duke Blue Devils
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls): Gradey Dick – Kansas Jayhawks
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kobe Bufkin – Michigan Wolverines
13. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Hood-Schifino – Indiana Hoosiers
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins – UConn Huskies
15. Atlanta Hawks: Cason Wallace – Kentucky Wildcats
16. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Bilal Coulibally – Metropolitans 92
17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jett Howard – Michigan Wolverines
18. Miami Heat: Nick Smith Jr. – Arkansas Razorbacks
19. Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski – Santa Clara Broncos
20. Houston Rockets (via Los Angeles Clippers): Olivier-Maxence Prosper – Marquette Golden Eagles
21. Brooklyn Nets (via Phoenix Suns): Noah Clowney – Alabama Crimson Tide
22. Brooklyn Nets: Keyonte George – Baylor Bears
23. Portland Trailblazers (via New York Knicks): Rayan Rupert – NZ Breakers
24. Sacramento Kings: Kris Murray – Iowa Hawkeyes
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaime Jaquez Jr. – UCLA Bruins
26. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers): James Nnaji – Barcelona
27. Charlotte Hornets (via Denver Nuggets): Leonard Miller – G-League Ignite
28. Utah Jazz (via Philadelphia 76ers): Maxwell Lewis – Pepperdine Waves
29. Indiana Pacers (via Boston Celtics): Ben Sheppard – Belmont Bruins
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Milwaukee Bucks): Dariq Whitehead – Duke Blue Devils
31. Detroit Pistons: Brice Sensabaugh – Ohio State Buckeyes
32. Indiana Pacers (via Houston Rockets): Marcus Sasser – Houston Cougars
33. San Antonio Spurs: Andre Jackson Jr. – UConn Huskies
34. Charlotte Hornets: Trayce Jackson-Davis – Indiana Hoosiers
35. Boston Celtics (via Portland Trailblazers): Julian Phillips – Tennessee Volunteers
36. Orlando Magic: Colby Jones – Xavier Musketeers
37. Denver Nuggets (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Gregory (GG) Jackson II – South Carolina Gamecocks
38. Sacramento Kings (via Indiana Pacers): Kobe Brown – Missouri Tigers
39. Charlotte Hornets (via Utah Jazz): Jalen Wilson – Kansas Jayhawks
40. Denver Nuggets (via Dallas Mavericks): Jordan Walsh – Arkansas Razorbacks
41. Charlotte Hornets (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Sidy Cissoko – G-League Ignite
42. Washington Wizards (via Chicago Bulls): Jalen Pickett – Penn State Nittany Lions
43. Portland Trailblazers (via Atlanta Hawks): Seth Lundy – Penn State Nittany Lions
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors): Terquavion Smith – NC State Wolfpack
45. Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Tristan Vukcevic – Partizan
46. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Amari Bailey – UCLA Bruins
47. Los Angeles Lakers: Julian Strawther – Gonzaga Bulldogs
48. Los Angeles Clippers: Keyontae Johnson – Kansas State Wildcats
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Golden State Warriors): Mouhamed Gueye – Washington State Cougars
50. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat): Hunter Tyson – Clemson Tigers
51. Brooklyn Nets: Colin Castleton – Florida Gators
52. Phoenix Suns: Emoni Bates – Eastern Michigan Eagles
53. Minnesota Timberwolves (via New York Knicks): Chris Livingston – Kentucky Wildcats
54. Sacramento Kings: Ricky Council IV – Arkansas Razorbacks
55. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers): Toumani Camara – Dayton Flyers
56. Memphis Grizzlies: Jordan Miller – Miami Hurricanes
57. Washington Wizards (via Boston Celtics): Adama Sanogo – UConn Huskies
58. Milwaukee Bucks: Adam Flagler – Baylor Bears

To note, both the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers forfeited second-round picks, which brought the total of picks down from 60 to 58 in 2023.

Still, the conversation on ESPN on Thursday night is going to start and end with Wembanyama. At 7-5, he’s a marvel based on his size alone. From there, though, his potential on defense paired with an offensive skill set that’s borderline unfair has made him a generational prospect. If you need any more convincing, look no further than the fact that he led his overseas league in points, rebounds, and blocks while also not missing a game.

After Wembanyama, the next talking point falls upon the Charlotte Hornets. For much of the year, Henderson (17.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in the G-League) had been the perceived choice at two. However, Miller (18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds at Alabama) has made the race more than interesting, which is proven considering ESPN has him at No. 2.

As far as schools, Arkansas leads the way with four selections amongst the 58 picks. The reigning national champion UConn Huskies came in second with three. After that, 10 programs tied for third with two selections in ESPN’s mock.

Beyond that, though, this draft is proving that you can reach the NBA in more ways than one. The G-League Ignite and Ovetime Elite programs have five projected picks by Givony and Woo with three going in the Top-10. Then, from an overseas standpoints, four leagues have picks expected with Metropolitans 92 leading with two.

Wembamyama will officially be coronated into the NBA inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn come Thursday. However, after that takes place, there’s still more than enough room for the proceedings of the 2023 NBA Draft to get interesting as the night goes on.