The 2023 NBA Draft Prospect You Need to Know About

Photo Courtesy of Hoops Habit

The 2022-23 NBA season may not have started yet, but it is never too early to look at NBA draft prospects.

The projected first pick in next year’s draft is France’s Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama is 7-4 with an 8-foot wingspan and has elite defensive instincts and offensive potential. Scouts and media personnel are drooling over Wembanyama’s size and impressive ball skills for a player his size.

Wembanyama made his EuroLeague debut last year at just 17. He put up 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks a game last year for ASVEL Villeurbanne. These numbers may not be eye-popping, but they are very impressive for a 17-year-old playing in the super-talented EuroLeague comprised of mostly grown men. Wembanyama signed a contract with Metropolitans 92 of France for this season and has already started off with some insane performances.

Wembanyama’s club is even coming to Las Vegas in October to play a few exhibition games, two of which will be played against the G-League Ignite, a team that features another top-rated 2023 prospect in guard Scoot Henderson. These games are expected to be televised on ESPN networks and are must-see-TV for anyone who loves watching draft prospects.

Wembanyama is a “unicorn” type player, considering he would be amongst the tallest players in the NBA once he enters the league and already possesses solid perimeter skills. Wembanyama missed age eligibility for the 2022 NBA Draft by just five days, and it is a real possibility he would’ve been picked first overall had he been eligible.

Throughout the 2022-23 campaign, we should hear plenty more about Wembanyama and eventually see non-competitive teams tank for the ability to select him next June.