French Basketball Dominates the NBA Draft 2023: Historic Moments and Surprising Picks

2023-06-23 06:19:00

With Victor Wembanyama in first position, as expected, but also Bilal Coulibaly in seventh place, this 2023 draft will remain a historic vintage for French basketball. But she also delivered other memorable moments. Talked about for months as Wemby’s only potential “competitor” for the first draft pick, Scoot Henderson has “slid” to third place to join Portland.

The Trail Blazers recover a player of the future on which they will be able to build. It remains to be seen what Damian Lillard will do this season and if he will stay. Instead, Charlotte bet on Brandon Miller with her second choice. It was also not a huge surprise since the talented winger was tipped for this top 3.

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Coulibaly also savors: “I’m really happy for French basketball”

35 MINUTES AGO

Twins in 4 and 5

More atypical, twins were chosen one after the other in this draft. And not just anywhere! The Thompson brothers were selected in the Top 5, a first for twins. Amen was selected for Houtson in four. And Ausar was taken right after by the Pistons.

While we could expect to have for the first time more than two representatives of tricolor basketball in the first round of a draft, Rayan Rupert and Sidy Cissoko have them “fallen” in the second round. Rupert joins Portland with the 43rd pick while Sidy Cissoko was retained by San Antonio with the 44th pick, but whether the Spurs will give him the opportunity to join Wembanyama next season remains to be seen.

The 1st round of the Draft 2023

1. Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
2. Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)
3. Scoot Henderson (Portland Trail Blazers)
4. Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets)
5. Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons)
6. Anthony Black (Orlando Magic)
7. Bilal Coulibaly (Indiana Pacers, traded to Washington Wizards)
8. Jarace Walker (Washington Wizards, traded to Indiana Pacers)
9. Taylor Hendricks (Utah Jazz)
10. Cason Wallace (Dallas Mavericks, traded to Oklahoma City)
11. Jett Howard (Orlando Magic)
12. Dereck Lively (Oklahoma City Thunder, traded to Dallas)
13. Gradey Dick (Toronto Raptors)
14. Jordan Hawkins (New Orleans Pelicans)
15. Kobe Bufkin (Atlanta Hawks)
16- Keyonte George (Utah Jazz)
17. Jalen Hood-Schiffino (Los Angeles Lakers)
18. Jaime Jaquez (Miami Heat)
19. Underground Brandan (Golden State Warriors)
20. Cam Whitmore (Houston Rockets)
21. Noah Clowney (Brooklyn Nets)
22. Dariq Whitehead (Brooklyn Nets)
23. Kris Murray (Portland Trail Blazers)
24. Olivier Maxence-Prosper (Sacramento Kings, traded to Dallas Mavericks)
25. Marcus Sasser (Boston Celtics, traded to Detroit Pistons)
26. Ben Sheppard (Indiana Pacers)
27. Nick Smith Jr (Charlotte Hornets)
28. Brice Sensabaugh (Utah Jazz)
29. Julian Strawther (Indiana Pacers)
30. Kobe Brown (Los Angeles Clippers)