On Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery and the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. The Spurs were tied with the Rockets and Pistons who all had a 14 percent chance to claim the number one pick in the draft. San Antonio was the only team of the three to receive a top-three pick and it turned out to be the number one overall selection.
ESPN tweeted this out after the lottery.
Photo courtesy of NBA.com
This will be the third time in the Spurs’ 50-year history that they will have the number one overall pick. The first time was in 1987 when they selected David Robinson. Robinson went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 and was a two-time NBA champion, 1994-95 MVP, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year and a 10-time All-NBA selection. Their only other number-one pick was used on Tim Duncan in 1997. Duncan went on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 and was a five-time NBA champion, two-time MVP and 15-time All-NBA selection. Both players also won Rookie of the Year.
The Spurs will be able to add another potential Hall of Fame big man on draft day. Victor Wembanyama of France is projected as the number one pick and one of if not the most hyped prospect in NBA history. Wembanyama is a 7-foot-5, 19-year-year-old who plays for the French club Metropolitans 92. He won the 2022-23 scoring title in the LNB Pro A. He has been on NBA scouts’ radar for multiple years now due to his size and skillset.
Wembanyama would not be the first Frenchman to be taken by the Spurs in the draft. Tony Parker was taken 28th overall in the 2001 NBA draft. He went on to win four championships with the Spurs.
If San Antonio takes him, Wembanyama would join an already young team ready to start a new dynasty. He would also help the Spurs defensively as they ranked at the bottom of the league last season
The Spurs also hold the 33rd and 44th overall selections in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 2023 NBA Draft will take place in Brooklyn on June 22. The Spurs, Hornets and Trail Blazers will have the top three selections.
Stay tuned for more NBA content including news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs Twitter page.
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