NBA Draft Team Preview: San Antonio Spurs
THE 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place later this month, with the next crop of potential superstars set to join the world’s most prestigious basketball league.
With plenty of hype around the talent in the 2023 draft class, thanks to a French phenom locked in as the number-one pick and lots of depth later down the order, June 23 (AEST) will change the future of the league in a big way.
Rookie Me Central will be continuing the NBA Draft Team Preview series, taking a look at each participating side’s draft hand and some potential options at each selection. The next side on the agenda are the San Antonio Spurs.
The most discussed team in draft conversations, the Spurs lucked out and claimed pick one in the draft lottery.
After winning the pick-one sweepstakes, San Antonio now has access to a generational talent, that could single-handedly turn the franchise around.
San Antonio Spurs
Draft selections
1, 33, 44
Contracted players
Doug McDermott, Devonte Graham, Zach Collins (team option), Khem Birch, Romeo Langford (qualifying offer), Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Josh Primo, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Charles Bassey, Blake Wesley, Dominick Barlow (qualifying offer), Julian Champagnie (qualifying offer)
The Spurs have ended up as the biggest winners of the 2023 NBA draft, securing the top selection in a year where multiple teams were vying for the first selection.
There is absolutely no doubt surrounding the player that the Spurs will be taking with the first pick of the draft, given French phenom Victor Wembanyama will be on the board.
Touted as the best prospect since LeBron James by some, the big man is set to arrive into the NBA wearing a San Antonio jersey, and will be the centrepiece of the team moving forward.
Standing a whopping seven-foot-three, Wembanyama is considered one of the greatest pre-NBA prospects of all time, given his complete game on both ends of the court that includes ball-handling, perimeter shooting and remarkable interior defence. He will be the franchise player for the Spurs moving forward and could be the face of the league in years to come.
With their later picks, the Spurs will target players that could potentially compliment Wembanyama in the future. One option here could be James Nnaji, who has proven himself as a defence force with eye-catching rim protection and a strong presence in the low block. Although not a notable scorer, Nnaji could develop as the team’s center for the future, allowing the French phenom mentioned earlier to play the four and create even more of a mismatch.
An option for the Spurs with pick 44 could be shooting guard Terrance Shannon Jr., who has announced himself as a strong playmaker and slasher. Although his perimeter shooting needs a bit of work before he becomes a consistent three-and-D player, Shannon Jr. has enough upside to potentially tempt San Antonio.
The Spurs winning the number-one pick will bring plenty of star power in the years to come, and now have a clear path to success in the next decade.
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