One fan base’s franchise is about to change in a huge way. Spoiler: it’s San Antonio, after a dramatic NBA Draft lottery.
The Texas-based organisation have won the right to take generational prospect Victor Wembenyama, gifted the first overall pick in the upcoming Draft.
There will be unprecedented hope heading long into the future for the franchise that’s still currently coached, of course, by the legendary Gregg Popovic. It’s going to be undefeated content, watching ‘Pop’ with a player widely labeled the most freakish prospect the NBA has seen since Lebron James.
There are other great talents that have nominated for the NBA Draft, like Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller. But none of them go close to the hype that the 19-year-old Frenchman has generated.
So for those wondering how they can consume all the content and plan their viewing experience, here are the main details.
When is the NBA Draft?
9:30am AEST June 23, Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)
The 77th edition of the annual hope-filled event is on June 23 in Australia; with a mid-to-late morning start.
And who knows what pick could become franchise-altering; it could be any.
With the 41st pick in the 2014 #NBADraft, the Denver Nuggets select Nikola Jokic. pic.twitter.com/fS0wxVq89P
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 27, 2014
Where is the NBA Draft?
Just like the NBA Draft Lottery event held recently, the draft will also take place at the Barclays Center, New York.
How to watch the NBA Draft
The Draft coverage will be live on ESPN, meaning Australians will need to tune in via either Foxtel or streaming platform Kayo.
HERE is the Kayo URL for the official NBA Draft.
ESPN are also broadcasting a Mock Draft and Preview to get fans and viewers ready.
WHO IS VICTOR WEMBANYAMA AND WHAT MAKES HIM GENERATIONAL?
NBA Draft first round
- San Antonio Spurs
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers
- Washington Wizards
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Toronto Raptors
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Atlanta Hawks
- Utah Jazz
- LA Lakers
- Miami Heat
- Golden State Warriors
- Houston Rockets
- Brooklyn Nets
- Brooklyn Nets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Indiana Pacers
- Charlotte Hornets
- Utah Jazz
- Indiana Pacers
- LA Clippers
NBA Draft top prospects
It’s well publicised that the Spurs will take French sensation Victor Wembanyama first overall.
Then the fun begins.
While history shows that one of the prospects from a little lower in the Draft may well emerge as the top talent from this class – or at least second to Wembanyama – there are two talents considered the consensus two and three players. It’s Alabama’s Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson from the G League Ignite.
The order for those two, though, remains up in the air. It’s firming that the Hornets are leaning more towards Henderson at two, after the early momentum was more with Miller. Both Charlotte and Portland are built around guards (LaMelo Ball and Damian Lillard, respectively), leaving slight uncertainty over team fit with Scoot. Whether the Hornets at two are trying to create a smoke screen for the Blazers, though, will remain up for debate until the card gets turned in.
Portland and Charlotte are both teams heavily involved right now in trade and player movement discussions.
Overtime Elite brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson are both in the top five mix as well, plus Villanova’s Cam Whitmore.
As for the players Australia will be paying close attention to in the NBA Draft, look out for Rayan Rupert and Mojave King. Click here to read more about those two prospects.
What were the Draft Lottery odds?
There were five teams with double-figure odds of landing the Wembanyama pick:
Detroit (14%), Houston (14%), San Antonio (14%), Charlotte (12.5%) and Portland (10.5%)
Underneath those five franchises, the remaining teams in the mix and their chances were:
Orlando (9%), Indiana (6.8%), Washington (6.7%), Utah (4.5%), Dallas (3%), Chicago (1.8%), Oklahoma City (1.7%), Toronto (1%), New Orleans (0.5%)
The full breakdown by the NBA, including an explainer of how it all works, can be found here. There are always crazy storylines to unpack.
PROSPECT OR MONSTAR? THE DRAFT PROSPECT SET TO CAUSE NBA TANK-A-THON
