On June 22, 2023, a new class of young prospects joined the league of professionals that is the NBA. 2023 is a versatile class, full of all sorts of players. We have generational bigs like Victor Wembanyama, athletic point guards like Scoot Henderson, and do-it-alls like Brandon Miller. In the NBA, the top 14 picks are the lottery; it’s the most prestigious range to get picked. In this article, we break down the potential of not all lottery picks, but the top three picks. Who’s going to pan out, and who’s going to be a bust? We are going to be giving an offensive and defensive comparison for every one of our three players. Let’s dive in.
Victor Wembanyama (SAS, C)
Wemby was the most hyped NBA prospect since Lebron James! A fluid blend of three-level scoring and rim protection, Wembanyama is like no player we’ve ever seen before. It would be hard to compare him to any player in history, so instead we should compare him to a mix of players. Again, we haven’t ever seen a 7-4 three-level beast like him. The first player who he draws comparisons to is Kevin Durant. Durant is 6-11, 6-10, depending on who you ask. He could play center, but instead, he plays as a tall forward. Durant is also a three-level scorer, his high-arching and high-release jump shot nearly unguardable. Wembanyama can shoot well, so he plays like KD. Wemby is also a great rim protector, stacking up 5 blocks in his summer league debut. That is always a valuable skill, and I think a player with that is Rudy Gobert. Yes, Gobert at this point is an overrated playoff choker, but in his prime, he was a 3-time DPOY. That mixes with Wemby’s skill set. I think Wemby has the potential to be a generational talent, as long as he stays healthy.
Final Comparison: Kevin Durant + Rudy Gobert
Brandon Miller (CHA, F)
Coming out of Alabama this past year, Brandon Miller was surrounded by uncertainty. He was potentially involved in a scandal and had just gotten his name cleared. However, that should not take away from the fact that Miller is a semi-athletic wing who can shoot and finish. Brandon Miller is a tall small forward, like Paul George. Miller has also repeatedly stated that he compares to Paul George and that PG is his favorite player. I think that this is a pretty solid comparison for him. George is a tall wing who can handle and shoot well. Miller shows us some of the same skills. Miller is also pretty close to George on defense. I think we can give that comparison to him.
Final Comparison: Paul George + Paul George
Scoot Henderson (POR, G)
Scoot is an exciting player to watch. He is always leaping around and moving fast. Scoot also doesn’t have much of a shot, so I think we can think of some comparisons for him. First, I’d like to summon the name of Russell Westbrook. Scoot and Russ are almost identical. Athletic playmakers who can finish well, and not shoot too great. I could see Henderson driving in for dunks after an explosive first step, just like Westbrook does. On the defensive end, Scoot needs to work on staying out of foul trouble. However, he can be pesky and is a natural shot-blocker when he’s not having an off-night. Honestly, this reminds me of Patrick Beverly. Beverly is very pesky, but he often finds himself in trouble with fouls, especially after getting heated.
Final Comparison: Russell Westbrook + Patrick Beverly
These are the top three NBA draft picks of this year’s draft. Through the first three games of preseason, these players are already showing flashes of their potential. Wemby has been a great defensive force and is showing his offensive fluidity. Brandon Miller has yet to find his shooting touch, but we can already see flashes of that Paul George athleticism and finishing. Scoot Henderson has actually shown some pretty good defense so far, and he’s been taking it to the rack every time. Efficiency is something all of the players need to work on, but that comes with time. For now, let’s enjoy watching all of the Wemby and Scoot highlights, along with all of Brandon Miller’s graceful, athletic finishes. Mamba Out.
