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San Antonio is picking first again.

The franchise that once selected David Robinson No. 1 overall, and then Tim Duncan No. 1 overall, before going on to use one or both of those eventual Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers to claim five NBA championships, won the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night in Chicago for the third time in franchise history. That means San Antonio will select first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22 in New York.

Victor Wembanyama will be the pick.

The French sensation, the 7-foot-4 super-freak who has been described as the greatest teenage basketball prospect in history, learned his fate while surrounded by his family in Paris at around 2:30 a.m. local time. He seemed pleased, as he should be, because Wembanyama is now going to join one of the league's greatest and most-admired franchises and be coached by a legend in Gregg Popovich.

It's a fun pairing.

It's (arguably) the greatest NBA coach in history (presumably) winding down his career by molding somebody who could (theoretically) become the greatest NBA player in history. It's terrific for Pop, even better for Wemby, and a process that'll be a joy for all of the rest of us to watch unfold. Will it turn San Antonio into a contender for anything notable immediately? Probably not. Even LeBron James only won 35 games as a rookie. But, in a matter of, let's say, three years, Wembanyama should be ready to have San Antonio competing at or near the top of the Western Conference, provided the Spurs get enough good pieces around him, which history suggests they'll do and do well.

Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Victor Wembanyama C
France • 7'4" / 210 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
21.8
RPG
10.3
BPG
3.1
3P%
29.2%
Wembanyama has a chance to be one of the best players in the world, and perhaps of all-time, on both sides of the ball. The 19-year-old phenom is a perfect centerpiece for a San Antonio organization that's obviously had loads of success in the past spending No. 1 picks on bigs.
Round 1 - Pick 2
Alabama • 6'7" / 200 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
18.8
RPG
8.2
APG
2.1
3P%
38.4%
The presence of LaMelo Ball as Charlotte's lead guard is among the reasons Miller is now considered the favorite to go second overall. He's a wing with size who made 38.4% of the 7.5 3-pointers he attempted per game while leading Alabama to the outright SEC regular-season title.
Round 1- Pick 3
Scoot Henderson PG
G League Ignite • 6'3" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
17.6
RPG
5.1
APG
6.6
3P%
32.4%
If Miller goes second, odds are Henderson will go third. The G-League Ignite product has the athleticism and strength to be a franchise-changing lead guard as long as his still-developing 3-point shot eventually becomes reliable.
Round 1 - Pick 4
Amen Thompson SF
Overtime Elite • 6'7" / 199 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
16.4
RPG
5.9
APG
5.9
3P%
25%
Thompson is a big and super-athletic guard with a unique ability to shot-create and deliver passes most prospects his age can't even see. The Rockets are still very much in a take-the-best-prospect-available mode, and this is the Thompson twin who checks that box.
Round 1 - Pick 5
Houston • 6'7" / 235 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
11.2
RPG
6.8
APG
1.8
3P%
34.7%
Considering nobody had better lottery odds than the Pistons, it's disappointing for Detroit to be picking fifth in this draft. That said, Walker would be a nice consolation prize as a physical specimen who exerts energy on both ends of the court and possesses the ability to play the four or small-ball five.
Round 1 - Pick 6
Arkansas • 6'7" / 200 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
12.8
RPG
5.1
APG
3.9
3P%
30.1%
The Magic have promising frontcourt players but could really use comparable young guards. Black has a chance to be one thanks to the fact that he has great size for his position and the ability to make incredible passes and make plays out of pick-and-rolls.
Round 1 - Pick 7
Kansas • 6'6" / 205 lbs
Projected Team
Indiana
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
14.1
RPG
5.1
APG
1.7
3P%
40.3%
Nothing is more valuable in the NBA right now than wings who can shoot, and Dick is the best shooter in this draft. He made more than 40% of the 5.7 3-pointers he attempted per game for the outright Big 12 regular-season champs and would fit nicely alongside Tyrese Haliburton.
Round 1 - Pick 8
Ausar Thompson SF
Overtime Elite • 6'6" / 205 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
16.3
RPG
7.1
APG
6.1
3P%
29.8%
The Wizards should take the best prospect available, and the other Thompson twin is that guy and this point in this mock draft. He's a tall athlete just like his brother and something of a traditional driver and slasher who can guard multiple positions well.
Round 1 - Pick 9
Villanova • 6'7" / 230 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
12.5
RPG
5.3
APG
0.7
3P%
34.3%
Whitmore is one of those prospects who just looks different. He's an incredible physical specimen capable of playing either forward position, and the type of prospect Utah executive Danny Ainge has a history of prioritizing.
Round 1 - Pick 10
Indiana • 6'5" / 215 lbs
Projected Team
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
13.5
RPG
4.1
APG
3.7
3P%
33.3%
Whether the Mavericks bring back Kyrie Irving or not, having another combo guard to play with Luka Donic isn't the worst idea in the world. Hood-Schifino has good-enough size and a more-dependable 3-point shot than what he showed in his one season at Indiana.
Round 1 - Pick 11
Baylor • 6'4" / 185 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
15.3
RPG
4.2
APG
2.8
3P%
33.8%
I have the Magic taking a big point guard with their first pick in this draft, so this is a decent spot to grab a backcourt partner. George wasn't the most consistent freshmen in the country in his one season at Baylor, but his ability to navigate pick-and-rolls, put pressure on defenses and score is undeniable.
Round 1 - Pick 12
UCF • 6'9" / 215 lbs
Projected Team
Oklahoma City
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
15.1
RPG
7
APG
1.4
3P%
39.4%
Hendricks is an out-of-nowhere prospect who is the type of tall, athletic and a proven shooter Oklahoma City prioritizes. He made 39.4% of the 4.6 3-pointers he attempted in his one season at UCF while becoming a one-and-done lottery pick despite being ranked outside of the top 80 in the Class of 2022.
Round 1 - Pick 13
Connecticut • 6'5" / 190 lbs
Projected Team
Toronto
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
16.2
RPG
3.8
APG
1.3
3P%
38.8%
The Raptors ranked 28th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, which is among the reasons Hawkins is a sensible option. He made more than 38% of his 3-point attempts this season while helping UConn win the national championship.
Round 1 - Pick 14
Kentucky • 6'3" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
11.7
RPG
3.7
APG
4.3
3P%
34.6%
The Pelicans have a lot of interesting pieces but still need a starter-level point guard. Wallace is a nice option at the bottom of the lottery as a playmaker who has a chance to be above average on both ends of the court given the way he enthusiastically takes on the role as an on-ball defender.
Round 1 - Pick 15
Ohio State • 6'5" / 235 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
18th
POSITION RNK
7th
PPG
16.3
RPG
5.4
APG
1.2
3P%
40.5%
Sensabaugh, like Hendricks, was a sub-80 prospect in the Class of 2022 who was surprisingly great in his one year at Ohio State. If he improves as a perimeter defender, the 6-6 wing could develop into the type of 3-and-D player everybody wants in the modern NBA.
Round 1 - Pick 16
Michigan • 6'6" / 215 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
14.2
RPG
2.8
APG
2
3P%
36.8%
Howard was the MVP of the Iverson Classic before his freshman season at Michigan. He can play multiple positions, make shots from the perimeter and is just, broadly speaking, a good-sized player with a well-rounded skillset, in part because he's the son of a former NBA player and high-major college coach.
Round 1 - Pick 17
Arkansas • 6'2" / 185 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Lakers
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
12.5
RPG
1.6
APG
1.7
3P%
33.8%
Smith dealt with a less-than-perfect knee all season that limited him to just 17 games, most of which he struggled in relative to expectations that accompanied him to Arkansas. That's among the reasons he won't be selected where most projected he'd go a year ago, but he should still go somewhere inside the top 20 based on the ability to score he showed when he was healthy in high school.
Round 1 - Pick 18
Iowa • 6'8" / 220 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
20.2
RPG
7.9
APG
2
3P%
33.5%
Much like his brother who plays for the Kings, Murray projects as a combo forward who can stretch the floor on offense and guard multiple positions on defense. The Iowa alum won't be a top-five pick like his twin was last year, but he should comfortably go somewhere in the first round.
Round 1 - Pick 19
Duke • 7'1" / 230 lbs
Projected Team
Golden St.
PROSPECT RNK
24th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
5.2
RPG
5.4
APG
1.1
3P%
15.4%
Lively's one season at Duke got off to a rough start and was statistically unimpressive. But he showed enough as a rim-protecting big down the stretch to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
Round 1 - Pick 20
Michigan • 6'5" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
26th
POSITION RNK
7th
PPG
14
RPG
4.5
APG
2.9
3P%
35.5%
Bufkin didn't enter the season with first-round projections but eventually established himself at Michigan as an interesting two-way player. He made 35.5% of the 3.7 3-pointers he attempted per game, which is a respectable number for a 6-4 guard.
  From Phoenix Suns
Round 1 - Pick 21
South Carolina • 6'9" / 210 lbs
Projected Team
Brooklyn
PROSPECT RNK
30th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
15.4
RPG
5.9
APG
0.8
3P%
32.4%
Jackson is one of the youngest players in this draft, in part because he reclassified and enrolled at South Carolina a year early. He was off the radar much of the season because he played for a bad team, but the former top-ranked recruit showed enough to keep NBA front offices interested in his obvious talent.
Round 1 - Pick 22
Leonard Miller SF
G League Ignite • 6'10" / 210 lbs
Projected Team
Brooklyn
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
9th
PPG
16.9
RPG
10.1
APG
1.7
3P%
30.4%
Miller had a nice season with the G-League Ignite, averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds as a 19 year-old playing against professionals. There's still a lot of development that needs to be done, but the physical tools to make it are all in place.
Round 1 - Pick 23
Duke • 6'6" / 220 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
8.3
RPG
2.4
APG
1
3P%
42.4%
Whitehead had an underwhelming one season at Duke, where he only averaged 8.3 points per game. But he did shoot 42.4% from 3-point range as a 6-7 wing, and at this point in the draft he's worth a flyer even though he's expected to soon have another procedure performed on his injured right foot.
Round 1 - Pick 24
UCLA • 6'6" / 226 lbs
Projected Team
Sacramento
PROSPECT RNK
40th
POSITION RNK
13th
PPG
17.8
RPG
8.2
APG
2.4
3P%
31.7%
Jaquez should enter the NBA at the age of 22 ready to contribute immediately. He's not going to wow anybody in individual workouts or test off the charts, but there are a lot of reasons to believe he has the stuff to be, at worst, an impactful role player on a winning team for many years to come.
Round 1 - Pick 25
Rayan Rupert SF
France • 6'6" / 185 lbs
Projected Team
Memphis
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
10th
PPG
6.6
RPG
2.5
APG
1.0
3P%
25%
Rupert remains unreliable offensively and very much a project. But he's a 6-6 wing with a 7-3 wingspan who has all the prerequisites to be a great perimeter defender if his shooting comes around enough to make him playable at the NBA level.
Round 1 - Pick 26
Houston • 6'2" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
Indiana
PROSPECT RNK
38th
POSITION RNK
12th
PPG
16.8
RPG
2.8
APG
3.1
3P%
38.4%
Sasser is a combo guard who played a big role in helping Houston secure a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. His ability to playmake and reliably make jumpers will give him a chance to stick in the NBA even if he is a little on the small side.
Round 1 - Pick 27
Alabama • 6'9" / 210 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
PROSPECT RNK
36th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
9.8
RPG
7.9
APG
0.8
3P%
28.3%
Defensive versatility is a desired skillset these days, and it also happens to be Clowney's strongest attribute. The 6-10 forward has a 7-2 wingspan and the necessary enthusiasm to guard different types of players all over the court.
Round 1 - Pick 28
Kansas • 6'6" / 220 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
PROSPECT RNK
31st
POSITION RNK
11th
PPG
20.1
RPG
8.3
APG
2.2
3P%
33.7%
Wilson is the latest Kansas alum to develop into a legitimate NBA player after spending multiple years under Bill Self. He made a huge leap from his third season to his fourth season with the Jayhawks while earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors.
Round 1 - Pick 29
NC State • 6'4" / 160 lbs
Projected Team
Indiana
PROSPECT RNK
42nd
POSITION RNK
15th
PPG
17.9
RPG
3.6
APG
4.1
3P%
33.6%
Smith already has a strong pull-up game and the athleticism to make big plays on both sides of the court. If he becomes a more efficient version of himself and adds strength, he'll turn out to be very worthy of a late first-round selection.
Round 1 - Pick 30
Pepperdine • 6'7" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Clippers
PROSPECT RNK
39th
POSITION RNK
14th
PPG
17.1
RPG
5.7
APG
2.8
3P%
35.1%
Lewis is the rare non-Gonzaga WCC player with realistic first-round aspirations. He's a 6-7 wing with a 6-10 wingspan who can shot-create and punish teams from the 3-point line, both of which are qualities NBA franchises value immensely.