Welcome to the Open Thread. During the month of June, we are talking NBA Draft. As we lead up to the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25th, we will be revisiting the Spurs draft choices. Today we remember the 2023 NBA Draft.

In the history of the Spurs franchise, they have had three #1 draft picks. The first two —David Robinson and Tim Duncan — turned out quite well. It’s plausible that fans in 1989 never believed that the Spurs could do better than David Robinson. It’s subsequently fair to assume that few fans could fathom a player better than Tim Duncan landing in our laps.

Victor Wembanyama accrued the kind of hype last seen twenty years prior with the drafting of LeBron James. Wemby’s maturity and ability far exceeded expectations considering his short time on this planet. Simply put, he is otherworldly, so it stands to reason that his nickname is “The Alien.”

At the end of 2024, Victor Wembanyama received an unanimous vote for the Rookie of the Year honors.

In his second season, Wemby has continued to shine. The Spurs have continued to build around him. The Spurs look more promising with each move. Last February, Wembanyama was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis which shortened his season and altered his ability to earn the Defensive Player of the Year honors. But rest assured, Wemby is expected to make a full recovery and continue as the centerpiece of the Spurs rebuild toward the next dynasty.

The Spurs chose Leonard Miller with the 33rd pick in the draft but traded him on draft night to the Timberwolves for Minnesota’s 2026 and 2028 second-round picks.

The Spurs also drafted Sidy Cissoko with the 44th pick acquired on February 9, 2023 when the Spurs traded Jason Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors for Khem Birch (waived), this 2023 second round pick, the 2024 first-round pick (that became Rob Dillingham), and a 2025 second-round pick (which has since been traded to Dallas before being sent on to Detroit).

Cissoko was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a huge three-team trade that landed the Spurs De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin.

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