2023 NBA Draft Odds and Prop Bets

On Thursday, June 22, the best basketball prospects in the world will wait to hear their name called at the 2023 NBA Draft. The NBA Draft is a two-round event set to be completed at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

We all know about the French phenom Victor Wembanyama, but there are plenty of other talented players that could end up changing the fortunes of the teams that draft them.

With that mind, NBA betting sites have a plethora of 2023 NBA Draft odds and prop bets to wager on for Thursday’s extravaganza.

We’ll dive into some of the more popular NBA Draft prop bets available and make our predictions on which stars will end up being drafted after Wembanyama goes to the San Antonio Spurs.  

How To Watch The 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft can be watched exclusively on ESPN platforms. This includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN digital platforms online. Additionally, you can listen to the NBA Draft on ESPN Radio¹.

The television broadcast for the event will begin at 8:00 p.m. EST in primetime. Shortly after, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will take to the stage at the Barclays Center to announce Wembanyama to the Spurs.

The following NBA Draft odds and prop bets are courtesy of BetUS:

NBA Draft 2023 1st Overall Pick

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The San Antonio Spurs own the rights to the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. After getting lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery, the Spurs are fully expected to draft Wembanyama.

There isn’t much debating whether the Spurs will draft him or not. If he doesn’t die or is diagnosed with an incurable disease this week, Brian Wright is drafting the 7-foot-5 phenom out of France.

It would be some kind of wild turn of events if the Spurs went in another direction. As highly touted as Wembanyama is as a prospect, it’d be one of the biggest shockers in NBA history if the Spurs go in any other direction.

This is similar to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2023 NBA Draft all over again. There aren’t any secondary options for the Spurs. After you watch Wembanyama play, it is clear that he is the undisputed No. 1 selection in 2023.

There isn’t another player in the 2023 NBA Draft that is as complete of a player as Wembanyama. He checks all of the boxes that a scout is looking for in a center.

Victor Wembanyama almost slipped and said 'San Antonio Spurs' when discussing his future in the NBA 😅

(via @RMCsport)pic.twitter.com/Rz0XaGgoxm

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 17, 2023

Expect Wembanyama to instantly contribute on both ends of the floor. Everyone raves about his potential as an offensive player.

However, Wembanyama should be a bully on the defensive end. Wembanyama’s shot-making ability will elevate the Spurs right away in his rookie season.

Betting on -20000 at the best online sportsbooks is never advised, even if we know it’s a sure thing.

NBA Draft 2023 2nd Overall Pick

The first pick of the 2023 NBA Draft is solidified. However, when it is time for the Charlotte Hornets to go on the clock, they will be left with a tough decision between Scoot Henderson and Alabama’s Brandon Miller. There is also a possibility that the Hornets decide to trade the pick.

Earlier this year, Miller was linked to a murder investigation with teammate Darius Miles. Miles was indicted, but Miller has been cleared of any wrongdoing despite delivering the gun used in the murder².

As the favorites to win the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Crimson Tide and Miller folded in the Sweet 16 against San Diego State. Miller disappeared in a disappointing final outing in college.

However, Miller was regarded as the best player in college basketball. In 37 games, Miller averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game at Alabama³.

Henderson played this past season for the NBA’s G League Ignite. He was a dynamic point guard in the NBA’s minor league system. The 19-year-old averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game⁴.

G League Ignite star Scoot Henderson (@thereal013 ) makes things look so easy on the court. check out his top 5 plays of the season before the #NBADraft presented by State Farm 🛴🔥#ScootWeek pic.twitter.com/US3MgNPo5l

— NBA G League Ignite (@gleagueignite) June 15, 2023

The point guard has long been talked about as the No. 2 pick, but the rumors have pushed him to No. 3 in mock drafts.

The Hornets already have a talented point guard in Terry Rozier. However, pairing LaMelo Ball and Henderson together appears like a better long-term plan.

Additionally, there is also a chance that the Hornets entertain a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram. It is an open secret that the Pelicans want Henderson.

Henderson’s upside and elite athleticism as a 19-year-old gives him an edge here. There is a lot to like about Miller, but passing on a potential generational point guard is too much to pass up at No. 2.

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NBA Draft 2023 3rd Overall Pick

Henderson and Miller are going to be selected after Wembanyama at No. 2 and No. 3. It will likely be an easy decision for the Portland Trail Blazers after the Hornets make their pick.

Since we are selecting Henderson to go off the board at No. 2, we have Miler going to the Trail Blazers at No. 3. Don’t be surprised if the Pelicans or Wizards try to make a deal with the Trail Blazers for this pick.

The Trail Blazers should be happy with either Henderson or Miller, but will likely have to go with the Alabama star. Amen Thompson has an outside shot of being selected here.

If the Trail Blazers weren’t impressed by Miller’s recent workout in Portland, Thompson could be the pick at +900 odds. Regardless, Thompson won’t have to wait long to hear his name called in the first round.

Brandon Miller with the dagger dunk 🤯🔥pic.twitter.com/Kr8gqJ0VPV

— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) March 12, 2023

Nevertheless, the Trail Blazers will likely take a chance on the 20-year-old forward out of Alabama. You can double down and bet on the 2nd and 3rd pick, or be less risk averse and select only one of these picks.

There is good value on this bet at BetUS. Miller’s NBA Draft odds to go No. 3 at -260 likely won’t be around for long, though. He could be gone at No. 2, but we aren’t buying the media-generated hype.

NBA Draft 2023 4th Overall Pick

We mentioned that it won’t take long for Amen Thompson to hear his name called in the 2023 NBA Draft. Will it happen this quickly, though? The general consensus is that Amen Thompson or Cam Whitmore will hear their name called at No. 4.

The Houston Rockets had to settle for this pick after getting unlucky in the NBA Draft Lottery. They had the same odds to win the top selection as the Spurs, but it wasn’t their night.

The Rockets still have a chance to draft a franchise player to develop alongside Jalen Green. That player could be Amen Thompson or Whitmore. Amen, who is the identical twin of Ausar Thompson, passed on college to play in the Overtime Elite league.

Are the Thompson Twins the most ELECTRIC players in this years draft?

Here’s why we think so 💥 https://t.co/qHTTXMuRBA pic.twitter.com/Biir0RqUrE

— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) June 2, 2023

Thompson’s 2022-23 season went as planned for the City Reapers. The point guard averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Also, Thompson swiped 2.3 steals per game for an efficient season defensively⁵.

For a point guard, Thompson is a terrific rebounder and has good size at 6-foot-7. He has elite explosiveness off the dribble to the hoop and is an elite passer. Thompson’s athleticism and physicality as a guard makes him worthy of a Top 5 pick.

The criticism about Thompson is his shooting from the outside. He shot just 25% from three and 65.6% from the charity stripe. That being said, there is no denying his athletic prowess and court vision.

A facilitator like Thompson is tough to pass on at No. 4. If the Rockets remain at No. 4, they likely draft Thompson to bolster their backcourt.

To Be Drafted First

Will Arkansas’ Anthony Black or UCF’s Taylor Hendricks be drafted first? From our projections, it should be closer than some mock drafts that have Black well ahead of Hendricks.

The Orlando Magic have been linked to Black at No. 6. The Magic already have a point guard in Markelle Fultz. And, the Magic need shooters, which Black doesn’t excel at on the perimeter.

Black has a terrific basketball IQ, but he ranks well behind Thompson and doesn’t have a soft touch from the outside. Hendricks should be the better opening day starter in the NBA.

Hendricks is a versatile 6-foot-9 big man that can play all over the floor. He can help on both ends of the floor, and even spot up from three and defend on the perimeter.

ver·sa·til·i·ty – (noun) Taylor Hendricks

example below 👇 pic.twitter.com/YrNG9zbBij

— UCF Men’s Hoops 🌴 (@UCF_MBB) June 9, 2023

In his only year of college, Hendricks averaged 15.1 points, 7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. He was efficient from downtown, with a three-point percentage of 39.4%. Overall, Hendricks shot 47.8% from the field in 34 games at UCF⁶.

Hendricks’ work ethic and high motor should be appreciated by scouts. He will likely be a quick learner in the NBA. Like Scottie Barnes unexpectedly going in the Top 5 to the Raptors in 2021, Hendricks might be a sneaky pick.

He is a strong value bet to go ahead of Black at +180 odds. Additionally, Hendricks to the Detroit Pistons at +1600 is worth a sprinkle for your NBA betting strategy at this Thursday’s NBA Draft.