National Basketball Association Draft 2023 To Tip Off Early Friday Morning

The impact of African players in the NBA is at an all-time high.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft 2023 presented by State Farm^® will tip off on ESPN, Canal+ and NBA League Pass at 2:00 a.m. CAT tomorrow morning. It will reach fans in 214 countries and territories in 32 languages on their televisions, computers, mobile devices and tablets.

The impact of African players in the NBA is at an all-time high. 2022-23 Kia NBA MVP Joel Embiid (Cameroon; Basketball Without Borders Africa 2011) was one of 16 players born in Africa on 2022-23 opening-night rosters, and one of more than 50 players with at least one parent from Africa, a list that also includes two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and two-time NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo (ties to Nigeria). James Nnaji (Nigeria; FC Barcelona) is poised to be the 5th player from Nigeria and 11th from Africa to be drafted in the last five years, while 2023 NCAA Champion Adama Sanogo can become the 4th player from Mali drafted and the first since 2016. With everything the NBA is doing to grow basketball in Africa and create a predictable pathway for African players to learn the game and maximize their potential through programs like the Jr. NBA, Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa, NBA Academy Africa, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the number of African players in the league is expected to continue to grow in the years to come.

In the 2022 NBA Draft, 19 international players from 11 countries were selected (six in the first round and a record 13 in the second round). This year’s draft class features a number of compelling international storylines, including:

• VICTOR WEMBANYAMA (FRANCE, TIES TO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO; METROPOLITANS 92)
  • Wembanyama is poised to become the 14^th international player to be selected first overall and the highest-drafted French player ever. This year, he became the youngest player ever to win MVP of France’s LNB after averaging 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. And as the NBA streamed his games on the NBA App (https://apo-opa.info/3XhUR8R) to a global audience, Wembanyama’s popularity skyrocketed – to the point where he was among the top 10 most-viewed players on the NBA’s social media channels this season.

• BILAL COULIBALY (FRANCE, TIES TO MALI; METROPOLITANS 92)
  • If Coulibaly is drafted in the first round, it will be the first time since 2016 that two French players are selected in the top 30.
  • Coulibaly played with Wembanyama with Metropolitans 92 in LNB Pro A, splitting the 2022-23 season between the top pro league in France and its under-21 league.

• SIDY CISSOKO (FRANCE, TIES TO SENEGAL; NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE)
  • If Wembanyama, Coulibaly, Rayan Rupert and Cissoko are drafted, it would mark the second consecutive season and third time ever that at least four French players are selected in the same Draft (2022, 2016).
  • Cissoko was the first European-born prospect to play for NBA G League Ignite (https://apo-opa.info/44fKioU).

• JAMES NNAJI (NIGERIA; FC BARCELONA)
  • If Nnaji is drafted in the top 19, he will be the highest-drafted Nigerian player since Michael Olowokandi, who was selected first overall in the 1998 NBA Draft.
  • If Nanji is drafted in the top 53, he will be the highest-drafted Nigerian player since Josh Okogie was selected 20^th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
  • If Nnaji is selected in the first round, he will become the fifth Nigerian player to be drafted in the first round since 1998, joining Precious Achiuwa (No. 20 overall in 2020), Josh Okogie (No. 20 overall in 2018), Festus Ezeli (No. 30 overall in 2012) and Michael Olowokandi (No. 1 overall in 1998).
  • If Nnaji is drafted, he will be the fifth player from Nigeria to be selected in the last five years.
  • Nnaji, who started playing basketball in 2016, has two seasons of experience playing for FC Barcelona in the ACB and EuroLeague. In 2018, Nnaji participated in a Giants of Africa camp, an organization founded by Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri, who is also from Nigeria.

• MOUHAMED GUEYE (SENEGAL; WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY)
  • If Gueye is drafted in the top seven, he will be the highest-drafted Senegalese player ever.
  • If Gueye is drafted 8^th or 9^th overall, he will be the highest-drafted Senegalese player since DeSagana Diop, who was selected 8^th overall in 2001.
  • If Gueye is drafted between No. 10 and No. 20 overall, he will be the highest-drafted Senegalese player since Mouhamed Sene, who was selected 10^th overall in 2006.
  • If Gueye is drafted in the first round, he will join Mouhamed Sene (10^th overall in 2016), Gorgui Dieng (21^st overall in 2013), DeSagana Diop (8^th overall in 2001) and Mamadou Ndiaye (26^th overall in 2000) as the only Senegalese players to be selected in the first round.

• OSCAR TSHIEBWE (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO; UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY)
  • If Tshiebwe is drafted in the top 6, he will be the highest-drafted player from the Democratic Republic of the Congo since Dikembe Mutombo was selected 4^th overall in 1991.
  • If Tshiebwe is drafted No. 7 or lower, he will be the highest-drafted player from the Democratic Republic of the Congo since Jonathan Kuminga was selected 7^th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2021.
  • If drafted, he will be the 7^th player drafted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• ADAMA SANOGO (MALI; UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT)
  • If drafted in the top 32, Sanogo will be the highest-drafted Malian player ever (Cheick Diallo was selected 33^rd overall in the 2016 NBA Draft).
  • If drafted, Sanogo will be the fourth player from Mali drafted.
  • Sanogo was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the University of Connecticut to the 2023 NCAA Championship.
  • Prior to enrolling in the University of Connecticut, Sanogo participated in Basketball Without Borders Global 2020 (https://apo-opa.info/3Pshzcy) as part of NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago.  The camp brought together top high school-age prospects from around the world for a basketball development camp and showcase. 

• CHARLES BEDIAKO (CANADA, TIES TO GHANA; UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA)

• Prior to enrolling in the University of Alabama, Bediako participated in Basketball Without Borders Global 2020 (https://apo-opa.info/3Pshzcy) as part of NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago

June 22, 2023