Nike has announced its NBA Rookie Class of 2023.
The athletic giant shared the news in a statement on Monday ahead of the start of the 2023-24 season, which kicks off on Tuesday in Denver, Colorado. “Together, these players represent the wave of the future, bringing the game to new heights,” the press release said.
The lineup includes Anthony Black, Kobe Brown, Bilal Coulibaly, Keyonte George, Jordan Hawkins, Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Julian Strawther, Cason Wallace and Victor Wembanyama.
Nike’s 2023 NBA Rookie Class
The Orlando Magic drafted Anthony Black from the University of Arkansas, where he was the only player in the school’s history to secure over 450 points, 180 rebounds and 140 assists last season. The guard was the sixth pick in the first round of the NBA draft.
Watch on FN
Hailing from the University of Missouri, Kobe Brown was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. The forward is known for being the third Division I player in the last 25 seasons to score 30 points in consecutive games.
Representing France at the international level, Bilal Coulibaly is a guard for the Washington Wizards. Before coming to the United States, the Frenchman played for the Metropolitans 92 in the highest league of basketball in France. He is known for averaging over 20 points per game.
Keyonte George is a guard for the Utah Jazz. Coming from Baylor University in Texas, he holds the record for most 20-point games in the program’s history.
The New Orleans Pelicans secured Jordan Hawkins of the University of Connecticut. The guard known for his shooting skills at the three-point line helped lead UConn to win the 2023 NCAA National Title.
After playing one year at Duke University, Dereck Lively II was selected by the Dallas Mavericks. ESPN ranked the center from Pennsylvania the No. 1 high school player in the class of 2022.
Also drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper attended high school at the NBA’s Latin American Academy in Mexico City, Mexico before playing two seasons in college. The Canadian player averaged approximately 12 points in 25 minutes per game during the NBA‘s 2023 summer league.
Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets became the first conference player ever to win SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, and SEC Tournament MVP in the same season at the Univeristy of Alabama. The forward was the top-scoring Division l freshman last year.
Amen Thompson was the fourth pick overall in the NBA Draft, going to the Houston Rockets. Opting out of playing college ball, the forward instead spent two years with Overtime Elite (OTE), a new Atlanta-based professional league for players ranging from ages 16 to 20. He averaged about 16 points per game during the OTE 2022-23 regular season.
Ausar Thompson, Amen’s brother, signed with the Detroit Pistons after also playing two years with OTE. Averaging over 20 points per game, he was named the regular-season MVP and finals MVP in the OTE 2022-23 season.
Julian Strawther represents Puerto Rico at the international level, playing for the Denver Nuggets. In high school, the forward averaged 31 points per game and at Gonzaga University in Washington, he scored a career-high of 40 points against Portland.
Cason Wallace plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The guard was a top player at the University of Kentucky and prior to college, he was honored twice with Player of the Year in the state of Texas.
The no. 1 overall pick in the draft, Victor Wembanyama of France previously played for the Metropolitans 92. During his time with the team, he was the league’s top scorer last year.
