NBA Draft 2023: Two-Day Event Filled with Emotion and Anticipation
The NBA made a noteworthy change to its annual draft by stretching the event over two days this year, adding layers of anticipation and fatigue for the young prospects involved. The first round took place Wednesday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, while the suspense continued at South Street Seaport studios on the following day for the second round picks.
The extension of the draft created an atmosphere charged with excitement and impatience. Marquette's Oso Ighodaro, selected at No. 40 by the Phoenix Suns, detailed his exhaustive schedule. “I got to New York, worked out for the Nets, and then came and did all the media stuff the day before [the first round]. Wednesday, did more media, got to the draft and was there until almost 11, 11:30. And then did it all again today. Got ready, came here, and they had this event for us,” he shared, capturing the essence of the back-to-back grind.
Jaylen Wells of Washington State, chosen at No. 39 by the Memphis Grizzlies, echoed similar sentiments, “We were exhausted. We got some food and went straight to sleep.” Although drained, Wells still found moments to express personal flair, “And then I was like, 'I just love this one so much,' so I was like, 'I gotta wear it again.'”
For many, the draft was a family affair. Nigerian center Adem Bona, picked at No. 41 by the Philadelphia 76ers, emphasized the emotional aspect of the occasion. “I have my family here. My immediate family couldn't make it. My mom, siblings couldn't make it. But my aunt, my uncle, my cousins from Canada, I have my girlfriend, I have my host family. I have a good group of people here,” he said. However, Bona also remarked on the stress of the two-day format, “The two days kind of makes it more stressful. If it's one day, back-to-back, I'm like, 'All right, I'm getting my name called today regardless.'”
In contrast, Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, selected at No. 37 by the Detroit Pistons, found the experience to be overwhelmingly positive. “It was unbelievable. I didn't have no words. I didn't know what to feel. Like, I was trying to hold my tears in. I was really happy. Sharing the moment with the family, too, was big-time,” Klintman expressed, showcasing the emotional depth of the occasion.
Sibling Rivalries and Unique Moments
Cam Christie, selected No. 46 by the Los Angeles Clippers, joined his brother Max Christie of the Lakers in creating a unique sibling duo in the NBA. “It's extremely rare that two brothers are ever in the NBA, let alone have them in the exact same city. So it's super dope. We're really close, obviously,” Cam Christie said, describing the rare achievement. Reflecting on the nerve-wracking nature of the draft process, he added, “Obviously it's a lot of nerves. You don't really know what's going to happen. You don't know when you're going to get called, who's going to draft you, that kind of thing. But I think once I got that call, it kind of all just went away.”
San Antonio Spurs picked Harrison Ingram from North Carolina at No. 48. Ingram summed up his experience with a witty remark, “Everything was the same but my socks,” injecting humor into an otherwise intense series of days.
This year's draft concluded 22½ hours after its commencement at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, wrapping up an event that tested endurance but also provided profound personal and collective moments. Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum had the honor of extending his hand to the second-round picks, rounding off a two-day spectacle that left its indelible mark on all involved.
The NBA Draft 2023 will be remembered not just for the talents it introduced to the league but also for the unforgettable experiences and human stories that unfolded over its expanded timeline.