NBA Combine 2023: List of Participants, Schedule and Players to Watch
With Tuesday's NBA draft lottery in the rearview, we now know that the San Antonio Spurs hold the No. 1 pick in next month's draft. Presumably, that selection will be used on Victor Wembanyama, who has been trending as the top prospect throughout the predraft process.
Prospects like G League point guard Scoot Henderson, Overtime Elite's Amen Thompson and Alabama's Brandon Miller are also likely to be lottery picks. After the first few selections, however, things are a bit more difficult to predict.
The evaluation process will be critical in this year's draft, and that process is ramping up this week in Chicago. The 2023 NBA Scouting Combine is already underway and will feature agility, shooting and strength drills, measurements and exhibition play.
Coverage of the 2023 combine will pick back up on Wednesday, with ESPN2 broadcasting the action from 2-6 p.m. ET. It will resume on Thursday with ESPN2 coverage from 4-8 p.m. ET.
Between college prospects and G League invitees, over 80 players were selected to participate in the combine, and a complete list can be found at NBA.com.
Below, we'll examine three who could potentially boost their draft stock in the coming days.
Jarace Walker, F, Houston
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We'll start with Jarace Walker, the 6'6", 249-pound Houston forward with a pro-ready frame and plenty of proven production. This past season, the 19-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 27.6 minutes per game.
Walker is likely to be an early first-round pick and could make an immediate impact as a defensive star.
"His biggest asset will be his defensive versatility as a shorter power forward with the arm length of a center (7'2") and the body of a football player (240 lbs)," Tyler Byrum of NBC Sports Washington wrote. "He plays the game with a high basketball IQ, which is great to see from a player in his position."
The unknown is just how highly Walker could be drafted.
"Anywhere from 5-12 in this draft feels like the range for Walker, who is one of the most physically ready prospects in this draft class," Kyle Boone of CBS Sports wrote.
A high floor is nice, but teams will want to get a closer look at Walker's physical upside at the combine. If he checks all the proverbial boxes, Walker could become a top-10 lock.
Amari Bailey, G, UCLA
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UCLA guard Amari Bailey is a former 5-star recruit who failed to capitalize on what was a very inconsistent freshman season. The 19-year-old averaged 11.2 points and shot 38.9 percent from beyond the arc but didn't have the offensive impact for the Bruins that many expected.
Still, Boone believes that Bailey will still be a late first-round selection:
"I find it highly unlikely Bailey and his five-star pedigree slip further in this draft," Boone wrote. "He was admittedly streaky, but he flashed some scoring punch down the stretch for the Bruins and has nice flash as an athlete that could make him a slasher/scorer type in the league."
A strong combine could give NBA teams a front-row seat to Bailey's offensive upside. If he impresses, he could cement himself as a first-round pick.
According to Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Bailey is expected to participate in scrimmages on Wednesday and Thursday. The 6'5" guard has already shown off during shooting drills:
Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan
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The combine interview process could help Eastern Michigan forward Emoni Bates tremendously. A former 5-star recruit, the former Gatorade National Player of the Year started at Memphis, eyeing a two-year college career because of his age.
However, Bates struggled with injuries, shot selection and decision-making with the Tigers before ultimately transferring to Eastern Michigan. While Bates was much better there—he averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from the field, he hasn't repaired his draft stock enough to be a top draft choice.
"He's a talented offensive player who right now is a 2nd-round pick," one NBA executive told Adam Zagoria of Forbes. "Risky, but worth the risk."
Whether Bates goes high in the second round or falls out of the draft completely could hinge on his interactions with team decision-makers. He's still a promising 6'9" wing prospect with a ton of offensive upside but is still a project.
If a team is comfortable taking on that project, it could target Bates over draft weekend.
*College statistics from Basketball Reference. Recruiting info via 247Sports.
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