The month of March is typically known in the sports world for the NCAA’s annual men’s basketball tournament. With all eyes watching college basketball teams fight it out, this is the first time many fans fully pay attention to college draft prospects.
This is especially the case for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will spend the rest of the decade swimming in draft picks.
In the 2023 draft class, the top two projected picks, France’s Victor Wembanyama and the G League’s Scoot Henderson, are not participating in March Madness. Another top pick, Amen Thompson, also opted out of college to play for the Overtime Elite.
Even with those players not part of the mayhem, plenty of others are. Let’s take a look at the latest rounds of mock drafts and who they have the Thunder selecting.
Keep in mind OKC’s draft position in these mocks varies as it is in the jumbled Western Conference standings where only 1.5 games separate the seventh from 12th.
Let’s see who the Thunder could add to their young core in a few months.
Full disclosure: Only a few of these mock drafts also did the second round; the Thunder own two picks in that round.
First Round:
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, No. 14 overall: Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, 19 years old, Guard)
- Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win, No. 7 overall: Anthony Black (Arkansas, 19 years old, Guard)
- Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer, No. 17 overall: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State, 19 years old, Guard)
- Tankathon, No. 12 overall: Keyonte George (Baylor, 19 years old, Guard)
- NBADraft.net, No. 16 overall: Keyonte George (Baylor, 19 years old, Guard)
- Enzo Flojo, Clutch Points, No. 12 overall: Gradey Dick (Kansas, 19 years old, Forward)
- Rowan Kent, Hoops Habit, No. 11 overall: Taylor Hendricks (UCF, 19 years old, Forward)
Second Round:
- Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report, No. 38 overall (via Wizards): Sidy Cissoko (G League Ignite, 18 years old, Forward). No. 50 overall (via Heat): Jaylen Clark (UCLA, 21 years old, Forward)
- Tankathon, No. 37 overall (via Wizards): Julian Phillips (Tennessee, 19 years old, Forward). No. 52 overall (via Heat): Adem Bona (UCLA, 19 years old, Center)
- NBADraft.net, No. 44 overall: LJ Cryer (Baylor, 21 years old, Guard). No. 46 overall: Ricky Council IV (Arkansas, 21 years old, Guard)
