Final 2023 NBA Mock Draft Round Up: A surprise at 12 for OKC Thunder
By Rylan Stiles
NBA Mock Drafts have settled mainly on two names for the OKC Thunder.
The OKC Thunder rumor list has been reigned in. Most NBA Mock Drafts have the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Michigan Guard Kobe Bufkin or Victor Wembanyama’s teammate Bilal Coulibaly.
Team Kobe Bufkin: ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (subscription required), Sam Vecenie of the Athletic, Yahoo! Sports Krysten Peek, and Bleacher Report’sJonathan Wasserman.
Team Bilal Coulibaly: The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Gary Parish of CBS Sports.
Related Story. Did the OKC Thunder issue a draft promise to Bilal Coulibaly?. light
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been strongly tied to each guard. In fact, max contract point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been seen working out with Michigan Guard Kobe Bufkin this offseason. On top of the potential draft promise issued to Bilal Coulibaly, Sam Presti traveled overseas to watch him play in the Finals.
Each guard would offer a lot of upside to the OKC Thunder if they were the pick at 12. However, they both are gaining traction to be picked higher in Thursday’s draft. While it is unlikely OKC would trade up for either of them, someone has to fall to pick 12. With the jumbled prospects and trade scuttlebutt, the 2023 NBA Draft has the potential to be a wild night. Stay tuned to Thunderous Intentions for all of the latest updates.
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