What is this? This is my 17th-annual NBA Draft Blog. I’ll be posting my thoughts about the first round of the NBA Draft here. That will include everything from the actual picks, to the ESPN “personalities,” to the commercials, etc. Anything goes. This page will be updated every five minutes or so, so I hope you join me for the 2023 NBA Draft!
Also, I will be posting NBA Draft Grades on this page.
Follow me on Twitter @walterfootball for updates.
8:03: The live draft blog is live! Adam Silver needs more boos after rigging the lottery.
8:04: “The best basketball was played in the heartland … and we’ll make sure it never happens again because we need better ratings.”
8:05: I’m not watching with my dad. I can’t leave my two kids, both of whom are under four. If I were with him, he’d be calling Silver all sorts of slurs.
8:06: Why does ESPN have two sideline reporters and a fat guy along with Jay Bilas on their set?
8:07: Adam “Penis Head” Silver – which is the nicest thing my dad has ever called Silver – should just say, “A trade has been announced. The Mavericks have traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for a rigged lottery process.”
8:08: I can’t understand what Kendrick Perkins is saying because he’s slurring his words. Can we get a translator?
8:09: There’s been only one person to ever be drafted from Maine before Cooper Flagg!?!?
8:10: Marty Smith talked to his high school principal. What if he said that no one went to Cooper Flagg’s birthday party? Would he still be the top pick?
8:11: The pick is in! Will the Mavs shock us all!?!??!
With the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Mavericks select Cooper Flagg
8:13: The Spurs are about to draft a player who couldn’t lead his team to a winning record.
8:15: What did you hope to insteal into him!?”
With the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Spurs select Dylan Harper
8:19: Nice 15-17 record in college, Dylan.
8:20: Seriously though, it’s a major red flag that he and another top-10 pick couldn’t even get a winning record. Ben Simmons had a similar issue at LSU.
8:21: Sixers time! My dad wants the 76ers to trade down with the Nets at No. 8. I would just draft the best player available, which is probably Edgecome.
8:22: Ron Harper is Dylan Harper’s dad, but I know Dylan’s uncle and cousin. His uncle was a math teacher at my high school, while his cousin, Will, sat next to me in Algerba II back in 1997-98. He was a nice dude.
8:23: One minute remaining to make my dad’s trade dreams come true.
8:24: Imagine if the Thunder had the 76ers’ pick.
With the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the 76ers select VJ Edgecombe
8:27: My dad hasn’t called me yet. He only calls me when he’s pissed, so I assume he’s content, only because I sold him on Edgecombe instead of some nonsensical trade.
8:28: “This player has potential, but we’ll have to see if he meets that potential” can be said about any player in any NBA Draft.
8:29: Three for three in my mock draft! Oh yeah, baby!
8:30: I feel like the Nets are going to make a trade into the top five.
8:31: It’s Kendrick Perkins’ turn to speak. What do you have to say, Kendrick? “F*Eewewow fhwe ufoewfewuwbrurgwrj ns lw whfoiewfoiewfhoewfoewrgnrelenblev.”
8:32: The Hornets did not trade out.
With the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hornets select Kon Knueppel
8:35: This is the guy my dad wanted. “He’s the next Kyle Korver!” I think my dad would trade me as a son for Korver.
8:36: Knueppel is lucky that he’s tall. If he were a short and scrawny kid, he would’ve been called Nipple Boy, or something like that.
8:37: The Jazz should forfeit the pick after Adam Silver screwed them so hard.
8:38: Kidman!? How about Kevin or Karl?
8:39: I loved the Jazz growing up. Malone and Stockton were the best. I have both of their rookie cards.
With the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Jazz select Ace Bailey
8:43: The two Rutgers frauds are off the board, so the draft can really begin now.
8:44: The two ESPN sideline reporters on the set said, “It’s like playing a video game.” “Mhmm.” Yeah, as if you a**holes ever played video games.
8:45: Everyone talks about how the Commanders should switch back to the Redskins – except for racist white people like Peter King, Mike Florio, and Bill Simmons – but what about the Wizards going back to the Bullets? It’s offensive that Bullets is no longer the team name.
8:46: Oh great, now Perkins is in commercials. I have no idea what this guy is saying most of the time.
8:48: I have a way to fix the lottery dilemma, by the way. Instead of there being a lottery, only losses of 20 points or fewer should count toward the draft order. That way, tanking teams would at least have to try to keep games competitive.
With the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Bullets select Tre Johnson
8:50: The Bullets get a steal at No. 6!
8:51: I don’t mind the shorts with the suit. What I do mind is the tie. When will we, as Americans, abandon ties? Ties are so dumb, and they are very ugly. I will never wear a tie. I didn’t even wear one during my wedding!
8:52: Seriously though, my lottery idea is awesome. Teams couldn’t take anymore because 30-point losses wouldn’t count toward draft order. Someone get Penis Head on the phone and let him know!
8:53: Pretty cool that Ray Charles has joined Tre Johnson for the interview.
8:54: Did the Jazz know that Ace Bailey didn’t want to go to them? Awkward!
8:55: Maybe it’s for the best that the Jazz lost their top pick. What a dumb organization to draft a guy who doesn’t want to be there. He’ll be out of there at the first opportunity.
With the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Pelicans select Jeremiah Fears
8:57: ESPN’s second highlight of Fears was a lucky bank shot. Yikes.
8:58: Adam Silver being taller than you isn’t a good sign. Although it worked for Allen Iverson.
8:59: I can see that Jeremiah Fears will be very financially responsible with that O chain.
9:00: Is the mom crying because she’s happy about her son being drafted, or because they ran out of lobster bisque soup?
9:01: The Nets have 5,000 picks. I’m shocked they didn’t trade up.
With the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets select Egor Demin
9:04: I wonder if my dad knows Egor Demin’s dad. My dad seems to know every Russian or Eastern European. He also casually claimed that I’m Julian Edelman’s fourth cousin.
9:06: Guh, Shawn Bradley. That man stole my childhood sports soul.
9:07: The 76ers were supposed to have something special with Shawn Bradley. Instead, he was terrible, and the Bullets got their own version in George Muresean, who turned out to be better than Bradley!
9:08: Now that the Raptors are on the clock, it’s time to bring up the great plan I saw to enslave all Canadians and give black Americans one Canadian as a slave to make up for America’s dark history. Canadians are boot lickers, so I’m sure they’d be up for it.
With the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Raptors select Collin Murray-Boyles
9:13: I mentioned sitting next to Dylan Harper’s cousin in my Algebra II class. My trig class had a teacher who once said, “I don’t trust people with hyphenated last names.” I’m guessing she doesn’t like Toronto’s picks.
9:15: Stupid ESPN can’t update their pick for the Suns now owning the No. 10 pick instead of the Rockets.
9:16: “Key players: Bradley Beal” doesn’t look great.
9:17: Speaking of ESPN, I still don’t get why they have two sideline reporters on the set.
With the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Suns select Khaman Malauch
9:19: I love how one of the ESPN sideline reporters is getting credit for nailing the pick, but she’s just reading off Twitter.
9:21: My dad just called. His first question, “Who is that fat guy on the set who keeps mumbling?”
9:22: My dad is convinced that the Jazz will trade Ace Bailey because “Danny Ainge is a crooked guy.”
9:23: Looks like some other people are upset that there’s no more lobster bisque soup.
9:24: My dad, by the way, believes that Bailey will be going to the Nets in exchange for Egor Demin.
9:25: Memphis moves up! And the Suns trade for Mark Williams for No. 29!
With the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies select Cedric Coward
9:28: The sideline reporter called Cedric Coward “Colin Coward” BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
9:30: Remember when ESPN had on-air talent? Now they have sideline reporters on the set who can’t even get names correct. They might as well just bring Emmitt Smith back and have him announce everything.
With the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Bulls select Noa Essengue
9:34: So you’re telling me that the Bulls didn’t draft another former ESPN talent?
9:35: Maybe “talent” is a strong word.
9:37: The Pelicans just traded an unprotected first-round pick for the No. 13 selection!? This better be good.
9:39: Penis Head could have at least announced a pick while he was busy pandering to the public.
With the No. 13 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Pelicans select Derik Queen
9:42: The Pelicans aren’t a good team. They may have just traded a top-three selection. Yikes!
9:43: Speaking of ESPN talent, if Chris Berman were here, he’d say “Queen to Rook 5! Checkmate!” Man, that guy was the best.
With the No. 14 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Spurs select Carter Bryant
9:46: That makes it five correct picks in the mock despite Utah’s stupidity. Not bad.
9:47: Hopefully Oklahoma City’s pick here can help the team not nearly lose to mediocre teams in the playoffs.
9:48: I’m surprised that Kasparas guy wasn’t taken in the top 14 picks.
With the No. 15 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Thunder select Thomas Sorber
9:54: More rebounding for the Thunder? No one is ever going to see the ball ever again.
9:55: I always pronounced Thomas Sorber’s last name as “Sorbay,” as if he were French. I don’t know why.
9:56: I guess I’m not helping Thomas Sorber’s goal of everyone knowing his dad’s last name by mispronouncing it.
9:57: This is cool to have Cooper Flagg on set because the two sideline reporters will know how to interview him.
With the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Blazers select Hansen Yang
10:01: This Flagg interview stalled the entire draft.
10:03: “Hansen!? I give this grade an Mmm Bop!” Ah, Chris Berman, we miss you.
With the No. 17 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves select Joan Beringer
10:07: I don’t think I could ever draft a Frenchman named Joan. Bold move!
10:08: Ah, the Timberwolves. They broke my heart. I had them at 60/1 to win the Finals, but the Thunder embarrassed them.
10:11: I can’t wait to watch the new Naked Gun. It’s a shame O.J. Simpson passed because he could’ve been in it, too.
With the No. 18 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Jazz select Walter Clayton Jr.
10:17: I wrote in my draft grades that the Jazz are unlikely to be a good team anytime soon, and part of that is that Adam Silver will screw them and other small-market teams after what transpired in the finals this year.
10:19: I couldn’t imagine having a kid while being that young. I’m struggling as a 42-year-old with two kids under four!
10:20: Why is there a different sideline reporter interviewing the players when there are two sideline reporters on the main desk?
10:22: Whoever that woman was in the white/beige dress telling Walter Clayton Jr. where to go needs to be interviewed.
With the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets select Nolan Traore
10:25: I whiffed on Nolan Traore in my mock. I had him going much earlier than this.
10:27: The 2024 NBA Draft was finished at 11:15 p.m. It seems like we’re going way over, which is good for ratings. I guess the NBA needed the higher ratings after what happened in the finals.
With the No. 20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Heat select Kasparas Jakucionis
10:31: I’m surprised Jakucionis didn’t go in the lottery. His court vision is too good for him to fall this far.
10:32: “Kasparas, the friendly ghost, from Illinois!” Great Berman-ism, Boom!
10:35: Has anyone seen a less-talented panel on a sports channel before? This is awful. Jay Bilas’ back must be hurting because he’s carrying this broadcast.
10:37: Of course the ESPN doofus loves what the Jazz have done thus far. They took a player who doesn’t want to go to the team!
With the No. 21 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Bullets select Will Riley
10:39: One of the sideline reporter just pronounced the “S” in Illinois. I’m done with ESPN telecast.
10:41: I can’t believe the Nets are going to keep all of these picks. I assume they tried to trade up, but couldn’t get a deal done.
10:42: Lots of high-fives from a Nets front office that could have the worst team in the league next year.
With the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets select Drake Powell
10:46: Why does Adam Silver announce the wrong drafting team? He said the Hawks drafted Powell, but the Nets traded for the pick. The NBA really needs to clean this up if they want to strengthen the appeal of the NBA Draft.
10:48: By the way, congrats to those who followed Quacky, who called the Astros at +144 tonight.
10:49: I don’t get why this woman in the commercial is so frustrated with finding a good-paying job. She can just marry a wealthy guy and not worry about it.
With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hawks select Asa Newell
10:54: The Hawks just won this draft. I explain why on the grades page.
10:55: These banshee sideline reporters seem so proud to be from big cities. I would be embarrassed to be from Atlanta.
With the No. 24 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings select Nique Clifford
11:00: I can’t stress this enough. Adam Silver announcing trades that happened days ago and revealing the wrong drafting team really takes away from the NBA Draft. The NBA has to fix this.
With the No. 25 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Kings select Jase Richardson
11:05: One of the sideline reporters said that Jase Richardson is following in his parents’ footsteps instead of his dad’s footsteps. Oh, did his mom play in the NBA as well?
11:07: Maybe it’s because I am a fat man, but I don’t get how runners like the chicks in this commercial run. Running seems so tedious and so terrible on the knees and back. Swimming is much better health-wise, though that’s also tedious.
11:08: I can’t wait to watch NFL Flag Football Championship!
11:09: Five more picks to go, so we should be done at 11:30. I’m willing to bet that Adam Silver wanted to push this to midnight.
11:10: The 40th anniversary of the first lottery rigging!
With the No. 26 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets select Ben Saraf
11:12: It doesn’t look like the Nets know what the f**k they are doing.
11:13: The ESPN guy said Ben Saraf is an “Israeli D’Angelo Russell.” If that were true, he would have been chosen much earlier than No. 26. These idiots on TV never criticize anyone.
With the No. 27 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Nets select Danny Wolf
11:16: Not sure why Danny Wolf lasted so long, but the Nets finally made a good move.
11:17: By the way, Adam Silver announced another old trade. This one happened hours ago. Does Silver not realize that these trades are announced previously on TV?
With the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Celtics select Hugo Gonzalez
11:22: How about Adam Silver and the Celtics cutting off the weeping mom and proud dad interview? What scumbags! You guys could have waited a minute!
11:23: Adam Silver certainly showcasing why his nickname is “Penis Head” with that stunt. Wow. “Shut up, weeping parents, I must announce Boston’s pick!”
11:25: The Hornets ran out of time. Quick, Clippers, get your pick in!
With the No. 29 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hornets select Liam McNeely
11:29: Boo, the Clippers are no fun. I would have jumped the Hornets.
11:30: Hey, Kendrick Perkins, what do you think about the Liam McNeely pick? “EHugwoh wo ewf ewrwu uri barbeque sdvbr g43 gru wf e fweo ewwfwerwugibreg rbe ef we ow.”
11:31: “I think this speaks volumes about who this man is.” – ESPN sideline reporter. Who the f**k cares? Is he a good ball player or not?
With the No. 30 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Clippers select Yanic Konan Niederhauser
11:36: This is the first time a Penn State player was drafted in the first round!? WTF!?
11:37: That was an interesting night. The NBA and ESPN need to improve their draft presentation. Adam Silver has to stop announcing old trades and needs to start calling out the correct drafting teams. ESPN needs to have real sports analysts on their desk instead of glorified sideline reporters. And can they please provide a translator for Kendrick Perkins!?
11:38: I’ll have NBA Draft Grades posted tomorrow as well. There will be no live blog because the picks will happen too quickly.
But thank you for reading my incoherent thoughts. Hopefully I offended lots of people! Check out my 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
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