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Ime Udoka To Represent Rockets In 2023 NBA Draft Lottery
HOUSTON — Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka will represent the franchise on Tuesday during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. The representation of Udoka is fitting, given that Houston's draft capital played a role in the second-year coach choosing the Rockets over several suitors.
The Rockets will enter the draft lottery with a 14.0 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick and the rights to the French phenom, Victor Wembanyama. Houston is in a three-way tie alongside the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs for the top overall selection and have a 20 percent chance of falling to the No. 6 pick.
Outside of Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 pick, the 2023 NBA Draft has a trio of promising prospects who can change the trajectory of any franchise. G League Ignite prospect Scoot Henderson and Alabama's Brandon Miller are entering the draft as projected top-three selections.
Henderson and Miller will be two of 78 prospects participating in the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. Wembanyama will not be in attendance due to the ongoing season of the French league.
The Rockets have fallen short of the top overall pick in back-to-back years despite finishing with the league's worst record. In 2021, the Rockets drafted Jalen Green with the No. 2 pick. And the following year, Houston obtained the No. 3 pick and landed Jabari Smith Jr.
The 2002 NBA Draft marked the last time the Rockets won the lottery. All-Star point guard Steve Francis was the representative. And with the top overall selection, the Rockets drafted Hall-of-Famer Yao Ming.
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