Introducing Nike Basketball’s Rookie Class of 2023

What to know

• Nike Basketball is proud to introduce its 2023 NBA Rookie Class. Together, these players represent the wave of the future, bringing the game to new heights. 
• These players include Anthony Black, Kobe Brown, Bilal Coulibaly, Keyonte George, Jordan Hawkins, Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Julian Strawther, Cason Wallace, and Victor Wembanyama.

Nike’s roster of athletes is unmatched. From the greatest of all time to rising stars who are barrier breakers, we partner with the world’s best athletes with the goal of expanding sport for the next generation. To that end, Nike Basketball is proud to introduce its 2023 NBA Rookie Class. Together, these players represent the wave of the future, bringing the game to new heights. 

Anthony Black, Guard

Team: Orlando Magic

• Last season, he was the only player in University of Arkansas history to reach more than 450 points, 180 rebounds and 140 assists in a season. 
• He was also the only player in the SEC to reach the top 25 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots. 

Kobe Brown, Forward

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

• In Kobe’s senior year at the University of Missouri, he became the third Division I player in the last 25 seasons to score 30 points in back-to-back games against nationally ranked teams. 
• He was the only Division I player in the nation last year to shoot 55 percent from the field and 45 percent from three-point range. 

Bilal Coulibaly, Guard

Team: Washington Wizards

• He was quickly promoted to his senior-level French team after averaging 21.9 PPG, 2.6 SPG and 1.2 BPG.
• He represents France at the international level.

Keyonte George, Guard

Team: Utah Jazz

• His 506 points as a freshman at Baylor University were the second most in school history.
• He holds the Baylor record for most 20-point games in program history.

Jordan Hawkins, Guard

Team: New Orleans Pelicans

• He’s made the second most three-pointers in a single season in University of Connecticut program history, behind only Ray Allen.
• He helped lead UConn to win the 2023 NCAA National Title. 

Dereck Lively II

Team: Dallas Mavericks

• A five-star center out of Pennsylvania, he was ranked the No. 1 player overall in the state’s class of 2022. ESPN ranked him the No. 1 High School Basketball Player in the class of 2022.
• His 82 blocked shots last season were the second most by a Duke University freshman in a single season.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Forward

Team: Dallas Mavericks

• He was a nationally ranked recruit from the class of 2020, concluding his high school career at the NBA’s Latin American Academy in Mexico City.
• During NBA Summer League 2023, he averaged 12.6 PPG and 5.4 RPG at 25.4 MPG.

Brandon Miller, Forward

Team: Charlotte Hornets

• At the University of Alabama, he became the first conference player ever to win SEC Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, and SEC Tournament MVP in the same season.
• He led all Division I freshmen in scoring last year.

Amen Thompson, Forward

Team: Houston Rockets

• In the 2023 NBA Draft, he was the No. 4 overall pick.
• He averaged 16.4 PPG, 5.9 APG and 5.9 RPG during the OTE 2022-23 regular season.

Ausar Thompson, Forward

Team: Detroit Pistons 

• A five-star recruit out of high school, he won a state title at Pine Crest High School with his brother Amen in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• In the OTE 2022-23 season, he was named the regular-season MVP and finals MVP, averaging 21.0 PPG, 4.8 APG and 5.2 RPG.

Julian Strawther, Forward

Team: Denver Nuggets

• He averaged a double-double in high school at 31.5 PPG and 11.1 RPG.
• He represents Puerto Rico at the international level.

Cason Wallace, Guard

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

• In high school, he was awarded two separate Player of the Year honors in the state of Texas.
• Last year, at the University of Kentucky, he ranked among the NCAA leaders in assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and steals per game.

Victor Wembanyama, Forward

Team: San Antonio Spurs

• After winning the Pro A title with ASVEL of the EuroLeague, he went on to play for the Metropolitans 92 where he earned the league’s title for scoring and blocks with an average of 21.6 PPG and 3.0 BPG during the 2022-23 season.
• He was the No. 1 overall pick for the NBA 2023 Draft.