A Jamaica U17 basketball team left the island on Tuesday for the USA to compete in the Marquee Hoops NCAA sanctioned AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament which will take place from July 5-7 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

According to head of delegation Wayne Dawkins, this is an extraordinary milestone for Jamaica’s basketball as it is the first time that a youth basketball team from Jamaica has been invited to compete in an AAU tournament in America.

The trip was organized by Dawkins of P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy and technical director/head coach of Jamaica's Under 17 team. He will be joined by a coaching staff of Dave Black, Phil Edwards and Rohan Ferguson.

The team will use the opportunity to gain valuable development experience as well as help to prepare the selected players who will represent Jamaica in the FIBA Centro Basket Championship in Belize from July 25 to 30.

The 15 players were selected from P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy players as well as members of the Jamaica U17 training cohort from the four training regions across the island.

The selected players are:

St. James - Kamau Dennis, Joshua Ferguson, Nathan Thompson, Christian Andom, Gabrielle Scalamana, Alexander Corrodus and Nyle McCalla.

Manchester - Elijah Smeike and Johnathan Beckford.

St. Catherine - Ajani Walters

Kingston - Shaquayne Elliot, Antoine Daye, Joel Hamm, Zachery Smith and Kyro McCalla.

The Minnesota Timberwolves had faith that Anthony Edwards would be the cornerstone of the franchise when they selected him first overall in the 2020 draft.

He's proven he was worth the pick and has been rewarded, agreeing to a five-year, $207million rookie max extension with the Timberwolves on Monday.

The deal could be worth $260million if he makes an All-NBA team during the 2023-24 season.

Edwards made his first All-Star team this past season, as he led the Timberwolves in scoring with a career-best 24.6 points per game, while also averaging 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals.

At 21 years old, he became the youngest player to average those numbers in a season since LeBron James in 2005-06.

He has helped guide the Timberwolves to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 2004, and stepped up his scoring game in this season's first-round loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.

Edwards averaged 31.6 points against the Nuggets and scored a Timberwolves franchise playoff-record 41 points in Game 2.

He drained six 3-pointers in that game and averaged 2.7 made 3s during the regular season while shooting 36.9 per cent from beyond the arc.

As one of the league's brightest young stars, Edwards emerged as Minnesota's most dangerous scoring threat with two-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns missing 52 games this past season with a calf strain.

The durable Edwards has missed just seven games due to injury in his first three seasons.

In 223 career games, he is averaging 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 made 3s.

The Phoenix Suns have landed one of the most coveted free agents still on the market, signing veteran Eric Gordon to a two-year contract.

The deal, which was reported Sunday, includes a player option, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 34-year-old Gordon joins a Suns team led by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton and the recently acquired Bradley Beal.

Gordon averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 69 games last season for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Acquired by the Clippers at the trade deadline, Gordon averaged 10.2 points in five games in Los Angeles' first-round playoff loss to Phoenix.

He became a free agent last week when the Clippers opted not to guarantee his $21million contract.

With the Suns, he'll likely be asked to come off the bench to lead the second unit and provide another outside shooting threat.

Gordon shot 37.1 per cent from 3-point range last season and since his 2008-09 rookie season, his 1,878 made 3-pointers are the eighth most in the NBA.

Opportunities for women in sport continue to improve, but breaking down barriers of discrimination on or off the court was never going to be easy, according to London Lions women’s team general manager Vanja Cernivec.

Last summer, Slovenian-born Cernivec was appointed the first female general manager at a Women’s British Basketball League side.

Having previously been an international scout for the Chicago Bulls, the first woman in the NBA’s history to fulfil the position, Cernivec is no stranger to overcoming boundaries.

Emily Clarke was announced as the new general manager of the Women’s British Basketball League at the end of June.

Nevertheless, recent research commissioned by the Lions showed 25 per cent of women felt progressing in a sport, either at player or management level, was not viable as there were no role models to relate to.

Part of the study, which was conducted across a nationally representative cohort of 2,090 respondents, also revealed 20 per cent of females said they had experienced some kind of discrimination or exclusion which deterred them from participating in a sport.

Cernivec, though, feels appointments such as her own and that of Clarke – who previously held management roles at Basketball England – demonstrate there is a genuine drive to embrace change alongside having difficult conversations on delivering equality throughout the sport.

“Generally the reception (to my role) has been very positive,” Cernivec told the PA news agency.

“(London Lions owners) 777 have done an incredible step assigning that position. It didn’t matter who stepped in – in this case, it was me.

“By opening this position, they have kind of set a milestone and said how important this role is, setting the same standard for the women’s game as for the men’s.

“The hire of Emily as the GM (general manager) for the Women’s British Basketball League is a great step forward, but changes are never easy for people to accept.”

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Cernivec added: “Things are changing for the better, the fact we are talking about this right now says that.

“If you look at women’s sport globally, it is on the rise. It is not the next upcoming thing, it is the thing right now, so anyone who tries to ignore it is on the wrong path.

“But the fact that women still feel discriminated against in the grassroots and participation level is something which needs to be changed immediately – not only from a professional (sports) aspect, but also for the mental and physical health of our youth.”

Cernivec’s role also saw her become global director of London Lions Academy.

During June, the Lions took part in the inaugural junior NBA European finals in Valencia, sending both an under-15s boys and girls team to the elite youth tournament.

Cernivec hopes such projects can help further develop the talent pool of home-grown players and potential future professionals.

“If you look at the pathway for young British male or female players, it kind of ends in the last year of high school and if they want to continue playing (at an elite level), then they have to go abroad,” she said.

“That is something the Lions are trying to change and help create a professional pathway – with coaches around, nutritionists, mental health support, strength and conditioning, all that comes along with building the athletes to what they aspire to be.

“With the junior NBA platform, it was a great event which has exposed us to where the British talent is right now and where our coaching pool stands, so it was a great experience for everyone.

“We have a great pool of talent in Britain. It is just a matter of how fast we can build up the coaching staff and the facilities, everything which is needed to give them the right development they deserve.”

Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings have agreed to five-year contract extension worth $217 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal includes $195 million in new money, Sabonis’ agents said Saturday night.

The Kings are using the salary cap to deliver an additional $8.6 million to raise Sabonis’ earnings for 2023-24 to $30.6 million and will add a four-year extension that will give him nearly $200 million more over the life of the contract.

Sabonis’ first full season with the Kings in 2023-24 was an excellent one. He averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 61.5 percent from the field as he made third-team All-NBA.

Led by Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, the Kings won the Pacific Division title and ended a 16-year playoff drought in 2022-23 with a 48-34 record.

Sabonis was acquired from Indiana in February 2022 in the deal that sent All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Pacers.

The Charlotte Hornets and All-Star guard LaMelo Ball have agreed on a designated rookie maximum extension, multiple media outlets reported Saturday. The five-year deal is reportedly worth up to $260million.

Ball’s new deal comes a day after his draftmates – Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Memphis’ Desmond Bane – also agreed to max rookie extensions.

Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 draft and was named the 2021 Rookie of the Year. In his second season, Ball was selected as an All-Star.

A 6-foot-7 playmaker, Ball averaged career highs last year of 23.3 points and 8.4 assists but was limited to 36 games due to injury.

Ball missed the start of last season due to a slow-healing sprained left ankle, and his campaign ended abruptly in February when he fractured his right ankle.

Bucks keep Lopez

The Milwaukee Bucks are bringing back veteran center Brook Lopez after agreeing to a two-year, $48million contract, according to multiple media reports.

The agreement comes a day after the Bucks and swingman Khris Middleton reportedly agreed to a new three-year contract.

Lopez, 35, has been a pillar in the frontcourt next to Giannis Antetokounmpo since joining the Bucks in 2018 and helped Milwaukee win an NBA title in 2021.

Lopez finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year last season and averaged a career-high 2.5 blocks. He added 15.9 points per game last season while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3-point range.

Lakers retain Reaves, Russell

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached agreements to keep starting guards Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, according to media reports.

Reaves, who was a restricted free agent, will reportedly receive a four-year, $56million deal, while Russell’s deal is worth $37million over two seasons.

After going 43-39 last season, the Lakers are hoping to build on a run to the Western Conference finals.

Behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves was the Lakers’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 16.9 points per game, while Russell was fourth at 13.3 points per game.

DiVincenzo joins Knicks

Donte DiVincenzo agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal to join the Knicks and former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.

DiVincenzo spent last season with the Warriors and won an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, though he played in just three playoff games before tearing a ligament in his ankle.

He played a career-high 72 games last season for Golden State and averaged 9.4 points. 

Cavs land Strus in 3-team swap, Heat shed salary

Max Strus is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade and will receive a four-year, $63million contract, according to media reports.

The San Antonio Spurs landed Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a future second-round pick in the deal.

The Miami Heat only received a future second-round pick in the deal but created some salary cap flexibility that could aid in acquiring a high-priced player like Damian Lillard or James Harden.

Strus scored a career-high 11.5 points per game last season for the Heat and was a key contributor in Miami’s run to the NBA Finals.

Brooks leaves Grizzlies for Rockets

Dillon Brooks is moving to the Rockets on a four-year deal worth nearly $80 million.

ESPN is reporting the deal may become a sign-and-trade, one that would create a massive trade exception for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 73 games last season for Memphis.

He became a key player for a Grizzlies team that made the playoffs each of the past three seasons, earning a reputation as one of the league’s premier wing defenders.

Brooks was fined by the NBA for not talking to the media after some playoff losses last season and was ejected in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Lakers for striking LeBron James in the groin. That was after he called James “old” and led the NBA with 18 technical fouls last season, earning a pair of one-game suspensions in the process.

Westbrook stays with Clippers

Russell Westbrook will continue his run with the Los Angeles Clippers, agreeing to a two-year deal with the team he ended last season with.

The deal is worth $7.8 million, with the second year a player option, according to sources.

Westbrook began last season with the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Utah Jazz at the deadline. He never played for the Jazz and was signed by the Clippers on February 22.

The 9-time All-Star averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.9 assists in 21 regular-season games with the Clippers.

Damian Lillard has asked the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him, according to multiple media reports on Saturday.

An explicit trade request is the latest development in a months-long saga between Portland and the seven-time All-Star.

As an accomplished veteran on the Trail Blazers’ recent struggling teams, Lillard has long been considered a potential trade target. Until Saturday, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer insisted that he was focused on winning in Portland.

The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams with serious interest in Lillard, according to multiple media reports.

Portland used the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft on guard Scoot Henderson after Lillard – who will turn 33 later this month – had reportedly lobbied the club to trade the pick for veteran help.

Tyrese Haliburton has landed a max contract extension with the Pacers, a deal that could be worth up to $260 million. 

The deal is the largest in franchise history and also Indiana's second deal ever to surpass $100 million.

The third-year pro was an All-Star for the first time last season, becoming the first player in league history to average 20 points and 10 assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range in a season.

Haliburton was drafted 12th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2020 but was traded to the Pacers in February 2022 in a deal that send Domantas Sabonis to the Kings. 

Desmond Bane and the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a five-year, $207 million max contract extension.

Bane, 25, gets the first $200 million deal in Grizzlies' history as he's developed into one of the NBA's best young shooting guards in his three seasons with Memphis.

He set career highs with 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and field goal percentage (48 percent) for the Grizzlies last season.

Bane is among the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, making 42.5 percent of his attempts in his career, while increasing the volume each season.

It didn’t take long for some of the NBA’s top free agents to come off the board.

Point guard Fred VanVleet is leaving the Toronto Raptors after agreeing with the Houston Rockets on a three-year maximum contract totalling $130million, according to multiple media outlets.

The NBA's negotiating period began Friday at 6 p.m. EDT. Deals will not be made official until the end of the league's annual moratorium on July 6.

Undrafted out of Wichita State, VanVleet broke out during the Raptors’ 2019 title run and was a coveted prize in this year’s free agent class.

VanVleet averaged 19.3 points and a career-high 7.2 assists last season.

The Rockets entered this free agency period with the most salary cap room in the NBA, an estimated $68million.

The Raptors responded by adding Dennis Schröder on a reported two-year, $26million deal as they look to build around Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Toronto was also able to retain center Jakob Poeltl on a four-year, $80million deal.

Irving stays paired with Dončić

Kyrie Irving has agreed to a contract to remain with the Dallas Mavericks and stay paired with superstar Luka Dončić, multiple media outlets reported Friday at the dawn of free agency.

The deal is reported to be worth $126million over three seasons, with a player option for the final year.

The Mavericks acquired Irving at last season’s trade deadline for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft compensation, but Irving reportedly explored other options in free agency.

Irving had been eligible for a maximum contract of up to five years and $272million with Dallas, but he landed at a shorter deal after playing about 40 games per year over the last four seasons.

The Mavericks also came to terms with sharp-shooting guard Seth Curry on a two-year deal.

Blazers keep Grant on 5-year deal

As a busy NBA offseason moves forward, Damian Lillard and his future with the Portland Trail Blazers continue to steal the spotlight.

Forward Jerami Grant and the Trail Blazers agreed on a five-year, $160million deal to keep him in Portland, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

The implications of Grant’s new deal on Lillard’s situation remain unclear, but a total tear-down to build solely around No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson appears less likely with Grant signed through the 2027-28 season.

Acquired from the Detroit Pistons for a draft pick a year ago, Grant averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 63 games with the Trail Blazers last season.

Even after retaining Grant, Portland projects to be about $15million under the luxury tax threshold, with a key decision still to come on restricted free agent Matisse Thybulle.

Draymond Green staying with Warriors

The Golden State Warriors kept their core intact, agreeing with Draymond Green on a new four-year, $100million contract, according to multiple media outlets.

Green had declined a $27.6million player option earlier this offseason.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Green has spent his entire career with the Warriors, winning four championships and being named to an All-Defensive Team eight times.

Bucks retain Middleton on 3-year deal

The Milwaukee Bucks also kept a key player from a championship team, agreeing with Khris Middleton on a three-year contract worth $102million.

Earlier this offseason, Middleton turned down a player option for next season at $40million.

Middleton, a three-time All-Star, helped the Bucks win a title in 2021. A right knee injury limited him to 33 games last season.

Veteran center Brook Lopez remains an unrestricted free agent.

Kuzma cashes in with Wizards

Kyle Kuzma became one of the big winners early in free agency, agreeing with the Washington Wizards on a four-year, $102million deal.

Kuzma’s contract comes after he turned down a $13million player option earlier this offseason.

After making $13million in each of the last two seasons, Kuzma will make $22.8million next season.

Kuzma is coming off a career year in which he averaged 21.2 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Wizards.

Johnson gets $108M from Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets and restricted free agent Cam Johnson have agreed on a new four-year contract worth $108million.

A key part of the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns last season, Johnson scored a career-high 15.5 points per game last season, including 16.6 per game in 25 contests with the Nets.

Brown leaves Denver for Indiana

After helping the Denver Nuggets win their first NBA title, Bruce Brown is headed to the Indiana Pacers on a two-year, $45million contract.

Brown played a key role for the Nuggets off the bench, averaging a career-high 11.5 points during the regular season, plus 12 points per game on 51.1-percent shooting in the playoffs.

Vincent headed to Lakers

Also cashing in on a strong postseason run was Gabe Vincent, who left the Miami Heat for the Los Angeles Lakers on a three-year, $33million deal.

The undrafted guard averaged 12.7 points and shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range during Miami’s run to the NBA Finals.

The NBA’s top free agent is already off the board.

Kyrie Irving has agreed to a contract to remain with the Dallas Mavericks and stay paired with superstar Luka Dončić, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

The deal is reported to be worth $126million over three seasons, with a player option for the final year.

The NBA's negotiating period began Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Deals will not be made official until the end of the league's annual moratorium on July 6.

The Mavericks acquired Irving at last season’s trade deadline for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft compensation, but Irving reportedly explored other options in free agency.

Irving had been eligible for a maximum contract of up to five years and $272million with Dallas, but he landed at a shorter deal after playing about 40 games per year over the last four seasons.

Irving accepting less than his maximum eligible contract opens up some or all of the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, up to $12.4million, for Dallas to use on role players.

While the Mavs were determined to keep a co-star to pair with Doncic, some have questioned the viability of the fit.

Dallas finished the season 9-18 after acquiring Irving and missed the playoffs. Irving averaged 27 points, five rebounds and six assists in 20 games with the Mavericks last season.

After helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA title, Irving has morphed into one of the more enigmatic players in basketball. His stints with the Cavs and Nets both ended with trade demands.

Irving has played 671 career games since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2011, averaging 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

James Harden will exercise his $35.6 player option for next season in order to facilitate a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

The Athletic named the Los Angeles Clippers as a team likely to pursue Harden, a 10-time All-Star and the 2017-18 NBA MVP who turns 34 in August but has remained among the NBA's premier playmakers. The New York Knicks are expected to have interest as well, according to ESPN.

Harden re-signed with the 76ers last summer on a two-year, $68.6 million contract that included the opt-out clause, taking less money in order to remain with one of the Eastern Conference's top contenders. Philadelphia finished third in the East with a 54-28 record, but was knocked out in the conference semifinals for a second straight year after losing to the rival Boston Celtics in seven games.

The 76ers fired head coach Doc Rivers following their playoff exit and replaced him with former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.

Had he opted out for a second straight year, Harden would have been eligible to re-sign with the 76ers for as much as $210 million over four years.

Harden averaged 21 points and a league-leading 10.7 assists in 58 regular-season games in 2022-23, and his 38.5 per cent accuracy from 3-point range was the second highest in his 14-year career.

He struggled in the Boston series, however, averaging only 12.5 points on 21.8 per cent shooting in the 76ers' four losses. In the Game 7 defeat, Harden was held to nine points while finishing 3 of 11 from the field.

For his career, Harden has averaged 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, seven assists and 1.5 steals in exactly 1,000 regular-season games.

Should he be moved, Harden would be joining his fourth team in four seasons.

The future Hall of Famer requested a trade from the Houston Rockets prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season and was later dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021, forming a star-studded trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

Brooklyn's "Big Three" was unable to achieve the franchise's championship dreams, however, and the group was broken up when Harden was sent to the 76ers in a blockbuster deal involving three-time All-Star Ben Simmons in February 2022. 

Two-time All-Star centre Nikola Vucevic is returning to the Chicago Bulls after agreeing to a three-year, $60 million contract extension, his agents told ESPN on Wednesday.

The new deal keeps Vucevic from hitting the open market when the NBA free agency period begins Friday. The 32-year-old would have been among the top available big men after averaging 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing in all 82 games in 2022-23, the final season of a four-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2019.

“I’m excited to continue my journey as a Chicago Bull,” Vucevic said in a team release. "Since I have arrived in Chicago, everyone in the organisation has been incredibly welcoming to my family and me. I am motivated more than ever to achieve our mutual goals as a team."

Vucevic will be entering his third full season with Chicago after the Bulls acquired him from the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline in March 2021. He put together his best season that year by averaging a career-high 23.4 points along with 11.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 70 games.

The 12-year veteran, along with star scorers Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, helped the Bulls end a four-year playoff drought the following season. Though Chicago missed the playoffs this past season, Vucevic put up identical numbers to his 2021-22 per-game averages in points, rebounds and assists while shooting 52 per cent from the field, his highest rate since 2014-15.

Vucevic has averaged a points-rebounds double-double in five consecutive seasons and owns a solid 34.8 per cent career average on 3-point attempts. The 2011 first-round pick has averaged 17 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 823 career regular-season games. 

“During his time in Chicago, Nikola has proven that he is a special player both on and off the court,” Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnsiovas said. “He has produced at an elite level since we acquired him and will remain an integral part of our foundation moving forward.

"Nikola’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help us win, while also being an established veteran leader for our group, makes him a valuable component of the culture of our organisation. He is a consummate professional and tremendous teammate, which plays a big role in making us an attractive destination for other players. We are excited to have him continue to be part of our journey."

Retaining Vucevic was considered a top offseason priority for Karnisovas, who paid a high price to acquire the Montenegro native two years ago. Chicago sent talented young centre Wendell Carter Jr. to Orlando in the trade along with two first-round picks, one of which was used on rising star Franz Wagner. 

While bringing back Vucevic solidifies Chicago's frontcourt, Karnisovas still has big decisions to make regarding the backcourt with point guard Lonzo Ball expected to miss a second straight season with a career-threatening knee injury. Fellow guard Coby White, the Bulls' top bench scorer last season, will be a restricted free agent.

The Utah Jazz are finalising a deal to acquire forward John Collins from the Atlanta Hawks, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Monday.

Atlanta will receive veteran forward Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick in the NBA Draft as it sheds the remaining money owed to Collins - $78.5 million over the next three seasons.

The Hawks selected Collins with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 draft, and he earned second-team All-Rookie honours in 2017-18.

Collins signed a five-year, $125 million contract before the 2021-22 campaign.

The 6-foot-9 Collins averaged 15.8 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 55.1 percent from the field in 364 games, including 313 starts, over six seasons with Atlanta.

Gay, 36, appeared in 56 games for Utah in 2022-23, his 17th season in the NBA. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.

There was no surprise atop Thursday’s 2023 NBA Draft. Victor Wembanyama has joined the San Antonio Spurs.

Wembanyama, widely considered the best draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003, was the no-doubt first selection to open Thursday’s draft at Barclays Center in New York.

With guard skills in a 7-foot-3 frame, Wembanyama is expected to blossom into a superstar in San Antonio and follow in the footsteps of fellow No. 1 overall picks Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

With the first pick a foregone conclusion, the intrigue heading into the draft was focused on NBA G-League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson and Alabama forward Brandon Miller.

The Charlotte Hornets ultimately opted to take Miller with the No. 2 pick, pairing a scoring forward with point guard and 2022 All-Star LaMelo Ball.

Henderson, who has previously said he was best player in the class, was selected third by the Portland Trail Blazers. The addition of a highly regarded point guard prospect is sure to ramp up the widespread trade speculation surrounding Damian Lillard.

The Thompson twins, products of Overtime Elite, followed by being selected back-to-back, with Amen Thompson going No. 4 to the Houston Rockets and Ausar Thompson picked fifth by the Detroit Pistons.

The pair becomes the second set of brothers to both become top-five draft picks in the common draft era, following Lonzo Ball (No. 2, 2017) and LaMelo Ball (No. 3, 2020).

Only one of the top five picks played NCAA basketball on their road to the NBA, the fewest since 2001, when players could be drafted directly from high school.

Heading into the draft, many pundits projected conditions ripe for a night full of trades, but teams mostly picked where they were slated.

One notable trade occurred when the Dallas Mavericks traded the No. 10 pick and Davis Bertans to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 12 pick, freeing up cap space for the Mavs via the traded player exception. Dallas used the 12th pick to select Duke center Dereck Lively II as the team continues to try to build a contender around Luka Doncic.

Dallas used the newfound roster flexibility almost immediately, acquiring big man Richaun Holmes and the 24th pick (Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper) from the Sacramento Kings.  

While all eyes were on Wembanyama at the draft’s onset, he wasn’t the only victory for basketball in France.

Forward Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s French League teammate on the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, was picked seventh overall by the Indiana Pacers but was promptly traded to the Washington Wizards.

The Orlando Magic, who picked Paolo Banchero first overall in last year’s draft, added to their young core by selecting Arkansas guard Anthony Black at No. 6 and using the 11th pick on Michigan swingman Jett Howard, son of former All-Star Juwan Howard.

Fresh off their second NBA Finals appearance in four years, the Miami Heat used the No. 18 pick four-year UCLA product Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The NBA champion Denver Nuggets acquired the No. 29 pick to select Gonzaga forward Julian Strawther.

The San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first pick of Thursday’s NBA Draft, affirming what has been a foregone conclusion for more than a month.

The generational talent had been pegged to be the first overall pick for the past year and slotted to go to San Antonio since the Spurs won the league’s draft lottery May 16.

And now it’s official.

The 19-year-old French phenom is the third player to be selected first overall by the Spurs, joining David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan in 1997 – both Hall of Famers and NBA champions.

Wembanyama makes the transition to the NBA after completing his career in the French League last Thursday with his team, Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, losing in the championship series.

In 33 regular-season games this season, he averaged 21.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks.

Considered by many to be the best draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003, Wembanyama can seemingly do it all on the court.

Officially listed at 7-foot-3, he is a phenomenal rim protector, using his long arms to block and alter opponents’ shots.

He can score in the paint and battle for rebounds down low but can also then step out to the perimeter to knock down a 3-pointer.

An adept dribbler and passer, he also handles the ball like a point guard, something seemingly unheard of for someone of his size.

Possessing the rare combination of size, ball-handling and shooting, Wembanyama is expected to make an immediate impact in the NBA for a Spurs team that finished 22-60 last season to miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

By going first overall, he’s the first non-college freshman to be selected No. 1 since 2009, when the Los Angeles Clippers drafted Blake Griffin – a sophomore out of Oklahoma University.