The first overall pick in the draft was Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-5 French phenom, who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs. He is considered a generational talent and gives the Spurs hope for building around a young superstar.
One of the biggest surprises of the draft was Bilal Coulibaly being drafted at No. 7 by the Washington Wizards. Coulibaly's rise over the past few months was unexpected, as he wasn't widely known a year ago but gained buzz as a potential lottery pick.
The Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons made history by selecting twin brothers in the top five picks of the same draft. The Rockets took Amen Thompson at No. 4, while the Pistons selected Ausar Thompson at No. 5.
There were several trades during the first round, with the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards swapping draft rights for Bilal Coulibaly and Jarace Walker, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks swapping draft rights for Cason Wallace and Dereck Lively II.
Jett Howard's selection at No. 11 by the Orlando Magic was a surprise, as the team opted for him over other prospects. The pick was seen as a bet on Howard's potential to become a dynamic scorer alongside other young talents on the team.
The draft saw a lack of centers selected in the first round, with only three centers chosen among the top 30 picks. This was unexpected considering the impact centers like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have had in the league.
Damian Lillard's future with the Portland Trail Blazers is still uncertain despite the team drafting Scoot Henderson at No. 3. The pick was made regardless of Lillard's decision, and the Trail Blazers will have to balance building for the future while trying to remain competitive if Lillard stays.
Cam Whitmore sliding to the Houston Rockets at No. 20 was surprising, considering his talent and potential. Although there were reported medical concerns and lack of productivity in college, Whitmore's selection represents a great value pick for Houston and an opportunity for him to prove himself.