Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1947, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has held its annual draft, during which NBA teams select amateur basketball players. In its early years, between 80 and 150 players were selected in each draft, with the number of rounds changing frequently from year to year. From 1965-1973, the draft had between 18 and 21 rounds, and then the following year the NBA DRAFT was reduced to 10 rounds for the next 11 years. In 1985, the NBA DRAFT was comprised of seven rounds, reduced to three rounds for the next three years (1986-1988), and then two rounds ever since. The NBA DRAFT was first televised on June 10, 1980, when USA Network showed the draft live, and the proceedings have been shown live on TV each year since. USA Network presented the NBA DRAFT for five years (1980-1984), and then TBS Superstation showed it for the next five years (1985-1989), concluding with the first primetime telecast on Tuesday, June 27, 1989. Since then, the NBA DRAFT has been televised live during primetime on TNT (1990-2002) and on ESPN (2003-Present).
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The 2023 NBA DRAFT is televised live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 8pm ET/5pm PT on ABC and ESPN. Round 1 of the draft is simulcast on ESPN and ABC, while Round 2 airs on ESPN starring at 11pm ET/8pm PT. This marks ESPN's 20th consecutive NBA Draft telecast overall.

ESPN Coverage: Malika Andrews, reporter and host of NBA TODAY, leads NBA DRAFT again. Andrews is joined by joined by analysts Jay Bilas, JJ Redick, Andraya Carter and Monica McNutt. Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks contribute to the broadcast as insiders.

ABC Coverage: For the third consecutive year, ABC broadcasts the first round of the NBA Draft. SPORTSCENTER's Kevin Negandhi returns to host the ABC presentation alongside Stephen A. Smith.