Why is the 2023 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn?
The long-standing home of the NBA Draft will once again play host to the league’s big event
With the arena has been the home of the NBA Draft for more than a decade now, it came as no surprise when it was announced that, once again, it would play host to the league’s big event.
Barclays Center is the long-time home of the NBA Draft
The Barclays Center will host the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 22nd. As fans will know, aside from the 2020 NBA Draft, which was held virtually as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, Barclays Center has been the host arena for the NBA Draft each and every year since 2013. Prior to that, the annual event was held at the Prudential Center in Newark for two years.
If you’d like some perspective, it was actually at the 2011 NBA Draft held in Newark when the now iconic Kyrie Irving was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Incidentally, it’s not the first time the Nets’ home has had hosting duties. Back when they were the New York Nets and playing at the Continental Airlines arena, the now Brooklyn Nets played host to what is considered by many to be the greatest NBA Draft of all time being held in Brooklyn. The famous 1996 NBA Draft saw the likes of generally Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Stephon Marbury all drafted into the NBA.
The 2023 NBA Draft format
This year’s NBA Draft will be the 77th edition of the event. All 30 NBA teams will draft the game’s most promising players for the upcoming season, including possibly first-pick and the talented Victor Wembanyama.
Due to tampering violations during free agency, both the Chicago Bulls and the Philadelphia 76ers have lost their second-round picks. As a result, the 2023 NBA Draft will consist of 58 picks instead of the usual 60. This marks the second consecutive season in which the draft has been reduced to 58 picks due to tampering violations.
As has always been the case in the NBA Draft, the format will follow a scheme wherein players will be able to hear their names called, walk across the stage, and pick up their team’s draft cap in the symbolic moment that indicates their acceptance of their new careers in the NBA.