Right behind Wembanyama, several players were also projected to be picked very early: Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson, the Thompson twins, and others.
These players were all highly promising prospects, well worth the time and effort of teams willing to develop them.
With San Antonio having locked up the First Overall Pick early, the question of "Who would go second, and who would go third?" was just as hotly debated.
The Warriors returned to San Francisco, bringing the championship home with them, full of joy.
They held another grand championship parade and spent the happiest week of their lives basking in the glow of their victory.
Then, before long, June 23 arrived—the night of the Draft.
Once again, the event was held at Barclays Center, the same arena that had just hosted the Finals.
After some redecorating, the venue was already packed with all kinds of attendees.
Some were members of the media, some were executives and front-office staff from various teams, and others were the young people about to take part in the Draft along with their families—or, to put it another way, a group of young future millionaires on the verge of a change in social class, and their families...
It was worth noting that Chen Xi, a sort-of hometown figure, had also made a leisurely appearance that evening.
He arrived right on time, then, accompanied by several Knicks front-office staff who were also in attendance, made his way to his seat.
Chen's arrival immediately drew plenty of attention. Even the live broadcast cameras gave him a dedicated close-up.
The star power of one of the league's top players was undeniable.
Chen Xi's arrival with the Knicks' management soon caught the attention of another group: executives from the other teams.
Though Knicks general manager Leon Rose remained at