THURSDAY– The NBA Draft is all set to make headlines on June 22, 2023. All eyes are on the top prospect draft pick, Victor Wembanyama.
Who is Victor Wembanyama?
Wembanyama is a French-born professional basketball player for the Metropolitans 92, a team in the top division of France’s basketball league. The 19-year-old center, born in January of 2004, stands at 7’4.
He received a lot of exposure for his massive height and incredible three-point shooting ability by someone of his stature. He gained the 2022-2023 scoring title for the French and took his side to a playoff birth.
Wembanyama will not be attending the NBA Combine since he is responsible for carrying out his current team’s duties.
Who Has the First Draft Pick?
The San Antonio Spurs are the team with the first pick in the NBA draft. There is no question that the 7’4 superstar will get drafted to the Texas team. Head coach, Gregg Popovich, a five-time NBA champion and three-time coach of the year, is excited to work with such a talent.
The Spurs will have five first-round picks and nine second-round picks between 2023-2029. Not to mention the $40 million cap space that they have to built around Wembanyama, who has expressed his excitement for San Antonio.
“For me, San Antonio is synonymous with winning. A franchise that has experience in creating good players, so I really can’t wait,” says Wembanyama. The Spurs are no amateurs when it comes to selecting in the draft, as they have selected Hall of Famer, Manu Ginobili, in 1999 with the 57th pick.
The Spurs finished the season with a disappointing record of 22-60 and were unable to make the playoffs. The entire organization hopes this new transition could be the start of a new generation.
Comparisons
Wembanyama has been compared to many top players in the NBA. He has about the same 7’5 wingspan as Kevin Durant, as well as similar dribbling movements. Many have said that he may very well be the most hyped draft pick since LeBron James in 2003. James himself has praised Wembanyama by calling him “a generational talent.” "In NBA circles, scouts have privately thrown out comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar," Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated wrote.
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