Victor Wembanyama will probably be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft as the next superstar ready to conquer the league. The 18-year-old has become a referent of his generation, completely dominating the LNB Pro A league in France.
“Wemby” is averaging 22.7 points and 9.0 assists with his team, the Metropolitans 92. If these aren’t numbers of a player ready to burst into the league, then somebody, please show me otherwise.
Many recruiters flew to watch him play, prompting offers to start hitting the table. But it was when Wembanyama and his team played an exhibition game in Las Vegas that his popularity exploded.
Many NBA players and representatives filled the arena seats to watch the future of basketball by themselves, and to say they were pleasantly surprised by Wembanyama would be treading lightly.
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More Like an ‘Alien’
“It’s more like an alien” LeBron James said, trying to describe Wemby’s build. Many more NBA athletes were stunned by Wembanyama’s skills, needing to take a second, third, and even fourth look to see what the kid was cooking.
Stars like Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokoumpo, and Rudy Gobert showed respect and talked about Wembanyama’s bright future in the league.
Wemby is 7-foot-4, a build that sounds surprising, especially when considering how the kid can dribble and shoot, ready to break the rules and give a modern meaning to “two-way player.” That, amongst other things, is what makes him special. The last time we saw a player like this was in 2007. Remember? A skinny guy with some outrageous amount of buckets?
Yeah, Kevin Durant.
But there’s a key difference between KD and Wemby: the wingspan.
So, He’s Kevin Durant’s Twin?
Durant is 6-foot-10, way shorter than Wemby, but let’s put some numbers on the table: In his only NCAA season, Durant was averaging 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with the Longhorns, doing a lil’ bit better than Wembanyama at that time.
Now, let’s not get twisted here. Wembanyama is already playing at a higher level than the NCAA. No offense to college hoops, but the LNB Pro A and almost every other European basketball league have real talent in their squads and a hefty budget to work with. As of right now, Wembanyama makes $20k playing in France. Now imagine what his NBA rookie contract is going to look like.
A fusion between Antetokounmpo and Durant. That’s how I would describe Wembanyama’s skills. A sharpshooter who can dunk and play inside the paint. If you ask me, that’s the definition of the modern style of baller the league needs. It’s hard to find a player with these specifications; typically, forwards play inside the paint, and the guards shoot, but Wemby has the best of both worlds and is ready to change the game just like Curry did with his 3-pointer game. Additionally, to check out more specific information about the NBA props available for the Trail Brazers vs Jazz matchup.
We are witnessing the making of a new NBA legend. One capable of not only playing at the highest level but one who could become an NBA All-Star and an inspiration for a new generation of kids that will grow up watching him play.
Many experts are discussing whether Wemby is the best NBA prospect ever to hit the courts amid much criticism about his weight, stating that he’s not strong enough to play with big guys like Zion Williamson or Rudy Gobert.
While I don’t necessarily disagree with said criticism, I’m more of the idea of letting Wemby hit the gym, prep for next season, and let him show off his skills on the court.
For now, we will have to see Wembanyama in action and let his game do the talking. Wemby is definitely ready to rock as soon as he touches the NBA courts, but he needs to get used to the American playstyle and players and find his own path inside the league. We’re happy to see the rise of many stars, but the alien seems to be the ‘next big thing.’
