Victor Wembanyama

Another NBA superstar Stephen Curry delivered his own scouting report, mentioning a popular video game. "He's like the [NBA] 2K create-a-player, ...

[bit.ly/3e9HlSB](https://t.co/1u0dDvlo5H)– [8:44 AM](https://twitter.com/MarcJSpears/status/1578003223209574401) [Alex Kennedy](https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA)@ [AlexKennedyNBA](https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA) [espn.com/nba/story/_/id…](https://t.co/CzxXEQ3ZJP)– [9:59 AM](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1578022018200784898) [Marc J. “It’s not fair to JP.” -via [Twitter @madkenney](https://twitter.com/madkenney)/ October 6, 2022 [@getcallin](https://twitter.com/getcallin)with the tireless scout [@krystenpeek](https://twitter.com/krystenpeek)at 7pm ET: [callin.com/link/AoQzryrYOW](https://t.co/LVeg2LvbY2)– [5:30 PM](https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1578135675836059648) [Marc J. it’s absolute BS,” Curry said to reporters.](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/06/stephen-curry-disputes-report-jordan-poole-draymond-green-incident)“Andre [Iguodala] addressed it yesterday with his tweet, and we can kind of leave it at that. With plenty of buzz surrounding Victor Wembanyama after a dazzling performance, the presumed No. [@David Thorpe](https://twitter.com/coachthorpe)has a different idea: Rudy Gobert on defense, and Duncan Robinson on offense. [@Will Guillory](https://twitter.com/WillGuillory)answers it all! [#NBA](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NBA)draft. Like every team in the league, the Utah Jazz would love to employ Victor Wembanyama next season. With NBA teams tanking heavily for Victor Wembanyama, we’re likely going to see lots of valuable role players moved from bad teams at the February trade deadline. … The league is really in trouble when he comes in.” –

It's going to be fun to watch these guys in the NBA. They should have some classic battles. Wembanyama is probably a better athlete than Holmgren is and a bit ...

This season we’re going to see multiple teams tanking just for a shot at him. There are guys periodically who get way overhyped, most recently Emoni Bates, who appears to be vastly overrated, so you can’t be sure that this guy is going to change the game. A 7-3 French unicorn, Wembanyama is a world-class shotblocker and an outstanding three point shooter.

John Hollinger analyzes Wembanyama's absolutely incredible game, but explains why tanking is not a strategy NBA teams should take on.

Beyond that, it wasn’t even the statistical accumulation that was so amazing, but the breathtaking way in which he accomplished it. Over the two games, Wembanyama scored 73 points, shot 9 of 18 on 3-pointers, drew 28 free throws, blocked nine shots … But nothing could have prepared us for the show we got from both players

Victor Wembanyama is expected to impact the NBA before he even enters the league. The 18-year-old prospect who is expected to the number one draft pick next ...

“As one GM told me the other day, we’re going to see a race to the bottom like we’ve never seen before in the NBA. “Victor Wembanyama is the singular greatest prospect in NBA Draft history,” Wojnarowski said. Victor Wembanyama is expected to impact the NBA before he even enters the league.

The 2023 Draft's top two projected picks, Victor Wembanyaba and Scoot Henderson, have the NBA world on their feet.

The former is French and has played in Europe throughout his career, while Henderson grew up in America. Wembanyama played for France's U-16 team in the Euro Championship, winning a silver medal. He was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2022 class. Victor Wembanyama's professional career began with Pro A and EuroLeague's ASVEL in 2021. The French center received offers from Barcelona and ASVEL early in his basketball career. Later that year, he made his professional debut for Nanterre 92 at the EuroCup, becoming the second youngest player to play at that level.

ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported drafting Victor Wembanyama might add as much as $500M to the value of the NBA franchise. These are painful words ...

And that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the EuroLeague fans, who were ready to witness his greatness weekly on the biggest European stage this season. But he couldn't finish the season in the French league due to a muscle injury. The initial idea was to move Wembanyama to Paris. They would have played at least 68 games in EuroLeague and French league (excluding the playoff games). But as his agent Bouna Ndiaye recalled, that was never the case for Wembanyama. He bought some time and did meetings when Wembanyama's camp showed they would opt out of the three-year contract with ASVEL in June. He came back and finished the season with a couple of promising EuroLeague performances vs. They had one giant reason from an average domestic league club in Europe that overshadowed the tip-off of the 2022-23 EuroLeague season. NBA talking heads discussing Wembanyama's outings in the EuroLeague. ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported drafting Victor Wembanyama might add as much as $500M to the value of the NBA franchise. NBA people flooding the EuroLeague cities every week. With Chris Paul and Devin Booker sitting at courtside to witness Wembanyama's greatness?

Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Rudy Gobert had high praises for 18-year-old Victor Wembanyama.

Because it's going to be difficult to improve every day and stay consistent," the French big man spoke with the ESPN crew. I have known him since he was 13 and we knew he was going to be unique. "He has the chance to be one of the best, not at his age, not in Europe, but one of the best to ever play this game. Gobert has been following his compatriot since he was 13, and the new Timberwolves signing is excited about the future possibility to form a frontcourt duo with the 18-year-old Victor. It's great to watch," Curry described the No. He is very mature, he knows where he wants to go. "He's like the [NBA] 2K create-a-player, every point guard that wants to be 7-foot. "The league's really in trouble when he comes in. We are lucky to have such talent, we have never seen a player like Victor. It's inspiring to a lot of people. "Everybody's been a unicorn over the last few years, but he [Wembanyama] is more like an alien. He's going to be really good," Giannis Antetokounmpo finished his compliments for Wembanyama.

According to ES"He's a 7-foot-4 Durant who blocks shots--and he's not even close to what he's going to be. He will be the most hyped player since LeBron.".

Wembanyama and Henderson will have another chance to put their skills on display when their teams rematch Thursday. Wojnarowski and Givony noted that after Wembanyama's impressive showing, "front offices have a better chance to sell a tanking strategy to both owners and fans." Wembanyama put up 37 points with seven three-pointers and five blocks as his Metropolitan 92 club fell to the G League Ignite, who were led by another top 2023 draft prospect in guard Scoot Henderson.

Victor Wembanyama Called "2K Create-A-Player" After Stunning Las Vegas Exhibition: The 7-footer is projected to be the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

[ LeBron James](https://hypebeast.com/tags/LeBron-James) who was there to watch Wembanyama in person. “I mean at 7’4 or 7’5 or 7’3, or whatever the case might be. “Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years, but he’s more like an alien. Wembanyama is currently projected to come first in the 2023 NBA draft and many including Standing 7’3 without shoes, Wembanyama is the same height as Boban Marjanovic and [Kristaps Porzingis](https://hypebeast.com/tags/Kristaps-Porzingis) who are the two tallest players currently set to appear this upcoming season. Wembanyama, who currently plays for the French professional basketball club Metropolitan 92, averaged a stat line of 36.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks in the two games, showing his prowess on both ends of the floor.

With plenty of buzz surrounding Victor Wembanyama after a dazzling performance, the presumed No. 1 pick in 2023 picked up where he left off with another ...

[bit.ly/3e9HlSB](https://t.co/1u0dDvlo5H)– [8:44 AM](https://twitter.com/MarcJSpears/status/1578003223209574401) [Alex Kennedy](https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA)@ [AlexKennedyNBA](https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA) [espn.com/nba/story/_/id…](https://t.co/CzxXEQ3ZJP)– [9:59 AM](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1578022018200784898) [Marc J. [@getcallin](https://twitter.com/getcallin)with the tireless scout [@krystenpeek](https://twitter.com/krystenpeek)at 7pm ET: [callin.com/link/AoQzryrYOW](https://t.co/LVeg2LvbY2)– [5:30 PM](https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1578135675836059648) [Marc J. [@David Thorpe](https://twitter.com/coachthorpe)has a different idea: Rudy Gobert on defense, and Duncan Robinson on offense. Everything you needed to know about the 2023 NBA draft could be learned in the parking lot sandwiched between the water slide and nondescript minor league hockey arena. [@Will Guillory](https://twitter.com/WillGuillory)answers it all! Like every team in the league, the Utah Jazz would love to employ Victor Wembanyama next season. With NBA teams tanking heavily for Victor Wembanyama, we’re likely going to see lots of valuable role players moved from bad teams at the February trade deadline. Mets 92 battles back for a 112-106 win over Ignite, who lost Scoot Henderson to injury four minutes into the game. This is how Victor Wembanyama answered: … The league is really in trouble when he comes in.” – With plenty of buzz surrounding Victor Wembanyama after a dazzling performance, the presumed No.

LeBron James called him an alien. Everyone else is already calling him next year's no. 1 pick. Just how good can the silky 7-foot-4 star be?

The nature of the game today only amplifies the pressure on Wembanyama, given the obligations for a big to switch on the perimeter, defend every corner of the court, and handle the ball from the outside. Wembanyama plays a lot on the perimeter, but even with his slender 220-pound frame he boxes out for rebounds and absorbs contact in the paint. I asked a handful of executives what the risk really was for Wembanyama to play. He said a ton of friends and family texted him about it and his reaction was merely, “It’s cool.” There’s a maturity to the way the French star thinks and approaches both basketball and life. He already has a concerning injury history, including a fibula stress fracture, a scapula contusion, and an issue affecting the psoas muscle in his back. NBA teams view his family as a strong support system that will help him adjust to life in the NBA—and the inevitable fame that comes with it . Most execs around the league are confident in Wembanyama’s ability to become a reliable shooter because of his rate of progress and the work ethic he’s displayed so far. And sometimes, he’ll use that flexibility in a game to catch a body. I sat two rows back from the court and it didn’t take long for Wembanyama to make it clear he is the best prospect in the 2023 class, and the best prospect I have scouted in my He battled bouts of streakiness and shot 31 percent from 3 and 68.5 percent from the line in recent seasons overseas. Wembanyama is the first to admit it’s way too soon to anoint him as anything, but the Vegas showcase was organized in large part to display his talents on a worldwide stage. He stands at a towering 7-foot-4 and doesn’t even need to leave his feet to alter shots because he can stretch his 8-foot wingspan to swat away jumpers or poke the ball away from would-be attackers.

Fans react to the shoe size of Victor Wembanyama. Next year's top NBA draft prospect wears a size 20.5 shoe.

[LeBron James](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/lebron-james) called him an alien. [Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/giannis-antetokounmpo) said, "He's incredible, man. The skillful center played in the Nike GT Run during an exhibition game on Tuesday. Basketball fans everywhere are obsessing over Wembanyama's size 20.5 shoe (size 55 in Europe). We will have plenty of time to dream about the future of the French prospect. [NBA](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/nba) is bracing itself for one of the biggest tank jobs the league has ever seen.

The projected No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft shined bright in two showcase games against Scoot Henderson and G League Ignite.

The comparisons have been all over the place, and we’re all struggling to find them. I didn’t play a game in the NBA yet, I didn’t get drafted. Eighteen-year-old Victor Wembanyama is not physically here to stay—he’s headed back to France to continue the Pro A season with his club, Metropolitans 92— [but with two dazzling showcase games against G League Ignite](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/05/victor-wembanyama-scoot-henderson-2023-nba-draft-g-league-ignite-metropolitans-92) (and [top U.S.-born prospect Scoot Henderson](https://www.si.com/nba/2021/11/18/scoot-henderson-g-league-ignite-daily-cover)), Wembanyama has arrived for good. There were many of them: Wembanyama’s presence in Vegas also overlapped with a pair of Lakers preseason contests against the Suns and Timberwolves. There’s a sense of wonderment that comes with watching him play—and how much he seemed to be enjoying himself—which makes it tough for even the most impartial of observers to keep a stiff lip. His defensive impact was easy to understand on film, but he shoots the ball even better than you might expect, and his overall comfort level handling it is something that has to be witnessed to fully comprehend. And as I understand it, that message is coming straight from the source: Victor himself is far too competitive to entertain the idea of sitting out games when healthy. Many franchises (I won't name names, but most of them are preparing for losing seasons) flew in large chunks of their front offices to watch him practice and play. [Wembanyama Week festivities](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/10/05/victor-wembanyama-scoot-henderson-2023-nba-draft-g-league-ignite-metropolitans-92) have come to a close here amongst the neon signs and freeways, but the story itself is very much beginning. While Henderson (who is officially day-to-day with a bone bruise) has been naturally cast as Wembanyama’s presumptive foil as a candidate for the No. Wembanyama is very arguably the most skilled basketball-playing teenager on earth, while he’s listed at 7’ 2”, tells reporters he’s 7’ 3”, and, to some speculative observers, may be taller than that. Thursday’s tilt tipped at noon local time and unsurprisingly lacked the same energy, compounded by the fact Henderson played just four minutes before knocking knees with Wembanyama on a switch, getting the worst of it, and sitting the rest of the game as a precaution.

The 7-foot-4 French prospect more than showed why he is one of the most hyped NBA prospects in recent memory.

… We plan so that we limit the risk.”When Thursday was over, when the comeback was complete, Wembanyama briefly lifted his arms skyward in celebration, then shook a lot of hands, partook in a lot of hugs and posed for a lot of pictures. The NBA Draft is June 22. “Obviously, he’s a very unique talent and he has a very unique physique. The reason: He banged knees with Wembanyama. “No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor … Gobert made a quick appearance on the game’s televised broadcast. It might be a 28-foot 3-pointer from the wing. Added Golden State guard Stephen Curry: “He’s like the (NBA) 2K create-a-player, every point guard that wants to be 7-foot. It might be a dunk. The best of the bunch may have come from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who suggested that calling Wembanyama a unicorn might not fully indicate how unique he is. He led the way, of course, with 36 points and 11 rebounds. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The second of two head-to-head matchups this week featuring No. 1 prospect Victor Wembanyama and No. 2 prospect Scoot Henderson, the clear (as of now!)

He has the chance to be one of the best to ever play this game. Yes, Henderson is a great, great prize, but he's in a class with a generationally good talent at the top ahead of him. Victor Wembanyama makes it look easy with this absurd running pullup 3 falling out of bounds from the corner demonstrating his exceptional footwork and body control. I actually can’t believe I’m tweeting this but Victor Wembanyama with the pull-up three from the hash mark. He certainly has all the attributes of a true game-changer. I do, though, have some takeaways from what we saw on the court this week (and what it might mean in the months to come). So, when asked about their takes this week on Wembanyama in particular, stars of the league shared some pretty extensive thoughts. It was so dominant yet looked so effortless, the hyperbole is sure to reach deafening levels in the aftermath of (another) stunning showing . Wembanyama made seven 3s in the first showdown on Tuesday en route to a 37-point eruption and followed it up by nailing just two triples in his encore on Thursday, his second-ever competition on U.S. There are sure to be some declarative statements made after what we witnessed the last few days -- some of which may very well be proven right! [NBA Draft](/nba/draft) class, fizzled a bit late Thursday afternoon with Henderson getting injured in the first half and not returning. 2 prospect Scoot Henderson, the clear (as of now!) prizes of the 2023

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson squared off in two games this week, building more buzz. These six NBA teams have the best shot at drafting them.

The Thunder are not a playoff team in a deep West and are expected to be in the mix for the No. The Rockets are getting better but not yet good enough for a playoff spot in the West as they give their young and promising talent plenty of minutes. But playing in a tough Eastern Conference, the Magic are not a playoff team even with addition of 2022 No. The Spurs traded Dejounte Murray in the offseason after trading Derrick White mid-season in 2021-22 and may be headed for a painful rebuild. However, the three worst teams seeded 1-2-3 in the draft lottery also have a 27.4% chance to get a top-two pick. The projected top two picks in the June draft played again on Thursday with Wembanyama of the Metropolitans 92 going for 36 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

In the two-game series, the projected No. 1 pick in next year's draft posted 73 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocked shots while making nine three-pointers.

[video link](https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1578374518116065282)). [Retweet](http://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoopsrumors.com%2F2022%2F10%2Fnba-buzz-over-victor-wembanyama-continues-to-grow.html&text=NBA+Buzz+Over+Victor+Wembanyama+Continues+To+Grow)4 [Share](#)0 [Send via email](#)0 … We plan so that we limit the risk.” “Just before we came in last Saturday, we had a meeting with our doctor and we are going to prepare to plan the next two months to increase what he is doing, besides the court, to strengthen the body,” Collet said. Watching him stand out against G League competition has added to his legend, including among a pair of former MVPs. The 7’3″ French center dominated nearly every aspect of the game, delivering 36 points and 11 rebounds along with highlight blocks and outrageous long-distance shots.

The hype continues to build around 18-year-old French sensation Victor Wembanyama after a pair of standout performances in exhibition games against G League ...

He's a towering presence defensively with almost an unbelievable offensive skill set for a player of his size, with guard-level talent both in terms of ball-handling and shooting. Wembanyama delivered on sky-high expectations in his first U.S. [Kevin O'Connor](https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/10/7/23392450/victor-wembanyama-nba-draft-scouting-report) of The Ringer.