French phenom Victor Wembanyama is already something of a household name around the world of basketball.
Wembanyama is the hottest prospect in the 2023 draft class and is considered by many to be the most promising young player since LeBron James entered the NBA 20 years prior in 2003. The 7’4” 19-year-old - who has an eight foot wingspan paired with the shooting ability of a point guard - is the surefire number one pick and teams are reportedly going to battle for the chance to pick him in the NBA draft lottery.
His scarcely-believable size means Wembanyama is a fearsome shot-blocker and rim protector while he is essentially unstoppable as a perimeter shooter. Despite his relative inexperience, the center appears to have an intuitive understanding of the game, both on offence and defence.
Wembanyama’s length means he has essentially an unblock able jump shot, while he remarkably possesses a stepback three-point shot in his arsenal. Many around the NBA believe the Frenchman has Hall of Fame potential with the opportunity to become one of the NBA’s greatest players - and he could star immediately after entering the league.
“He’s not a franchise-altering talent,” an NBA executive told Kevin O’Connor. “He’s a league-altering talent.”
Plenty of teams, such as the lowly San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, have been accused of tanking ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. Tanking is when teams purposely lose in the short term, usually over a season, to obtain higher picks in the draft which will ultimately help them pick young talents who will lead them to long-term success - and talents like Wembanyama don’t come around too often.
When asked about the French teenager, Los Angeles Lakers superstar and four-time MVP James said: “He’s for sure a generational talent. Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years but he’s more like an alien. No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor.”
Over this season ahead of the draft, Wembanyama spent time working with European legend Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting coach, Holger Geschwindner. His work ethic and willingness to learn is encouraging, while his head coach at Metropolitans 92 Vincent Collet works his offence around the teenager’s skills.
Collet gives Wembanyama the unique freedom to take the ball up the court and lead the offence, which could help separate him from other bigs in the NBA. The French star can generate baskets for his teammates, and his head coach is a fan.
“I have never seen a prospect with so many tools and skills,” Collet said. “That’s why when you are the coach, you always limit something. But you adjust to the potential of the player.
“You still can give him freedom and I think that’s better. If he makes selections by himself he will be more responsible. That’s a way to get better.”
Perhaps the only worry is that only injuries can derail Wembanyama from his superstar potential and a dominant career. He has already suffered a fibula stress fracture, a scapula contusion, and an issue affecting the psoas muscle in his back.
In NBA history, 26 players have been listed at 7-foot-3 or taller - and just seven have had noteworthy careers: Yao Ming, Ralph Sampson, Arvydas Sabonis, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Rik Smits, Mark Eaton, and Kristaps Porzingis. Of that list, only Smits and Eaton didn’t miss significant time with major injuries, so it is a concern as Wembanyama prepares to enter the NBA.
However, that is perhaps the only concern. Wembanyama has averaged 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season - which are both career-highs. This is his third season playing professional basketball in France but the first as a bona fide star as he is playing more than 30 minutes per contest.
It will be interesting to see which team earns the right to pick Wembanyama when the 2023 NBA Draft lottery goes down on 16 May. The 2023 draft will be held just over a month later on 22 June.
