Victor Wembanyama’s first interview as an NBA player gave fans a sentimental moment to remember Thursday night following the Spurs’s selection of the generational prospect with the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
San Antonio’s expected decision to draft Wembanyama was one of the worst-kept secrets in NBA history but, despite the lack of surprise, the 19-year-old still found himself overcome with emotion after officially accomplishing his lifelong dream.
Wembanyama sat down with his older sister, Eve, and younger brother, Oscar for a heartfelt interview with ESPN’s Monica McNutt, where he tearfully explained his reaction to hearing his name being called on draft night.
“It’s just, accomplishing something that I’ve been dreaming of my whole life,” Wembanyama told McNutt. “Hearing that sentence from [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver, you know, I’ve dreamed of it so much. I got to cry, man.”
"Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much."
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2023
—Victor Wembanyama and his siblings were emotional after he was drafted No. 1 overall pic.twitter.com/YRlkTcMpbl
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Wembanyama then hugged both his siblings after they worked through their own tears to congratulate their brother.
As the most-hyped rookie since LeBron James, Wembanyama came into this year’s draft facing loads of fanfare and hype surrounding his anticipated arrival.
But, with his time in the NBA now underway, Wemby can finally take a moment to take in the emotions of his monumental transition to the next phase of his career.
