

"He's got a good sense, not just of the court, but where his team-mates are and just the way that he's able to move that tall, lanky body in ways that you would not typically associate typical basketball big centres doing, it's just amazing."īrandon Miller, a 6ft 9in 20-year-old who starred at the University of Alabama, was the number two pick in the draft and went to the Charlotte Hornets. "He's got the athleticism but also, really importantly, he's got the basketball IQ. "He's got the speed for the game, he's got the technical finesse of the game as much as any 19-year-old could be and then some," she said.

It's really what I'm working to be - something unique and original."ĭr Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, author of the forthcoming book Basketball Empire: France and the Making of a Global NBA and WNBA, spoke to BBC World Service Sport programme Sportshour about Wembanyama. external-link "I like it because it's just something not from this world. "First of all, I'm really glad he said that because I didn't like to be called a unicorn," Wembanyama told Sports Illustrated. In basketball circles the teenager is what is known as a 'unicorn' - a player who can do it all - but Wembanyama recently said he preferred the description from James. "He's more like an alien, he's for sure a generational talent," said James. LA Lakers star LeBron James watched when Wembanyama starred in an exhibition game in Las Vegas last October. "We're going to get him on the court and we're going to see him play, and we'll go from there." How good is 'alien' Wembanyama? "But just like with every draft pick, whether it's the first pick or the 27th pick, or the 38th pick, we have a responsibility to each and every one to try to create an environment where they can reach the best success possible for them. "He's obviously a heck of a talent, a very mature young man. "We're thrilled that we were able to bring Victor on board," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Wembanyama played for Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in France during the past season and averaged 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 2.5 assists in 44 games. No doubt about it: you'll change the game!" In a post on social media, external-link he added: "You're already making us dream, Victor Wembanyama. "Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much that I have to cry, man."įrench president Emmanuel Macron congratulated Wembanyama on becoming "the first Frenchman to be the first pick in the NBA draft". "This is accomplishing something that I have been dreaming of my whole life," Wembanyama told ESPN. The 2023 draft was held in Brooklyn with NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing the picks. The worst performing teams pick at the top of the draft, where they have access to the best incoming talent. The NBA draft is made up of two rounds of 30 picks, with 30 teams choosing players based on where they finished last season. "My goal is to try and learn as much as possible because I want to win that ring," said Wembanyama. Wembanyama is listed at 7ft 5in external-link and has an 8ft wingspan.
