Four days separated Victor Wembanyama from the first overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft. The French superstar prospect was born on January 4, 2004, almost missing the international eligibility age limit. Now, the 2022-23 NBA season will offer two prizes: the title for teams battling at the top of the league, and the chance for clubs at the bottom of the rankings to win the rights to the best prospect to enter the draught since LeBron James.
Observing Wembanyama walk the floor is akin to witnessing an extraterrestrial sent to Earth with the appropriate length, talents, and athleticism to play basketball. His height, weight, and wingspan are reported as 7'4, 230 pounds, and 7'9, which seems cautious. He possesses extraordinary mobility for his size, including not only straight-line speed and lateral quickness, but also a surprising level of agility and flexibility. In addition, he has demonstrated a high level of skill, consistently swishing three-pointers, delivering dazzling passes, and finishing plays well above the basket on both ends. In the mid-1960s, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, entered UCLA as a freshman with comparable size, fluidity, and comfort with the ball in his hands.
Wembanyama can take on any and all forms. He will be an exceptional rim protector on defence and lob threat on attack, and that's only the beginning. Already, he is shooting and making three-pointers off of movement. As a passer, he moves the ball quickly along the perimeter. With the threat of his shot-blocking, he is wiping out huge parts of the court defensively. Wembanyama is also beginning to exhibit characteristics of self-creation, indicating that he will produce massive results when he is not only an elite play finisher but also a go-to shot originator.
Wembanyama is expected to enter the league as basketball's next international superstar at a time when the top three MVP vote-getters were all born outside the United States: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now is the time for teams at the bottom of the league to start crossing their fingers. Never before has the bounce of the lottery ping pong balls felt so significant.
Wembanyama is only eighteen years old, yet he has already excelled in France's top professional league and the coveted Euroleague for many seasons. This is everything you need to know about why NBA teams have been preparing for his entry into the 2023 draught for years.
Signed Lewis Walters 2022
Where can I grab one of these jerseys?
😳what a beast