Victor Wembanyama: the 7ft 4in ‘once-in-a-millennium’ prodigy coming to the NBA
Victor Wembanyama: the 7ft 4in ‘once-in-a-millennium’ prodigy coming to the NBA. 200 NBA scouts and decision-makers descended on Las Vegas Tuesday night.
Victor Wembanyama: the 7ft 4in ‘once-in-a-millennium’ prodigy coming to the NBA. 200 NBA scouts and decision-makers descended on Las Vegas Tuesday night. In the first of two exhibition games, Nevada’s G League Ignite hosted French club Metropolitans 92. Sterling ‘Scoot’ Henderson, a high draft pick in 2019, led Ignite with 28 points and nine assists in a 122-115 win.
NBA prospect spotters focused on the 7ft 4in Parisian adolescent.
Victor Wembanyama is the most promising young player since LeBron James entered the game almost 20 years ago. In his first game in the U.S., he scored 37 points and blocked five shots. Due to his talent, some clubs are considering tanking to choose him first overall.
Wembanyama justified the growing hype since 2020. The video announcing him to the basketball world was posted on YouTube.
It depicts the then-16-year-old playing in France. Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was his scrimmage opponent. In four minutes, the child grabs rebounds over Gobert, dribbles like a guard, and jump-shots fluidly. The hype train started.
NBA
Jason Filippi, a Europe-based NBA scout, first saw him play at the 2019 European under-16 championships. “At 15, he drew everyone’s attention. Every colleague at the event rated him the top prospect.”
Wembanyama was born in the Paris neighborhood of Le Chesney in 2004. Felix is a 6ft 6in former long jumper and his mother, Elodie, is 6ft 3in. Wembanyama’s 8ft wingspan makes him an unbeatable perimeter shooter and a frightening shot-blocker.
Despite his youth, the 18-year-old center has an innate understanding of attack and defense.
Statements
“The ‘unicorn’ talk is kind of true,” Filippi explains. “He’s no Luka Doncic. I’m not suggesting he’ll be fantastic. He’s unique. It’s big. It’s his stature, agility, skill, and instincts. That’s unteachable.”
Keith Hornsby has met Wembanyama in France. During their first meeting in 2021, he was impressed by the teen’s defensive ability.
Hornsby: “He switched on to me and played far off.” “So I tried. Then a lanky arm suddenly blocked it. Embarrassing. My coach asks, ‘Why didn’t you attack him?’ I believed I had space to shoot. In Victor’s space, however, it’s different.
“He has the tremendous touch and natural feel, something you can’t teach. He’s good at shooting and finishing. On defense, he can block shots based on height and length, and his timing has improved. He’s always on the floor. You can sense his presence. He’s dangerous offensively and defensively.
SIG Strasbourg’s sporting director Nicola Alberani is a fan. “He’s a different player on the floor,” he says. “You believe you can shoot because he’s not close, but he’s so long that you don’t realize it. You can’t contest his passes. Added point guard. When he shoots, nobody can get there.
“He makes me a basketball fan. He’s one-of-a-kind. To me, it’s illegal as long as he’s healthy. I think he’s one of the game’s best.
Score
Wembanyama’s first two years as a player averaged one steal, 3.8 blocks, and 9.4 rebounds per 36 minutes. He averages 15.2 points per 36 minutes on offense.
His stature and length make him a slam and lob threat. According to scouts, a modest 1.5 assists per 36 minutes undersells his passing talent.
Chris Horton played against Wembanyama in France in 2019-20, the teenager’s first pro season. Horton remembers Wembanyama’s shooting range and technique, which he’s improved since.
Declarations
“I’m guarding him, and he caught it at the hash mark,” says Horton. “He shot without dribbling, and it was wild. I agree. He shot confidently.”
Off the court, he seems balanced. Victor appreciates life as much as basketball, his representative said. “He draws, eats well, and is cultured. It’s unhealthy to focus solely on basketball.
Wembanyama performed well in last year’s Fiba Under-19 Basketball World Cup. As France’s starting center, he averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and a tournament-record 5.7 blocks per game.
The French youngsters defeated 83-81 to a U.S. team that included No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons’ Jaden Ivey.
Wembanyama didn’t lack productivity. He had 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight blocks, while tournament MVP Holmgren had 10 and 2.
Concerns remain about Wembanyama’s long-term robustness due to his tiny build and injury history, which includes finger, foot, and shoulder issues.
Remarks
Filippi: “He’s still slim.” That hinders him. We’ll see the true Wembanyama when he matures. He hasn’t begun.
Wembanyama showed NBA scouts in Las Vegas that his skill and physique made him a generational prospect.
Hornsby: “His build and skillset are once-in-a-millennium.” “His ceiling is what he can produce”
Horton: “He’s ready.” Once in the NBA, he’ll take off and be what everyone believes he can be.
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