When the 2023 NBA draft begins on Thursday, French phenom Victor Vembanyama will inevitably be the first player selected and become a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Seven years after the retirement of Tim Duncan and five years after trading Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs are expected to be relevant again because of Wembanyama’s unique abilities.
The Big Man says that one big advantage he has had so far is that he has been “the man” on his team, which is something that doesn’t really happen to a young player like him, as Tim Bontemps did. Noted. ,
Victor Wanbanyama said he is excited to have the chance to be his team’s go-to player this season and to have a responsibility that is not typical for a player in Europe in his age group.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 21, 2023
Vembanayama is just 19 years old, and although he is far from a finished product, he appears to be on a steep upward trajectory.
With Metropolitan 92, his French team, this season, he showed a fluidity with the ball that is almost unheard of for a man of his size.
Perhaps only Ralph Sampson, a heavily publicized 7-foot-4 center who was the No. 1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, had such advanced ball-handling skills while standing so high above the ground.
There are those who are a little skeptical about all the hype surrounding Vembanayama, and of course, he will have to prove he is worthy of that hype once the NBA season starts in October.
The thinking is that because he is so young and still somewhat undeveloped, it will take a few years for him to become whatever he wants to be, but he could become the type of outstanding player that appears in the league every decade or two. I come once.
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