His name is Victor, last name Wembanyama. Today he is a difficult name to pronounce, even more difficult to write. For the average fan, a complete unknown. Time will tell what he will achieve in the future, but he is such a strangely named player that he is, to all pundits, the prodigy that will dominate basketball in the next decade. He is 2.23m tall, there is no player taller than him in the NBA right now, and he moves like a point guard. He is capable of scoring from three and from mid-range, handles the ball with great ease and speed, moves with great agility, is very dangerous one-on-one (not just in the post) and is also an intimidating threat in defense, since he puts blocks like Mutombo himself. A total player who dazzled last week in his first game in the United States, in which he coincided with the other star of his generation Scoot Henderson, and who will enter next year's Draft.
"He will be the most hyped player since LeBron James." “It distorts the reality of basketball. He's a 7-foot-2, shot-blocking Kevin Durant and he's not even close to what he's going to be." These are phrases from different General Managers who dream of their services to ESPN. “He is more like an alien. I have not seen, no one has seen, someone as tall as him and as fluid and graceful on the court," LeBron James said during a press conference on Wednesday. "Without a doubt he is a generational talent," he assured.
For Stephen Curry "it's like a player created in the NBA 2K video game," he said. The Golden State Warriors point guard's praise was also joined by Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. "He's amazing, man... The way he can shoot, the way he can move, he's extremely fast for his size, he can block shots, he can be a threat on defense... It's unbelievable," said the Greek. "We have to prepare for this kid, you know? He's going to be really good," he predicted.
There are so many expectations that this young man has generated, that many teams are considering a wild tanking this season. That is, letting yourself be lost in many games throughout the season to qualify for the first choice in the 2023 draft. This practice is highly persecuted by the NBA, but being so difficult to prove, there have rarely been sanctions. This is how Dallas managed, for example, to get hold of Luka Doncic and Mark Cuban was fined $600,000 for it.
The controversial 'tanking' could be carried out by rebuilding teams with little chance of fighting for the ring or even the playoffs such as the Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs. Although there are many more who, faced with a historic opportunity, could consider it. "It looks like it will start a race to the bottom like we've never seen before," says another manager of what may be a historically unusual season.
The one in 2023 is expected to be one of the best drafts in recent years. Not only because of Wembanyama, but also because Scoot Henderson, a scoring point guard called to be a League superstar, will also be there. Like the Frenchman, he is only 18 years old, and has some physical and technical qualities. Last Tuesday, the world of university basketball stopped to follow the duel that should mark the NBA in the coming years. Like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in their previous NBA duels, Wembanyama and Henderson faced each other in a friendly, surely agreed with a lot of intention, between the Metropolitans 92, the French player's team, and the Ignite of the G League, where Henderson will serve next year.
The Ignites prevailed, but the battle was clearly won by the French. His numbers are to be scared: 37 points with a tremendous 7 of 11 in triples, 4 rebounds and 5 blocks. Henderson was not far behind and had 28 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds to lead his team to victory. The shock was general by the level of both with only 18 years. Both want to be the owners of the future NBA.
This morning Wembanyama has repeated the feat. In a second friendly between the Metropolitans 92 and the Ignite of the G League, the Frenchman again offered an absolute recital and made it clear why so many teams consider throwing the 22-23 season in the trash just to have a chance to get hold of its services. This time, his team won 106-112. Victor finished this time with 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks, giving away another recital of unthinkable plays in someone his size.
