The San Antonio Spurs selected French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama as the No. 1 draft pick in the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Widely picked first, 19-year-old Wembanyama is considered a generational talent.
- The 7-foot-4 center has been a huge hit with French pro team Metropolitans 92 this season, averaging 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
- The Spurs won the rights to the number 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery in May. San Antonio last had the No. 1 spot in 1997 when the team selected future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
scouting report
The best draft candidate to enter the NBA since LeBron James. It’s that simple. Wembanyama is the epitome of a franchise changer. He led the French league in rebounds and blocks and finished second in points. It’s hard to overstate just how amazing Wembanyama’s long-term potential is on both sides of the arena. He will instantly become the tallest and longest player in the NBA, allowing him to change the geometry of the field defensively. He has great instincts and recovery skills in this regard. But he’s also a true center puncher, able to score with creativity on take-off and execute punches with ease from pull-ups or rim drives. A great finisher because of his length and touch, he’s already beginning to experiment with shots that could make him special, such as turnaround pull-ups, fake spin shimmies, and floater 3s. He’s a historic youngster who fits in well with past elite center youngsters like Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Ralph Sampson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Anthony Davis. – Vecenia
How Wembanyama fits into Spurs
Wembanyama suits every single team. He’s the one. He’s the player you build around. San Antonio found some strong players in the second half of the lottery and in the back of the first round, but Spurs are yet to star. Wembanyama pushes everyone into more appropriate roles. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson can be young, high-profile wingers who don’t get the best defensive duties. Wembanyama will be a great fit alongside Jeremy Sochan up front as Sochan is an all-around stopgap who was prolific as a young rookie. He will slowly become a goalscorer as he continues to rework his shot. Spurs made a wonderful transition from the Robinson era to the Duncan era and are now transitioning perfectly into the Wembanyama era. – Vecenia
backstory
Wembanyama has long been recognized as one of the brightest prospects in his age group. His father Felix was a 1.90 meter long jumper at a high level. His mother, Elodie, was 1.90 meters tall, played basketball and helped teach Victor the game. He has two siblings who both play basketball, grew up in a Paris suburb and joined the Nanterre 92 development team at a young age.
Wembanyama proved a top contender for NBA teams at the 2019 European Under-16 Championship, where he averaged nine points, ten rebounds and five blocks per game as a 15-year-old.
As the hype surrounding Wembanyama was building before the draft last year, the NBA hosted a showcase game for Wembanyama and potential No. 2 pick Scoot Henderson in September 2022. After two games between Metropolitan’s 92 and Henderson’s G League Ignite, Wembanyama left the team. The scouts walked the stage in awe and salivating, scoring 37 points in the first game and grabbing 36 points and 11 rebounds in the second game. – Vecenia
required reading
(Photo: Christophe Archambault/ AFP via Getty Images)