Associated Press Jun 19 2023 3:53pm ET2 minute read
Victor Wembanyama has arrived in the United States for the NBA draft.
The plane from France carrying Wembanyama – almost certain to be picked as No. 1 by the San Antonio Spurs in Thursday’s draft – arrived at Newark International Airport outside New York City on Monday.
And even before he became an NBA star, he got his first official taste of NBA stardom.
Some fans knew what flight he was on and when the plane would land, and many waited. Wembanyama happily signed autographs and scribbled his name on basketballs and Spurs jerseys – some even had his name on the back – before making his way to a waiting vehicle.
“I don’t know how they knew what flight I was on, but it’s fun.” Wembanyama said in a video shared on the NBA’s social media channels As he walked through the New Jersey airport, he ducked his head to avoid some of the signs affixed to the terminal’s ceiling. “It’s different considering you can have so much impact on people.”
It’s the beginning of hectic days for the 19-year-old French phenom, who has long been considered a new generation of players not seen since LeBron James joined the league in 2003. Wembanyama is expected to perform at media availability ahead of Wednesday’s draft, then the actual draft on Thursday and likely sometime on Friday in San Antonio.
The rest of his summer won’t be slow either.
Wembanyama has already been announced as one of the expected attendees at the inaugural NBA Con in Las Vegas, scheduled for July 7-9 to coincide with the start of the summer league there, and he has said he wants to play basketball for France World Championship, which will take place in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan from late August to September 10th.