Stick to Basketball Victor! 7-foot-4 phenom Wembanyama throws a great first pitch in the Yankees game ahead of the NBA draft where he is set to be picked first
- Victor Wembanyama arrived at Newark Airport on Monday ahead of the NBA draft
- On Tuesday, the future NBA star had the honor of throwing the Yankees’ first pitch
- offers the latest international sports news
Future NBA star Victor Wembanyama had the honor of pitching the first pitch at Tuesday night’s New York Yankees game, but things didn’t go so well.
The French teenager, who landed in the United States on Monday ahead of Thursday’s draft, wasted no time visiting the country’s other legendary sports teams.
Wembanyama, 19, is used to exciting on the basketball court and is expected to do the same in the NBA, but his first visit to the mound could be his last.
He threw the first pitch at Tuesday’s Yankees game, but ripped it wide and missed the catcher completely.
Ahead of the Yankees’ game against the Seattle Mariners, the 7-foot-4 phenom shared a photo of the baseball looking eerily small in his hands.
Victor Wembanyama had the honor of throwing the first pitch at the New York Yankees game
The future NBA star shared a photo of the baseball looking eerily small in his hands
The French phenomenon took the time to sign autographs for fans on the sidelines
The French superstar seemed to realize how small the baseball, which looked more like a golf ball, looked in his hands as he wrote: “Lmaooooo.”
Wearing an unreleased pair of Nike x Drake sneakers and a Yankees jersey, Wembanyama took time out to sign autographs for fans on the sidelines.
The sensation is taken by the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 1 overall when the card is read at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Wembanyama, wearing a No. 5 Joe DiMaggio jersey, batted a few times in the batting cages and, to the awe of the assembled crowd, displayed another skill when he juggled baseball.
He was also spotted conversing with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, comically towering over him.
He got a taste of life in the United States as he was swarmed by fans at Newark Airport on Monday before the draft.
In a video obtained exclusively by Mail Sport, Wembanyama admitted he’s looking forward to being in the Big Apple.
“I’ve waited a long time for this moment,” the French phenomenon said of Adam Glyn.
The young Frenchman is the biggest NBA draft prize in more than a decade. Wembanyama is described as a “generational talent” by none other than LeBron James. He’s athletic, talented, huge and still only 19 years old.
Wembanyama is called to the roster exactly two decades after James was acquired by his home organization, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in 2003. He’s received praise from around the world in recent months – perhaps none more so than from James’ former team-mate Richard Jefferson.
“If LeBron James showed up at that exact moment, Victor would go higher than him,” Jefferson, a former teammate of James, said during an October broadcast of NBA Today.
The 7-foot-5 sensation wore a Joe DiMaggio No. 5 Yankees jersey and black shorts
He chatted with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (left) while comically towering over him
Wembanyama was sighted at Newark Airport in New York City ahead of Thursday’s draft
The San Antonio Spurs will almost certainly sign the most valuable player since LeBron James
“LeBron James and all the things that we saw – and I’m not saying he’s going to be better than LeBron James – what I want to say is I remember LeBron James 20 years ago now.”
“This player was 1.80 meters tall, this person is 7-“[foot]-four. LeBron James would be number two if he was exactly the same age in the exact same draft LeBron James would be number two. That’s how crazy this boy is as a candidate.”
The 19-year-old will play in the NBA’s Summer League this July after previous reports said the French phenomenon would be skipping the event.
Wembanyama just wrapped up the LNB Pro A championship series in which his Metropolitans 92 team was defeated in a best-of-five series against Monaco.