What to know about top NBA rookie

Victor Wembanyama: The NBA’s Most-Hyped Prospect

Victor Wembanyama is making waves in the NBA as the most-hyped prospect since LeBron James. Known for his incredible size and unique playing style, he stands at a staggering 7-foot-4 with an almost 8-foot wingspan. Wembanyama’s recent performance for the San Antonio Spurs showcased his talent and potential, despite the team’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the game, Wembanyama scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists, recorded one block, and had one steal. However, he struggled with turnovers, committing five throughout the contest. Despite this, his defensive presence as a rim protector and his ability to guard wings in pick-and-roll situations were evident.

Wembanyama’s journey began in Le Chesnay, France, where he grew up in a basketball-oriented family. His mother played at a high level, while his father was a professional high jumper and track runner. His older sister also played basketball and achieved success at a young age. Wembanyama himself initially played soccer as an elite goalkeeper before fully committing to basketball.

At just 14 years old, Wembanyama showcased his potential by helping France’s JSF Nanterre U18 team become French League runner-up, despite being much younger than his peers. Scouts across Europe started taking notice of his lanky frame and unique playing style, which included shooting deep 3-pointers and attacking the lane from the perimeter. Despite offers to move to bigger basketball cities like Barcelona, Wembanyama chose to stay in France and continue his development with ASVEL Villeurbanne in the EuroLeague and the French national team.

During the summer of 2021, Wembanyama’s showdown with Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in that year’s draft, caught the attention of every NBA scout. In the FIBA U19 World Cup gold-medal game, Wembanyama had a standout performance, recording eight blocks and scoring 22 points. Despite his remarkable performance, Team USA narrowly defeated France, with Holmgren earning MVP honors. Throughout the tournament, Wembanyama set a record for blocked shots with 40, averaging 5.7 per game, while Holmgren only recorded 19 blocks.

Widely regarded as the best young prospect in the world, Wembanyama would have likely been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. The San Antonio Spurs recognized his potential and made him the cornerstone of their future championship aspirations.

How to Watch Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Games

Wembanyama’s next game is scheduled against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The game will be televised on TNT at 10 p.m. ET. To access more NBA games, including Wembanyama’s, you can utilize NBA League Pass to stream every out-of-market game.

Victor Wembanyama’s Rookie Season Performance

October 29: Clippers 123, Spurs 83

Despite a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Wembanyama finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. However, he struggled with turnovers, committing five throughout the game.

October 27: Spurs 126, Rockets 122

In a dominant performance, Wembanyama led the Spurs to an overtime victory over the Houston Rockets, scoring 21 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and recording three blocks and two steals.

October 25: Mavericks 126, Spurs 119

In his NBA debut, Wembanyama showcased flashes of his potential despite a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and added two assists, two steals, and one block.

Victor Vector: Where Wembanyama Stands Among Top NBA Rookies

In Yahoo Sports’ ranking system for NBA rookies, Wembanyama has shown promise among the top prospects. As the season progresses, his performance will be compared to those of other highly anticipated rookies over the past 50 years, utilizing various statistical categories to gauge their production.

Victor Wembanyama’s Journey from France to the NBA

Immediately after the 2022 draft, Wembanyama was already a top-ranked prospect in Yahoo Sports’ 2023 mock draft. There was significant speculation about teams deliberately losing games to secure the opportunity to draft him, with the San Antonio Spurs emerging as early favorites.

Prior to the NBA, Wembanyama and his French team, Metropolitans 92, participated in exhibition games against the G League Ignite and Scoot Henderson, the eventual No. 3 draft pick. Their performances exceeded expectations and further solidified Wembanyama’s status as an extraordinary talent.

Sources:

• Yahoo Sports: Victor Wembanyama: San Antonio Spurs rookie remains must-watch player