The name of 18-year-old Victor Wembanyama has been noted in the book of basketball scouts around the world for several years now. The 2.20m Frenchman has a large arsenal of weapons and it is widely believed that he will be selected as 1st in the NBA Draft next year.
Last night the American fans already got a foretaste. Wembanyama competed with his French club Metropolitans 92 against the G League Ignite, a mix of young American talents with more experienced players.
Also a top talent among the Americans: the 1.88m tall point guard Scoot Henderson. According to experts, 18-year-old Henderson will become number 2 in the NBA Draft next year, after Wembanyama. Tonight’s duel was therefore a first showdown between the 2 top talents.
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And although Wembanyama’s team lost 122-115, the young Frenchman confirmed all the superlatives that have already appeared about him. Wembanyama blocked shots under the ring and at the three-point line, picked rebounds, brought the ball up like a setter, scored on a clever move, all in the first 2 minutes of the game.
Also in the remainder of the match, the 2.20m Frenchman demonstrated his great class to eventually finish with 37 points, of which 7 three-pointers, 5 block shots and 4 rebounds.
His young American rival Scoot Henderson scored 28 points and provided 9 assists, playing a crucial role in his team’s victory. Ignite coach Jason Hart had to acknowledge Wembanyama’s unadulterated class afterwards: “What an enormous talent”, it said. And that was probably the feeling of everyone who was there.
Watch the highlights in this video:
NBA pundits marvel at Wembanyama on Twitter:
