American fans aren’t screaming his name yet, but the whole NBA already only has eyes for the 18-year-old Frenchman. And they are not alone.
To say that the craze is enormous around Victor Wembanyama, the 18-year-old French phenomenon, is an understatement. More than 70 media were accredited for his very first match in the United States on Tuesday evening, lost (122-115) with his club Metropolitans de Boulogne-Levallois against the G-League Ignite.
A team made up of young talents, likely like him to be selected by an NBA franchise in 2023. And they were not disappointed with the trip: Wembanyama displayed his immense talent with 37 points (7 out of 11 award-winning shots) and 5 against, managing to raise his level in his distance duel with another great prospect, Scoot Henderson, designated rival in the fight at the top of the draft.
“It is clear that it is a generational talent”
The French prodigy has received many compliments including those of Lebron James, superstar of the North American league. “In recent years, we’ve all been presented as ‘unicorns’, but he’s more of an alien”reacted the winger of the Los Angeles Lakers. “Nobody, me the first, has ever seen someone as tall as him, be so fluid and graceful when he is on the ground… Whatever his height, 2m15, 2m20, 2m25… He has this ability to dribble, to take step-back shots, to shoot 3-pointers in catch-and-shoot, to counter… It is clear that it is a generational talent.”
LeBron has given his opinion on Victor Wembanyama.
“It’s not a unicorn, it’s a UFO”? pic.twitter.com/UEv8aXxOrq
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 6, 2022
Wembanyama, accompanied to the United States by his parents and the entire staff of Comsport, the agency for “Frenchies” playing in the NBA, easily managed to control all this enthusiasm and pressure, with a relaxed and confident in itself confusing.
“Maniacs”
“What makes players like Victor special is their ability to manage everything, the expectations, the excitement they generate. And once the kick-off is on, they manage to focus on the game. and be really good”stressed Abdur-Rahim.
“His maturity is impressive, for an 18-year-old boy. He knows who he is, what he wants and how hard it takes to get it.”summarized, admiringly, his trainer Vincent Collet.
But the story is well and truly underway. And, with it a probable “Wembamania” in America.
