The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, was the scene of the highly anticipated 2023 Draft, where NBA franchises select future basketball stars. On May 16, the San Antonio Spurs obtained the coveted number 1 position in the Draft lottery, and chose Victor Wembanyama, a young Frenchman who many believe will change the future of basketball.
Wembanyama, considered by experts as a “unicorn” due to his extraordinary talent and agility despite being only 19 years old and measuring 2.26 meters, has generated great expectations since before his arrival in the competition. In fact, the league acquired the rights to broadcast his matches in the elite of French basketball.
After 12,000 fans celebrated his pick at the AT&T Center, legendary Spurs coach Greg Popovich held a press conference revealing his future plans with this basketball gem.
A journalist recalled Popovich’s words about letting Manu Ginóbili express himself freely on the court and whether he would apply the same approach with Victor. The coach did not hesitate to answer: “I learned a lot from Manu. You can’t mold players to your liking. You have to understand what they have and take advantage of it, because no player is perfect.”
It is worth remembering that Wembanyama wowed everyone during a couple of games organized by the NBA in Las Vegas, where dozens of scouts were able to witness his skills and introduce him to the world. He possesses remarkable athleticism, prowess on the ball, and perimeter skills. Besides his height, he is able to handle the ball as if he were a much shorter forward.
Popovich commented: “We are excited to welcome Victor, who is without a doubt a great talent and a very mature young man. But, as with all draft picks, whether it’s the first, 27th or 38th pick, our responsibility is to create an environment where players can thrive and achieve maximum success.” In the last season with the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 of the French league, Wembanyama averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Faced with the increasing media pressure that has surrounded Wembanyama recently, Popovich emphasized: “He is not LeBron, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant or anyone else. He is Víctor, and we want him to continue being so. Therefore, we will do what we have done in the past with all the other players. We will watch it. We will be available to advise, suggest and answer questions. We will be there when he settles into a team, a city, a new home. We will see what he will eat, who will prepare his food and all these facets ”.
In addition, Popovich announced that Wembanyama will participate in the upcoming Summer League, although to what extent has not been determined. “He just finished his championship. I’ve only spoken to him once or twice on the phone. I need to get a better idea of his state of mind, talk to the people who have trained him throughout his life. We will make these decisions when we have discussed them together.” He also mentioned that Tim Duncan and David Robinson, two of the biggest stars in San Antonio Spurs history who played in the same position as Wembanyama, will meet and spend time with him during his development.
With information from Infobae
2023-06-24 10:42:40
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