2023 is his year Victor Wembanyama.
Long before Wembanyama heard his name as the first pick of the 2023 NBA draftin June, he has a lot of unfinished business in the French LNB Pro A Championship. To start the year, Wembanyama celebrated his 19th birthday This Wednesday, January 4th.
Yes, everything Wembanyama has achieved since becoming famous at the age of 18. From now on, will try to lead the Metropolitans 92 to a title before starting his next chapter.
Before you look too far, take a look what Wembanyama has done to be considered the best prospect in the NBA in decades.
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Victor Wembanyama stats and highlights
The 2022-2023 season is Victor Wembanyama’s fourth year as a professional, but his first with Metropolitans 92. Wembanyama spent the previous season with ASVEL, one of the top teams in Europe.
Despite being one of the youngest players in the competition, Wembanyama has been The brightest star in the French league this season, with averages 22.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.3 assists per game. His most recent award came in the All-Star Game of the French league, a match in which he was named MVP.
Victor Wembanyama (@vicw_32) in today’s LNB All-Star Game…
🔥 27 points
🔥 12 boards
🔥 4 cents
🔥 3 steals
🔥 2 blocks
🔥 W pic.twitter.com/MTtjLI1aa7—NBA (@NBA) December 29, 2022
On any given night, Wembanyama will provide a number of highlights with his unique game. At 7-foot-1, he sometimes looks as adept on the perimeter as a shooting guard. At other times, he reminds us of his size and intangible instincts to protect the rim.
And, of course, there’s the ingenuity of one-foot triples, which deserve their own “line” because they’re becoming a legitimate trademark.
Victor Wembanyama is one of a kind 🔥
arrest @vicw_32 in action for @metropolitans92 at 1:00pm/et on the NBA app!https://t.co/0fEZTG2IeY pic.twitter.com/eVAQZnVp7u
—NBA (@NBA) December 11, 2022
The Wembanyama phenomenon is something that you can only believe it when you see it. Ahead of their NBA debut, you can catch the 92 Mets in action on the NBA app.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s take on Victor Wembanyama
Talent recognizes talent and Wembanyama has already garnered the attention of some of the NBA’s biggest stars.
In October, when both the Lakers and Mets 92 were in Las Vegas for various exhibition games, Lebron James He said the following about Wembanyama:
“Everyone has been described as a unicorn in recent years, but he is more of an alien. No one has seen someone as tall as him, but as fluid and elegant as him on the track. At 2.19m, he has the ability to put the ball on the ground, post shots, three-pointers, foot shots, block shots. He is definitely a generational talent.”.
In an appearance on Serge Ibaka’s YouTube show, John Antetokounmpo he also surrendered at the feet of the 19-year-old:
“This kid is going to be in trouble. Big problem. I had never seen this before in my life. Did I see it up close? I played in the same team as my brother Kostas. He is taller than Rudy Gobert. He can block shots like Rudy but he shoots like Kevin Durant. Bro, it’s crazy, crazy. He’s in a good mood. If he stays healthy, he’ll be very good.”
Does he block shots like Rudy Gobert but shoot like Kevin Durant? This is what it takes to be a generational talent and, of course, more “alien” than “unicorn”.
Wembanyama has played a total of two exhibitions in the United States and has already impressed two of the biggest icons the sport has ever seen.
Scouting by Victor Wembanyama
Now that you’ve heard what LeBron and Giannis had to say, check out more from The Sporting News’ NBA Draft expert Kyle Irving, who sums up why Wembanyama is so special.
“Wembanyama has the ability to protect the rim of a player his size, but the ball handling, shooting and shot creation of a winger. At 7-foot-8, Wembanyama makes every other player who has been called a unicorn feel wrong label’.
Wembanyama has been charted at No.1 in every edition of Irving’s blissful designs and will continue to be. With Wembanyama’s 19th birthday on January 4 crossed off the calendar, the next important date to note is May 16.
May 16 is not only the date of the Mets 92 season finale, but also the date of the 2023 NBA Draft lottery.. So the day Wembanyama finishes the regular season with his current team, he’ll know where his NBA career will begin: at the home of the team that gets the No. 1 pick in the Draft. That day will come before we know it.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
