PARIS — Throughout NBA history there have been countless instances where a promising youngster has reached a higher level in terms of media attention and expectations for his skills or physical superiority. The vast majority never lived up to the high bar the world set for them and ended up being solid starters or very good role players at best. Only a small group of elites who lived with the focus of public opinion constantly on their heads managed not only to fulfill these hopes, but also to take them beyond the established horizon.
Of the first high school sensation that was withering chamberlainsomeone who from adolescence knew what it was like to fill small gyms at the top to a modern media phenomenon such as lebron james, which changed its meaning perspective. Others like it along the way Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Magic Johnson.
Victor Wembanyama he is writing the next chapter in his particular book the chosen. What makes the difference between his case and his predecessors is that the context in which information moves and moves is completely different. Even when compared to LeBron James in the early 21st century.
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Social networks have changed everything. Now you no longer have to wait for the TV to report how a player or team did or go to the newspaper on duty to read it every morning. Everything is played instantly, in the truest sense, and any information crosses the world from one end to the other in a matter of seconds. Only in this way can a part of what Wembanyama means beyond what he can do on the pitch be understood.
And to this we must add an important distinction: it’s french
The NBA, despite its recent process of globalization, is a quintessentially American product, with an area of influence that stretches across the rest of North America. This means that the attention that any extremely talented emerging figure can give beyond this space is rather small.
This gives a perspective on how impressive Wembanyama must be and is.
At just 19 years old, the Metropolitans 92 player has the entire basketball world following his every move. His matches on the French LNB are even broadcast in the United Statesevery action reaches social networks right now and the scouts of the NBA’s 30 teams go behind the scenes to get some new information to discover something new about the French diamond in the rough.
There is no precedent for Wembanyama, Neither in game level nor in terms of means and interests. His status as an international player adds that necessary extra to the story, which has made him a national treasure for France.
“Advertisement provided”Radio France’s Julian Frénoi tells The Sporting News. “Being a journalist in France right now with Victor playing is incredible. We know that in the near future he will become a star in the NBA. How many times? I don’t know, but I’m sure he will.”
Expectations are high, Everest high in some cases, and in the French country they know well what they have on their hands.
“Wembanyama is unique”, comments Martin Lange of Europe1 Sport. “He’s very tall, he shoots like a shooting guard, he drives like a point guard… The combination is crazy. He’s only 19 and he can do a lot of things.”
However, doubts about the French pearl are legitimate. He’s both tall and thin, and in today’s NBA powerhouse he’s still a factor to be reckoned with. Paolo Bansero, A Rookie of the Year candidate, he looks like a true veteran while other rookies struggle to adjust.
“He looks like he’s going to be a star, but he’s also a bit dangerous.” says Lukas Flottmeyer, NBA Producer for DAZN. “Everything he does is great or at least looks unique. He’s doing things we’ve only seen in Kevin Durant, but it’s going to be tough for him, because in case he is injured he will have to withstand a lot of pressure. He’s coming into the league as a rookie and he’s skinny, so he’s going to get ripped. I think this will be the big challenge for Wembanyama.”
The fear of injury and that he could break at any moment is the big issue with Wembanyama, even for his countrymen.
“With Holmgren we saw what can happen,” Flottmeyer continued. “If you’re too tall and thin you can get injured more easily. Wembey will do well and he’ll be in a not-so-good team so he’ll have a lot of freedom.”
The Paris-Levallois player’s relevance has crossed all borders to become a global phenomenon in this sport. Journalists from around the world are searching for an answer to a question that seems to have no answer: Will it be a star or a star?
“The hype is not out of proportion to the hype,” answers Tim Reynolds, from the AP, in this medium. “I think he’s going to be a star, he’s got a lot of pressure because the expectations are so high. But when he knows exactly where he’s going, he’s going to continue to grow. He’s got the personality, the mentality, the intelligence. And he can handle everything. He’s got to deal with a huge attraction all his life, but he’s someone very special.”
The last time the NBA saw anything like this in terms of teenage exposure and undivided attention was Lebron JamesBut the world has changed a lot since then.
“When LeBron was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior in high school, we didn’t have social media and we pretty much used the internet. Now we watch every Wemby game on our smartphonesat home, we watch every step in real time, we know where he is at all times,” to continue. “LeBron still had some moments where he wasn’t exposed, that’s the big difference. Wemby arrives in the NBA at a very different time, where every place he goes will make headlines. LeBron, at times, could enjoy moments of privacy. When Victor arrives in the US, he won’t have it on social media.”
If Wembey lands in the NBA next season, it will end up being France’s sports capital for a few weeks in 2024. Paris will host the Olympic Games and Selection Gala rubs her hands together at the thought of a team made up of Joel Embiid and Victor Wembanyama. Will it be possible to see both unicorns at the Games?
“I think it’s possible” dares to say Frénoi.
And what options would France have to defeat the United States in that case?
“It will depend on the equipment they bringLange Muses. “If it’s like the World Cup or the last Games, we have a chance. With Victor and Embiid there are options.”
Sport is a dream factory because it allows you to escape from the strict limits imposed by the day. For this reason, a player like Victor Wembanyama allows us to believe that anything is possible and that in basketball the only obstacle that matters is the one marked by the four lines that surround the court.
It is impossible to know where the French will end up, but at least we will allow ourselves to live for a while with Morfeo.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
