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Here are 5 things to know about the generational NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama 2023 NBA number 1 pick for the San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama was taken first overall by the San Antonio Spurs at the 2023 NBA Draft, which was held early on Friday, June 23, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
One of the most anticipated prospects in league history saw the beginning of his NBA career start.
Here are five things you need to know about the phenom Victor Wembanyama:
1. Wembanyama is French
Le Chesnay, France, native Wembanyama, 19, has played professionally in France's top basketball league, LNB Pro A, since 2019.
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Before joining the NBA, he most recently played for the Metropolitans 92 team.
Wembanyama earned the Pro A league championship in 2022, the Most Valuable Player award in 2023, and the All-Star Game MVP in 2022 while playing professionally in France.
He competes for the French national team internationally as well.
2. Wembanyama is 7-foot-5
According to ESPN, the French prospect is described as being 7-foot-5, although online searches for Wembanyama's height return results varying from 7-foot-2 to 7-foot-9.
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Wembanyama has posed for pictures with other elite NBA players in the months leading up to the NBA Draft.
Wembanyama's height is really noticeable in the images alongside these other tall people.
It's also possible that Wembanyama is still developing because he's only 19 years old.
3. Wembanyama also has enormous hands, shoes, and wingspan.
According to ESPN, Wembanyama has a wingspan of 8 feet, and Sports Illustrated estimates his shoe size to be a whopping 20.5.
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05:00 - 23.06.2023
James Nnaji: Michael Jordan selects 18-year old Nigerian to the Charlotte Hornets
Outgoing Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan picks 18-year-old Nigerian James Nnaji from Makurdi with the 31st pick.
Despite the size of both of those numbers, they are not NBA records.
4. Many people consider Wembanyama to be the best prospect since LeBron James
Wembanyama has been compared to past great basketball prospects like LeBron James as a generational player.
With his enormous body and exceptional quickness for a man of his height, Wembanyama is regarded as a deadly defender and is most likely to be a willing shot-blocker.
Wembanyama can hit three-pointers, which is a sought-after ability in the NBA nowadays, and has an inherent dribbling feel for a guy his height offensively.
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Wembanyama's talent has been praised by James, who referred to him as an "alien."
5. The San Antonio Spurs and Wembanyama have a history together
Wembanyama going to the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall choice was basically certain when the Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery.
The relationship between France and the Spurs organization might have contributed to some of that.
One of the best French basketball players of all time, Tony Parker, played the majority of his NBA games for the Spurs.
The Metropolitans, a Wembanyama club team in France, are also led by former Spurs player and Frenchman Boris Diaw.
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