#1 Victor Wembanyama
Height: 7’3
Weight: 209 pounds
Team: Metropolitans 92
Position: PF/C
Age: 19
WHO
Wembanyama comes from a long line of European prodigies set to make the jump to the NBA. The Le Chesnay native bounced around from Nanterre 92 to ASVEL to his current team Metropolitans 92, where he has utterly dominated. He averages 21.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 3.2 blocks per game in LNB Pro A. During France’s World Cup qualifying games, the 7'5 Wembanyama averaged 20.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and shot 53.3% percent from range.
Although he has been dominating teams in France, most of his acclaim came with a series of magical performances in exhibition games against consensus #2 pick Scoot Henderson. The two went back and forth as Wemby put up 37 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds in the first game and 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 4 assists in the second. The game brought him a lot of hype from American media, as it gave Henderson, but you should not know Wembanyama just from his two-game scoring spree in Las Vegas.
Wembanyama looks like an 8-year-old’s 2K build. Standing at 7 '4 (7' 5’ with shoes) and weighing 220 pounds, he’s a battering ram when he can get to the hoop. But you cannot leave him unguarded, as he shoots 47% from the field. He converts tough shots, draws plenty of fouls, and has a devastating dribble that can create for himself and for others. And that’s just while he’s on the ball.
On defense, he’s a super-star shot-blocker (3.2 blocks per game), and does not foul a lot (2 personal fouls per game). What can’t he do?
Well, as it turns out, there’s a lot he can’t do. Wembanyama is a mediocre perimeter defender, which is expected when you are enormously tall and stand at least a good eight inches over the typical point guard. Unsurprisingly, he is not an avid three-point shooter nor a great ball distributor. He also tends to get overconfident and take really contested, tough shots. Although he definitely can shoot, he gets lost in whether he should shoot.
The parallels linking him and LeBron James are not exactly correct; where James can score from everywhere, pass the ball incredibly, and slot into every position, Wembanyama seems confined to the paint and occasionally to the midrange.
Is he a generational talent and a unique take on the rising “point forward” position? Yes. Can he do a lot of things right and become the draft’s #1 pick? Yes. Was he overhyped based on a series of crazy performances in Las Vegas? Also yes. His potential is crazily high, but it still seems too soon to already call him better than LeBron when he is objectively a raw talent. Give him time in the NBA and let him adjust his higher skill and physicality before we start setting goals.
WHY
Either the 16-61 Pistons or the 19-59 Rockets will be the team to get the #1 draft pick, and it's a no-brainer why Wembanyama will go to one of those two teams depending on who gets the first pick. Not only is he too good of a talent to pass up on; he can be better than any basketball player you can name; but he can slot in anywhere.
A Pistons defense that is contending for one of the worst would almost immediately turn into a powerhouse with the paint presence and shot-blocking of Webanyama. The Rockets’ poor offense can immediately be lifted by Wembanyama’s natural athleticism and consistent, accurate shooting.
Rather than why he should be #1; he’s Victor Wembanyama; we should be wondering who will draft him at #1. It will be interesting to see how he can impact an NBA franchise.
SCOUT QUOTES
“Victor Wembanyama is one of the most intriguing prospects I’ve ever scouted thanks to his incredible size, length, mobility and awesome skill level.”
NBA Draft Room
“We haven’t had a prospect like Wembanyama in a while, a 7-foot-4 potential superstar who can create his own shot off the bounce in transition, out of isolation, out of mid-post sets and as a dynamic pick-and-roll threat. He’s also an elite shot blocker who led EuroLeague in that category last year as an 18-year-old — a ridiculous accomplishment. Barring some sort of injury-concern-based question in the pre-draft process, he will be the No. 1 pick.”
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic
“Victor Wembanyama is the best NBA prospect since LeBron James. He stands at a towering 7-foot-4 and doesn’t even need to leave his feet to alter shots because he can stretch his 8-foot wingspan to swat away jumpers or poke the ball away from would-be attackers. With his size and lockdown mindset, at only 18 years old, he can deter players from even attacking the paint. Wemby’s length also gives him an unblockable jump shot; he drilled seven 3-pointers when he scored 37 points against the G League Ignite on Tuesday, and most of them came off movement, like transition sprints, pick-and-pops, and stepbacks. In his second Las Vegas exhibition Thursday, he played an even more complete brand of basketball, dropping 36 points with the majority of his damage coming inside the arc on drives, post fadeaways, lobs, and poster dunks.”
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
Wembanyama will likely go down as the most intimately-covered draft prospect in history. The preseason hype machine took off following his massive performance in Las Vegas against the G-League Ignite, where he put up historic stat lines and outdueled fellow top-pick contender Scoot Henderson. Just last week, it was announced that Wembanyama’s games would largely be broadcast on the NBA app.
Adam Spinella, The Box and One
Once-in-a-lifetime prospect… Hasn’t been a player as hyped since LeBron James back in 2003… Can do it all… Handle the ball… Shoot from anywhere within 35 feet… Unblockable jump shot with his height… Outstanding wingspan… Super fluid athlete.. Advanced skills for his age… The real question is staying healthy… Chance to become a transcendent star.
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