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In Las Vegas, where he is on a promotional tour with his Levallois team, the French basketball that hopes for world basketball never ceases to amaze.
BASKET – ” We have simply never seen such a player. These days, whether you’re interviewing the best basketball players in the world, the most respectable reporters, or those who could face Victor Wembanyama, it’s a phrase that keeps coming out. And for good reason: from the height of his 18 years, the 2.21-meter Frenchman announced as a phenomenon for years, is confirming all the hopes placed in him.
As proof of the enthusiasm (even hysteria) aroused by the young man from Chesnay (Yvelines), the NBA had given him and his team from Boulogne-Levallois a tailor-made tour in Las Vegas. The opportunity at the beginning of October to allow him to be seen in the United States, seven months from a draft of which he should – save for disaster – be the first player chosen. No Frenchman (Killian Hayes in this case) did better than 7th place; for comparison, Tony Parker was chosen in 28th place.
𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙒𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙢𝙖 🇫🇷 36 POINTS 11 REFUNDS 4 STEPS 4 VS Double-double and win! https://t.co/MAsw3WWegn
– NBA France (@NBAFRANCE)
” It’s the most exciting prospect in NBA Draft history “, He in particular I greet the reporter by ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski, world reference. ” This is the case at 18, and it was already at 17, like at 16. “A way of saying that, although he may be eagerly awaited, the Frenchman never disappoints and continues an exponential progression that makes him the most coveted player on the planet.
A $ 500 million recruit?
To the point that many NBA teams will do everything next year to lose games, the only way to find themselves at an advantage in the draft and therefore have the possibility to select first the one that the Americans have already dubbed ” Wemby “. ” He will have a huge impact as soon as he arrives in the NBA, and he already has it before he has played a single minute. Wojnarowski lights up a little more. ” A team president even told me that having it would increase his team’s value by $ 500 million. “
Victor Wembanyama is a one of a kind hooper! 🦄 37 PTS, 4 REB, 5 BLK, 7 15 https://t.co/jc3Jz6SLio
– NBA (@NBA)
And for good reason: beyond its extraordinary size (2.26 meters with basketball shoes and 2.44 in wingspan), the French already has a surreal technical palette. ” He is an alien, he is certainly the talent of an entire generation “, He in particular LeBron James said. ” No one has ever seen someone as tall and as fluid, slender, graceful as they are on the pitch. His ability to dribble, to shoot in all positions, to counter shots … “
A variety of talents that Victor Wembanyama then had the opportunity to demonstrate in the United States, during two matches between his club Metropolitans 92 and the G-League Ignite, an American team made up of the greatest hopes in the country.
” I’ll have to be ready to face this guy “
In the two videos below, you can see him first chaining a counter attack to an opposing striker before going for a huge dunk, then in the second a shot taken two meters behind the three-point line. Simply sensational.
No but …. REALLY ?! 😱 Hugo Besson for Victor Wembanyama !!!!! https://t.co/OocejXaI0m
– NBA France (@NBAFRANCE)
IT’S SOMETHING @ vicw_32 x @ Metropolitans92 https://t.co/dTH7K33d3v
– NBA France (@NBAFRANCE)
And after a defeat in the first match, the Metropolitans won the second, on the night between Thursday 6 and Friday 7 October. A match during which “Wemby” was particularly impressive and decisive: when he was on the pitch, his team scored 26 points more than the opponent. ” As a manager, I am happy to meet him at 18 rather than 24 when he reached a whole new level. “, It was in particular amused Jason Hart, The coach of Ignite, after the game. ” It will be someone else’s problem then! “
” I haven’t done anything yet “
Confirmed praise by Giannis Antetokounmpothe Greek giant twice voted best player of the NBA: ” I got the chance to see him play last year for the first time and it’s fantastic “Said the Milwaukee Bucks player after being amazed again by the performance of the French on Thursday night. ” His way of moving, of shooting, of having such speed in relation to his height, this ability to block shots, to dribble as if he were a playmaker… It’s just incredible. “And to add, as cheerful as he is impressed:” We will have to be ready to face this guy. This talented body has the opportunity to become one of the best at this sport. “
Extremely knowledgeable observers all agree on the need for Victor Wembanyama to reach the heights as expected, for the young man to remain healthy and take care of his body. But looking at the way he manages his early career, he seems to everyone to be particularly well underway.
LeBron James, who was a major media phenomenon in his day when he was a high school student, greeted his young successor as follows: ” I can’t even imagine what my life would have been like if social media had existed. I am very happy to come from a small town, to have been able to stay focused on my progress when I was a teenager. “Benefits not enjoyed” Wemby ”, That he he knows he is already being examined from around the world basketball. ” It is truly an honor to receive all these compliments, but nothing changes. I have never played in the NBA before, I have not been drafted, I have not done anything. “The tone is set.
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