San Antonio Spurs Select French Phenom Victor Wembanyama with Top Pick in NBA Draft
The San Antonio Spurs made a splash in the NBA draft by selecting French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the top pick. The 19-year-old is listed at 7-foot-4 but claims to be 7-3. The Spurs are hoping that Wembanyama will help end their four-year playoff drought and follow in the championship footsteps of previous top picks David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Wembanyama has spent four professional seasons in France, showcasing his versatility as a skilled ball handler, 3-point shooting range, the ability to rebound and block shots with an 8-foot wingspan, and impressive athleticism. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.4 assists during those four seasons while continuing to improve. This season, he was named MVP and Defensive Player of the Year after leading the French league in scoring, rebounding, and blocks for the Metropolitans 92.
While there are lofty expectations on Wembanyama and the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich said he will be patient with the young player. Popovich plans to take a hands-off approach and let Wembanyama showcase his skills before offering any coaching tips or advice. He learned this firsthand in dealing with Manu Ginobili, realizing he had to let “Manu be Manu” after attempting to reign in Ginobili’s fiery game.
Popovich said that no player is perfect, and he plans on capitalizing on Wembanyama’s unique skills. The French phenom has expressed a desire to play in San Antonio before it became official, excited about the franchise’s five NBA championships and its history of developing international players. His own ties to the San Antonio organization didn’t hurt either, with former Spurs forward Boris Diaw serving as the president of Metropolitans 92 and Wembanyama spending the previous season playing for ASVEL, which is owned by former Spurs point guard Tony Parker.
The Spurs’ fervent fanbase is also excited about the addition of Wembanyama, with many lining up to buy his jersey while celebrating Thursday night at a watch party at AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs’ record-tying run of 22 straight postseason appearances ended in 2019, one season after they traded an unhappy Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. San Antonio has since missed the playoffs in four straight seasons, including the second-worst record in franchise history last season at 22-60.
In conclusion, the San Antonio Spurs have selected French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the top pick in the NBA draft. The young player has demonstrated his skills during four professional seasons in France, showcasing his versatility as a skilled ball handler, 3-point shooting range, the ability to rebound and block shots with an 8-foot wingspan, and impressive athleticism. While there are lofty expectations on Wembanyama and the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich plans to take a hands-off approach and let the young player showcase his skills before offering any coaching tips or advice. The Spurs are hoping that Wembanyama will help end their four-year playoff drought and follow in the championship footsteps of previous top picks David Robinson and Tim Duncan.