Young players are labeled the next big thing with some regularity in sports. Players are rated as young as in middle school now as high schools, colleges, and professional NBA teams around the world look to get whatever competitive edge they can over the competition.
The next big basketball star looks to be Victor Wembanyama. He stepped into the spotlight within the last few years, looking like the kind of basketball player that could only be made in a video game.
Standing 7’3”, Wembanyama is an intimidating presence defensively with his size and length. He uses it effectively, but he is not your run-of-the-mill big man. Wembanyama possesses the skill set of a perimeter player as well with his ball handling and 3-point shooting ability.
He has done nothing to slow the hype around him, as it is likely reaching even new levels. The first time that many basketball fans in the United States got a look at him was this summer in an exhibition game against Overtime Elite and Scoot Henderson, another top prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft class.
Wembanyama did not disappoint during those games, showing off his unique skill set. He added another feather to his cap this week when he became the youngest player to ever win the All-Star Game MVP in the French league. He scored 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds and four assists as his All-Star French Team defeated the All-Star World Team, made up of non-French players in the French LNB.
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS & RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama Updates
NBA teams have spent months putting themselves in a position to have a shot at selecting him in the upcoming draft. Tanking like never before seen was expected as Wembanyama looks like a generational talent. However, that strategy isn’t something that Wembanyama agrees with.
“Tanking? It’s a weird strategy,” Wembanyama said to the French website Le Parisien via Basketnews. “I find it unreasonable, and I try not to think about it. I also heard that the NBA considered changing a few rules for me, but that doesn’t concern me.”
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS & RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama Updates
There are a lot of people that share the same sentiment as Wembanyama. Some franchises won’t go to those lengths, as they want to field as competitive of a team as possible. If he gets his wish, he will end up on a team that should be a playoff contender as soon as he sets foot in the gym.
