It is very rare to find someone as talented as Victor Wembanyama. In the past, there have been several cases that generated a lot of hype around them. However, not all of them have lived up to the expectations they’ve set. The NBA is a very different environment when compared to school, college, or international tournaments. It’s known for being far more fast-paced, competitive, and physical as well.
It wasn’t until the last year that the Frenchman made a big splash on the scene. He competed for a few French teams called LDLC ASVEL, Pôle France, Nanterre, and Metropolitans 92. Through 2019 and 2021 he averaged somewhere between 10 to 13 points per game. He was more of a defensive specialist averaging at least 3 blocks per game during that period. However, during his stint with the Metropolitans 92, Wembanyama averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists along with 3 blocks.
Victor Wembanyama’s first official NBA game will be against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavs on October 25th, per @TheSteinLine. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Sr0orjfVsq
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 10, 2023
His height and versatility are what struck out the most as it was a rare sighting. Despite being listed at 7″4 feet tall, Victor easily dribbled like he was a guard. He shot exceptionally well averaging 47% from the field, 27.5% from deep, and 82.8% from the free throw line. In addition to his versatility, Victor has a massive scoring capacity. Being as tall as he is, it is easier for him to tower over his opponents within the paint.
Tracy McGrady rejects Victor Wembanyama GOAT talks
Coming into the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama was frequently compared to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Both players are often debated as the greatest players of all time. Some believe that the French native will overtake the legends at some point in his career. Victor was the obvious No.1 overall pick this year and the San Antonio Spurs welcomed him into the league. He has often stated that he wants to lead the Spurs to win a title as soon as he can. Confidence is what takes a player to a whole new level.
However, NBA legend Tracy McGrady believes people should stop placing the Spurs giant on a tall pedestal. During an interview with Scoop B Radio, he said, “The hype around this kid is too much for me and I’m not sayin’ it because he doesn’t deserve it but let’s let this kid develop and see what he’s going to be. Y’all talking about the greatest player of all time and this and that like… c’mon man. We gotta chill out with that. We don’t know what this kid is going to be.”
T-Mac is someone who knows how hard it is to play in the league, especially since he has played against MJ and LeBron James as well. This will put a lot of pressure on the young star during the upcoming season. Victor Wembanyama had a great debut during the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game on 41% shooting from the field. Only time will determine whether he can translate the success on the main stage.