The NBA season is almost here, and this year the buzz for the next draft class is arguably the loudest it’s been since 2003 and LeBron. It’s hard to go very long without hearing Victor Wembanyama’s name come up in NBA discussions. He may be the most hyped prospect since LeBron James, and barring injuries or an unexpected decline, he is a virtual lock to be the number one pick next summer. This poses the big questions, why is he so hyped and will he live up to the hype?
Attribute wise, Wembanyama is an absolute freak. He is unlike any player we have ever seen in this league. He is 7’4 and has one of the most versatile packages ever for a seven-footer. He has a Steph Curry esque jumper, and is a great ball handler for someone his size. He is able to easily create his own shot, one that is unguardable at 7’4. He is also a great defender in the paint, and is an elite shot blocker with his length and 8 foot wingspan.
The only “weakness” is his frame. Weighing at 209 lbs, his skinny frame has led to some concerns about him being injury prone. He has had five injuries that have kept him out for an extended period since 2020. But, he has plenty of time to bulk up being just 18 years old, turning 19 by the time of the draft in June.
These attributes alone make the hype around him justified. A 7-footer with the physical traits he has will dominate anywhere he goes regardless of landing spot. The only thing that could derail his career taking off is injury concerns, something that is a risk with any prospect and not a good enough reason to pass on a generational talent like Wembanyama.
Teams like the Spurs and Jazz have traded their stars away and should be in a tanking battle for the ages, and understandably so. If I had a choice, I would like to see either the Spurs or the Pacers draft him out of the teams that have a realistic shot to land him.
Wembanyama would immediately fall into a Tim Duncan type role for Popovich and San Antonio, and give them the superstar they have been badly hurting for since Kawhi’s betrayal. On the contrary, if he went to Indiana, he would give Indiana a superstar they have also been severely lacking, and the possibilities of a pick and roll offense with Tyrese Haliburton and Wembanyama are salivating. But wherever he ends up, it should be exciting.
What are your thoughts on Victor Wembanyama? Do you think he will live up to the hype? Where do you want him to end up? Let me know in the comments.
He is an interesting player. If you were asking this question in the 90s I would say he would be a complete bust. That area of the NBA would have broken him in half. In todays “no-touch” NBA I think he can flourish. I vote that he will be a star if he bulks up a bit.