Victor Wembanyama has been hailed because the most-hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James. In his most up-to-date outing, the San Antonio Spurs rookie completed with 11 factors (4-of-10 from the sphere, 0-of-2 from 3), 5 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal however had 5 turnovers because the Spurs took a 123-83 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday evening at Crypto.com Enviornment.
The 19-year-old point-forward performs like nobody else on the earth together with his staggering measurement (7-foot-4) and body (practically 8-foot wingspan). To see him take gamers off the dribble and step into 3-pointers from Stephen Curry vary defies every part you’d ever count on from a younger participant together with his measurement. He’s most noticeable on the defensive finish as a rim protector and successfully guarding wings off the pick-and-roll change.
Wembanyama grew up in Le Chesnay, France, a suburb 15 miles outdoors of Paris. His mother, Elodie de Fautereau, performed basketball at a excessive stage and his father, Felix, was an expert excessive jumper and ran observe. His older sister, Eve, additionally performed basketball and gained a gold medal with France on the 2017 U16 European Championship. As a baby, Wembanyama performed soccer and was an elite goalkeeper earlier than giving it as much as focus solely on basketball.
At simply 14 years outdated, Wembanyama helped France’s JSF Nanterre U18 staff develop into the French League runner-up, regardless of being three years youthful than many of the gamers. Round this time, Wembanyama began to get seen by different scouts round Europe. He was a lanky middle who wasn’t afraid to shoot deep 3s, assault the lane off the perimeter and performed the sport in a different way than anybody else. It was clear early on he was going to be a particular participant together with his measurement and ability set. Regardless of pushes to maneuver to Barcelona, an even bigger basketball metropolis, Wembanyama opted to remain in France and proceed his growth, finally enjoying for ASVEL Villeurbanne within the EuroLeague and the U19 French nationwide staff.
Each NBA scout was tuned in in the course of the summer time of 2021 to look at 7-foot Chet Holmgren, that 12 months’s No. 2 total decide, go head-to-head with Wembanyama within the FIBA U19 World Cup gold-medal recreation. Holmgren is called an elite rim protector, nevertheless it was Wembanyama (a 12 months youthful than everybody on the courtroom) who was unbelievable, recording eight blocks and including 22 factors in an MVP-caliber efficiency. Group USA barely edged France, 83-81, with Holmgren successful MVP honors and ending with 10 factors and 5 assists in 23 minutes. In the course of the course of the match, Wembanyama set a FIBA World Cup document for blocked photographs with 40, averaging 5.7 per recreation. Holmgren recorded solely 19 blocks within the match.
“By no means have I ever seen Chet Holmgren overshadowed bodily like he was final 12 months at any time when the 2 met,” an NBA scout informed Yahoo Sports activities. “He virtually can and does do all that Chet can, however is three inches taller, most likely shoots it higher from 3, might have a greater really feel as a passer and has a a lot better body to develop than Chet.”
Wembanyama doubtless would have been the No. 1 total decide in 2022 — and in most NBA draft courses. He’s one of the best younger prospect on the earth and is now the constructing block round which the San Antonio Spurs hope to chase one other NBA championship.
— Krysten Peek, NBA Draft analyst
The right way to watch Victor Wembanyama’s NBA video games
Wembanyama subsequent performs Tuesday on the Phoenix Suns. The sport ideas off at 10 p.m. ET and will probably be broadcast on TNT.
📺 This is the way to watch Wembanyama and NBA video games this season.
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Stream each out-of-market recreation
How Victor Wembanyama has fared in his rookie season
Oct. 29: Clippers 123, Spurs 83
In his third recreation, Wembanyama and the Spurs opened their first highway journey of the season with a 123-83 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday evening at Crypto.com Enviornment. The Spurs by no means bought right into a rhythm because the Clippers took management early and coasted to the win. Wembanyama completed with 11 factors (4-of-10 from the sphere, 0-of-2 from 3), 5 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal however had 5 turnovers.
Oct. 27: Spurs 126, Rockets 122
In his second recreation, Wembanyama dominated the fourth quarter to tie the sport late and power time beyond regulation, main the San Antonio Spurs to a 126-122 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday at Frost Financial institution Heart in San Antonio. Wembanyama completed with 21 factors, 12 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one help.
Oct. 25: Mavericks 126, Spurs 119
In his NBA debut, he was restricted by foul bother however nonetheless scored 15 factors and added 5 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block within the Spurs’ 126-119 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday at Frost Financial institution Heart in San Antonio. The ‘surreal’ debut confirmed his potential in glimpses, however the promise is there, writes Yahoo Sports activities senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill.
Victor Vector: How Victor Wembanyama ranks amongst high NBA rookies in previous 50 years
Right here, we’ll observe the San Antonio Spurs rookie’s weekly progress relative to probably the most anticipated prospects of the previous 50 years, utilizing Yahoo Sports activities’ personal default fantasy basketball settings to rank their manufacturing.
The metrics (and the factors awarded for every statistical class):
• Factors scored (0.5)
• Subject objectives made (1)
• Subject objectives tried (-0.45)
• Free throws made (1)
• Free throws tried (-0.75)
• 3-pointers made (3)
• Rebounds (1.5)
• Assists (2)
• Steals (3)
• Blocks (3)
• Turnovers (-2)
It’s a problem to attract comparisons throughout eras, however it’s a bit simpler from the late Nineteen Seventies on, after the NBA put in the 82-game season (1967), acknowledged blocks and steals (1973) and merged with the ABA (1976). All rating methods are flawed, and probably the most notable vulnerability right here is the 3-point benefit for contemporary gamers. We are going to discover out if all of it comes out within the wash. That’s what the tracker is for.
🔗 Victor Vector rankings via Week 1: The place does Victor Wembanyama fall amongst all-time high NBA rookies?
Victor Wembanyama’s ‘surreal’ debut exhibits his potential in glimpses, however the promise is there
SAN ANTONIO — It felt like every part for the present, and the present was large.
A billboard hung proper off the freeway headed into San Antonio’s Frost Financial institution Heart, with Victor Wembanyama having his arms stretched out vast.
No phrase if it was really life-sized.
Every little thing was primped and ready for Wembanyama to step into his future, to announce to the world how simple this transition can be to regular-season basketball.
You noticed it … in glimpses. It had begins and matches and practically completed with a flurry earlier than issues went barely awry.
A few of it was Wembanyama himself, sticking his palms within the cookie jar one too many instances, placing himself on the bench for many of the second half. A few of it was the Dallas Mavericks, or most notably Luka Dončić being unwilling to accommodate his Texas neighbors, and a little bit little bit of it was the Spurs gamers being unable to find Wembanyama within the ultimate three minutes after it was clear he had it going.
It’s solely Sport 1 of 82, and whereas a lot was using on Wembanyama’s debut, there are nonetheless so many steps to take, locations to go. Wembanyama shook off an uneven begin to unleash within the fourth quarter, scoring 9 of his 15 factors and including 5 rebounds, two steals and a block in 23 minutes.
🔗 Learn extra from Vincent Goodwill from San Antonio on Wembanyama’s debut.
Victor Wembanyama’s journey from France to the NBA
The day after the 2022 draft, Wembanyama was already atop Yahoo Sports activities’ 2023 mock draft rankings and stayed there via his final choice.
“Proper now, it’s Wembanyama and everybody else for the 2023 draft,” one NBA scout informed Yahoo Sports activities in June 2022.
There was intrigue about whether or not NBA groups would tank for Wembanyama, with the Spurs among the many early favorites in that spot.
In the meantime, Wembanyama and his French staff, Metropolitans 92, traveled to the Las Vegas space to play two exhibition video games in opposition to the G League Ignite and eventual No. 3 draft decide Scoot Henderson, in October 2022. The pair exceeded all expectations within the first recreation. Wembanyama scored 37 factors, with seven 3-pointers, and recorded 5 blocks in 32 minutes. Within the second recreation, he solidified his No. 1 draft prospect rating with 36 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 assists.
When the pingpong balls fell San Antonio’s method in the course of the NBA Draft Lottery in Might, it appeared poetic that head coach Gregg Popovich would get one other alternative to develop a generational expertise.
After Wembanyama formally declared for the 2023 draft, his professional season in France continued. He skipped the NBA Draft Mix as Mets 92 made a run to the LNB Professional A Finals. Mets 92 have been swept by Monaco within the Finals, a small reprieve for Wembanyama, who traveled to New York to arrange for the NBA Draft.
Throughout draft week, Wembanyama bought his first have a look at the intense lights and calls for the NBA would entail. His pure pleasure at being chosen No. 1 — irrespective of how far gone the conclusion was — highlighted the draft’s finest moments. He additionally promised that he would not be “too drained” to play within the Las Vegas Summer season League and stated he could not wait to have breakfast tacos in Texas.
At Summer season League, all-day session tickets bought out upfront as followers needed to get an early glimpse at Wembanyama. His debut wasn’t spectacular — 9 factors, eight rebounds and 5 blocks — however he made up for it together with his second, and ultimate, Summer season League recreation.
After three lengthy months, a minimum of in Wembanyama hype time, the Spurs’ rookie performed a (considerably) significant NBA recreation, going head-to-head with Chet Holmgren of their preseason debuts. Wembanyama scored 20 factors with 5 rebounds and two steals, and, in fact, began what must be a protracted spotlight reel this season. His three different preseason video games stored the highlights coming till the conclusion with a photograph so absurd, you simply must see it.
Now, the hype and expectations proceed to develop for a rookie with no true comparisons. We are going to see how he fares in a attainable 82 video games this season.
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The nice expectations of Victor Wembanyama
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So, how do the Spurs go about constructing round Victor Wembanyama?
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Victor Wembanyama’s late surge after early foul bother not sufficient to carry Spurs previous Mavericks in NBA debut
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Victor Wembanyama’s ‘surreal’ debut exhibits his potential in glimpses, however the promise is there
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Victor Wembanyama posts extra wild alley-oops, game-tying shot earlier than Spurs win in OT
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Clippers shut down Victor Wembanyama, Spurs to seize 40-point blowout win
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Victor Vector: How Victor Wembanyama ranks amongst high NBA rookies in previous 50 years after 3 video games
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Victor Wembanyama nails Halloween, exhibits off Slender Man costume forward of recreation vs. Suns