Projected No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama has entered the 2023 NBA draft, he announced today during an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Today (link via ESPN’s Jonathan Givony).
“Declaring for the draft…it’s something crazy I’m not realizing yet,” Wembanyama told ESPN. “I realized pretty young I wanted to play in the NBA but it becomes a reality more every day. I’m so lucky to have this dream within the reach of my hand.”
The announcement is a formality, since Wembanyama has long been considered the top prospect in the 2023 draft class. In fact, the 7’5″ French phenom has widely been viewed as the NBA’s best prospect since LeBron James entered the league 20 years ago.
Playing this season for the Metropolitans 92 in France as a 19-year-old, Wembanyama has averaged 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 2.3 assists in 32.2 minutes per game across 29 LNB Pro A appearances. He has led the club to a 19-10 record, good for second place in France’s top basketball league, and is the favorite to earn MVP honors.
Wembanyama’s combination of size and length, as well as his shooting and rim protecting ability, makes him a unique prospect whom every lottery team would love to build around.
The draft lottery, which will be known this year as the Wembanyama sweepstakes, will take place on May 16.
The timing is very strange…
What is very strange about the timing? You do know that Sunday is the deadline for him to enter the draft, right?
No, he does not know that.
I don’t appreciate your patronizing tone.
Wingspan?
I have a wingspan of 6’3″
looks to be about 8 feet.
4 yrs guaranteed, I believe Cade got. So Wembanyama will get a bit more. Needs some muscle. Absolutely a game changer. I’m rooting for Spurs. Pops last run. A few yrs with Wembanyama. Why not.
Let’s get Dame help I want Portland to get the top pick just to trade it. Yup I believe Webanyama will be good, but I think he’s overhyped and what Portland needs is defense they got scoring. I wouldn’t mind Walker Kessler and the Jazz pick for Webanyama.
Who knows who will land him. Rockets, Detroit, Spurs or someone else. I would love on the Rockets but will depend on where we fall in the draft Want a big player compared to players Sengun is up against.