"With the first pick, the San Antonio Spurs select..." These were the words that echoed through the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before the name of Victor Wembanyama, the number one pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was called.
Victor Wembanyama (@vicw_32) is selected 1st overall by the @spurs in the 2023 #NBADraft presented by State Farm! pic.twitter.com/mO9ai0uKu6
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2023
The Texas franchise, which obtained the first pick in the under 23 player selection process, selected the 19-year-old from France. Standing 7'2" tall, Wembanyama is poised to be one of the next stars of the world's best basketball league.
The forecasts did not fail. Pundits were predicting that he would be the number one pick in the draft, succeeding Orlando Magic player Paolo Banchero, who was chosen in last year's draft. Now it remains to be seen whether this French giant will live up to all the expectations placed on him. Wembanyama declared himself eligible for the Draft on April 21, 2023.
Officially a Spur 🌟 pic.twitter.com/eZeFweUmbq
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 23, 2023
Who is Victor Wembanyama?
Born on January 4, 2004 in the French town of Le Chesnay, located 13 miles from Paris, Wembanyama began to excel in basketball at a very young age. At just ten years old, he was already 6' 2" tall. Soon the best teams in Europe began to notice him, but he decided to stay in his country, progress in his league and wait for the call of the NBA.
In 2019, at the age of 15, he made his professional debut in the Eurocup, one of the main European continental competitions, with the Nanterre 92 team. In the 2021-2022 season he played for one of France's top franchises, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne.
At the end of it, he decided to break his contractual relationship with the team and joined Metropolitans 92 of the French second division. This season, the French center has averaged more than remarkable numbers for someone his age: 21.6 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game.
In 2022, France called him up to play his first senior national team match. His debut came on November 11 in a game against Lithuania, when he was only 18 years old. Wembanyama scored 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. He was named player of the match.
Mexico's Jaime Jaquez, pick 18
After Wembanyama, the second pick of the 2023 NBA Draft was Brandon Miller. The Charlotte Hornets opted for the forward from Nashville (Tennessee), who is making the leap to the best basketball league in the world from the University of Alabama. Up until the time of Miller's selection, we did not know for sure if he was going to be second. Scott Henderson, from the NBA G League, was also a favorite for this pick. The Marietta, Georgia native will play next season for the Portland Trail Blazzers.
A new Hispanic entered the history of the NBA Draft. Jaime Jaquez, born in the United States but of Mexican nationality, was selected by the Miami Heat with the 18th pick in the first round.
The 2023 #NBADraft presented by State Farm is complete! pic.twitter.com/2js7HXZE71
— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2023
