Many May Know him as Best Young player in the French top tier basketball league but at age 18, Victor Wembanyama is already been touted as the number one overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Born in France and considered one of the best Europeans prospects in his generation, The 7 ft 3 basketballer has already shown signs that he would make an impact on the NBA even with his height considering the fact that he has shown a great mix of size and skill and if he can stay healthy would no doubt take the league by storm.
In an recent interview with ESPN, The Power Forward was asked who he thinks his game resembles and he replied
” I would hate that my game resembles only one play, I wouldn’t be ambitious enough” he said. “If I gotta pick two up, I’d say Giannis and KD, Those are my two Favourite players”.
This shows the young Frenchman has been following two of the biggest stars in the NBA in fellow European and Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo and 4-time scoring Champion Kevin Durant.
The “Greek Freek” Giannis Antetokounmpo is known as being one of the most Dominant, Atheletic and versatile big men in the league and is often recognised as one of the best all round players in the NBA. He is one of the most accomplished stars of all time who has an NBA Championship and also a former Finals MVP, 2 time MVP, 6 time all star, defensive player of the year, most improved player, NBA 75th anniversary team member and a long list of other achievements.
Kevin Durant (Also known as KD) is a 2 time NBA Champion, 2 time finals MVP, 1 time MVP, 12 time all star, NBA 75th anniversary team member amongst other Accomplishments. He is known as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history and an excellent off the ball defender.
It is natural that Wembanyama plays as a Power Forward for Metropolitan 92 in the LNB Pro A league which is the top tier league of French basketball Compares himself to successful Forward players like Giannis and KD as they would be good players to model his game after offensively and defensively. He also has a thin frame just like both players coming into the NBA but they have managed to stay relatively Healthy and showed great strength, skill and speed despite being tall and slim specimen although he can add some muscles just like Giannis has done in recent years.
During the Interview, Wembanyama went on to also Pick fellow Frenchman and Future national teammate Rudy Gobert who recently joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as a play he would want to also model his game like defensively. When asked if Rudy Gobert would be one of the players he would want to play like defensively he responded:
“I like to be the best ever in some field like Defensively, so Rudy Gobert, yeah” he said.
Center Rudy Gobert who is considered one of the best Rim protector in the NBA is a 3 time NBA All star, 3 time defensive player of the year, 6 time all defensive first team member, one time rounding leader and one time block leader.
With him currently being one of the best defensively players in the NBA and also a 7 footer like Wembanyama, it is only fitting Gobert would be one of the players Wembanyama can learn a lot from.
Victor Wembanyama has showed he is a gifted player and one of the most exciting players who can be dominate both in offense and defense. He also shown he is ambitious as he said in the interview as he is a two time Pro A best young player and won a Pro A Champion who can go on to be an NBA all time great if he stays focused and fit in the league.
