Victor Wembanyama was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the number one overall pick yesterday. This was obviously a surprise to no one. At 7’5″ Wemby comes in as the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. Possibly ever. This freak of nature has likely known he was going to be the number one pick of the 2023 draft for at least two years. What he’s done to prepare for this moment has been a journey in and of itself. It really shows how advanced all sports have become in the past 20 years. Especially from a health, conditioning and nutritional standpoint. He’s way ahead of James in that area, who took a few years to get his body where it needed to be. After that, LeBron was likely the best player on Earth for about 15 years, maybe longer. Mr. Wembanyama has a chance to follow in the steps of James and be the player of his generation.

Wemby has been playing basketball professionally for four years! Since he was fifteen! I can not overstate how important that will be for him. Remember Luka was the most decorated European Prospect ever, based on his pro career overseas. He was able to hit the ground running in year 1 and is now a top 5 player in the league. I think Wemby will have a similar trajectory. Depending on free agency, this Spurs team should be able to compete for a play-in spot in the West next season and its all going to be about his impact. Offensively he’s not as polished as you would think, considering the amount of hype around his NBA career. However he still led his team, the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, in scoring last year with over 20 pts game while also averaging ten boards, over 2 assists and three blocks. He only shot 55% from the field and 27% from three but at over 80% from the line you can expect that to change quickly. Once he becomes a better shooter and playmaker he’s going to be unstoppable. I mean he’s 7’5″! You think KD or Giannis are unstoppable. Wemby can be more dominant.

Defensively is where he’s really going to change things for the Spurs, immediately. He hasn’t played an NBA game but I wouldn’t be surprised if he made an NBA All Defensive team this year. He will be that disruptive. With his height, length, and speed he is going to be a problem for NBA offenses from the jump.

Gregg Popovich is 74 and is entering his 28th season as Spurs head coach, but he must be feeling similar to when the team drafted Tim Duncan all those years ago. I am honestly surprised he is still coaching but with Wemby in tow I think he’s gonna keep doing this until they have to drag him off the bench. He really is going to be that special.

I keep coming back to LeBron. He was really the only person that’s ever had to go through what Wemby will in the next year and for his entire career. Sure there were hyped prospects before Bron (Lou Alcindor) and even after but no one else had the amount same amount of hype and media buzz around them as James. It was just different.

I was only in Middle School when all of this was happening with LeBron but thankfully I remember most of the process. At the time, I wasn’t able to grasp the gravity of James joining the NBA, but looking back it was one of the most significant aspects of my basketball life. LeBron has been the face of the league since he joined in 2003. By Christmas, Wemby can stake his claim as the true heir to James’ throne. I know there are other incredible players in this league. All of which have a chance to go down as all time greats. Jokic, Giannis, Embiid, Luka, Tatum, Booker the list goes on and on, but Wemby can rise above them all. Even Luka, who has a chance to be considered the best basketball player ever. Yes you read that right. He could be considered the GOAT. Do I think that will happen? No. But the start of his career has been almost unprecedented. I am terrified about the future of the Mavs so we’ll see where he’s at in a few years but that’s a story for another day.

Having said all that if Victor remains healthy he should become the best player on Earth soon. Again not to take anything away from the amazing guys we have now. I mean the league is arguably more talented than it’s ever been. (Expansion soon.) Wemby is just that different.

It’s so cool to be able to watch an all time great’s full career. I’ve gotten to do it more now that I’ve gotten older. But damn I would’ve loved to have seen the rise of some of the great athletes likes Tiger, Kobe or MJ. Getting the opportunity to have that with LeBron has been the highlight of my basketball fandom. I don’t care if you’re not a LeBron fan, if you are a fan of basketball you have to appreciate what he has accomplished. Its been a joy to watch him grow up in the NBA and I can’t wait to do it all again with Victor Wembanyama.

Image Credit: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times