Projected No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-5 basketball phenom from France, announced on ESPN’s “NBA Today” Friday that he has declared for the 2023 NBA draft.
Wembanyama is regarded as perhaps the top prospect in the NBA since LeBron James with his unique blend of skill and size. He can handle the ball, shoot from distance and block shots with the best of them with his 8-foot wingspan.
Playing with Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A, Wembanyama garnered worldwide attention with his play on the court. The NBA took notice and teams did their best to have the opportunity to draft him, setting up a historic draft lottery on May 16. Of the teams in the lottery, the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs have the highest odds of landing the top pick (14%).
The 18-year-old dazzled throughout the year in Paris and is putting up an incredible season. He is averaging 21.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 2.3 assists on 46.8% shooting from the field, including 30.1% from 3-point range. He is the front-runner to be named Most Valuable Player after leading the LNB Pro A in nearly every statistical category.
He has earned high praise from a long-running list of greats, including LeBron James and Magic Johnson. His arrival will help transform his future team to new heights and instantly elevate them to relevancy on a worldwide scale.
Victor Wembanyama officially declares for the 2023 NBA draft with @malika_andrews đź‘€
(via NBA Today) pic.twitter.com/OMgOJket4t
— ESPN (@espn) April 21, 2023
Wembanyama and Metropolitans 92 have five games left in the regular season and then the playoffs. His arrival in the U.S. could be delayed, as a result, though he likely will not need to meet with too many teams as the presumed top pick.
He has long been projected to have the tools needed to develop into a superstar in the NBA and that journey took the next step on Friday with his draft announcement.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]