Tag: Victor Wembanyama

Podcast: Early reaction to Rockets’ 2023 NBA draft lottery draw

Tuesday night’s @TheLagerLine podcast features live, pick-by-pick reaction to the 2023 NBA draft lottery and Houston landing the No. 4 overall pick in the first round. #Rockets

Tuesday’s episode of The Lager Line, sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, features live, real-time reaction from Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves to the 2023 NBA draft lottery.

With Houston landing the No. 4 pick in the first round, what prospects could the Rockets be choosing between when the draft takes place on June 22? Tuesday’s show offers early insight and pick-by-pick reaction, including sadness at the news of top prospect Victor Wembanyama heading to division rival San Antonio and optimism at some of the names potentially in play at fourth overall.

The show also explores recent rumors connecting the Rockets to former franchise icon James Harden, along with analysis of why fans should keep an open mind to the growing possibility.

Tuesday’s podcast can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Reaction, takeaways: Rockets win NBA’s No. 4 draft pick in lottery

Houston’s prayers for Victor Wembanyama (bound for San Antonio) went unanswered, but the #Rockets did win one of the NBA’s four lottery picks for a third straight draft.

The Houston Rockets entered Tuesday’s critical 2023 NBA draft lottery with a 14% chance of selecting No. 1 overall in the first round, followed by 13.4% odds for the No. 2 pick; 12.7% for the No. 3 pick; 12% for the No. 4 pick; 27.8% for No. 5; and 20% for No. 6.

Unlike 2021 and 2022, when Houston gained one of the best-case outcomes at No. 2 (Jalen Green) and No. 3 (Jabari Smith Jr.), respectively, they did not have the same luck in 2023. This year, the Rockets drew the No. 4 spot as the fourth and final lottery winner.

That means the rebuilding Rockets almost certainly will not be drafting Victor Wembanyama, the historically talented French big man who is now expected to go to San Antonio at No. 1 overall.

However, they will still have a number of talented options to choose from. The list potentially includes guard Scoot Henderson of the NBA G League Ignite, guard Amen Thompson of the Overtime Elite, forward Brandon Miller of Alabama and many more.

Scroll on for immediate lottery reaction from Houston’s media members and devoted fans. Rockets Wire will have more coverage in the days and weeks ahead as Houston preps for the June 22 draft.

Spurs fans lit up with joy when San Antonio won the right to draft Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama is presumably San Antonio-bound, and Spurs fans are HYPED.

San Antonio Spurs fans couldn’t contain their joy in the team landing the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

After the Spurs drew the winning lottery combination for the No. 1 pick, it cleared the way for San Antonio to draft a generational prospect in Victor Wembanyama.

At a Spurs watch party for the NBA lottery results, fans erupted in jubilation at the announcement that San Antonio had secured the draft’s top pick.

You’re talking game-winning corner three as the buzzer is expiring in Game 7 of an NBA Finals excited for Spurs fans here.

It’s understandable! If Wenbanyama lives up to the outrageous hype, San Antonio has landed the next elite NBA player.

As you could imagine, the reaction online was about the same.

Everyone knew that Spurs fans had metaphorically woken up on Christmas morning and opened the greatest gift of all time.

While there are plenty of good players in this year’s NBA draft, there’s only one Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyama seemed thrilled with the Spurs winning the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft

Victor is going to be the next big thing in Texas.

The San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, which means they will have the golden opportunity to select Victor Wembanyama.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the big man is the “greatest prospect” in the history of team sports. While that type of praise may be a bit rich, Wembanyama will immediately change the landscape of the Spurs as a franchise.

Wembanyama, who was not able to attend the NBA Draft Lottery because his team is still playing overseas in France, was shown on ESPN’s live broadcast when the league revealed that San Antonio would land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

While it was in the middle of the night in France, the big man seemed incredibly pleased by the news that San Antonio would have the option to select him at No. 1 overall.

The feeling was clearly mutual, however, considering that Spurs chairman Peter Holt said he “might faint” after learning San Antonio had secured the No. 1 pick.

Wembanyama will likely have a chance to play under head coach Gregg Popovich as well as young talented players such as Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson.

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Spurs Chairman Peter Holt said he ‘might faint’ after winning the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft lottery

It’s lit in San Antonio

To the victor goes the spoils and the victor tonight is absolutely the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs won the NBA Draft lottery and now have the right to draft Victor Wembanyama, who is legitimately one of the best prospects we’ve ever seen — even if there is a bit of hyperbole attached to that.

RELATED: Our complete NBA mock draft post the lottery

But Wembanyama is legitimately great. And, now, he’ll be going to the Spurs. The organization is very clearly excited about that.

We all saw it when Spurs Chairman Peter Holt literally jumped up out of his seat when he realized the team was getting the No. 1 overall pick.

It didn’t stop there. My man also told everyone on national television that he might faint.

That dude is thrilled. And nobody can blame him — this is potentially a generational prospect in the Spurs’ midst. Considering their history with that No. 1 overall spot? I’d be pretty thrilled, too.

Can’t wait to watch San Antonio next season.

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What the Spurs lineup will look like when they (presumably) draft Victor Wembanyama

Gregg Popovich must be the most excited.

The San Antonio Spurs were a dynasty for so long with some Hall of Famers in the middle of their lineup.

Now? After winning the 2023 NBA Draft lottery, they will end up taking Victor Wembanyama — sorry, we assume they will take the once-in-a-lifetime big man prospect, but really, c’mon — and perhaps kicking off another dynasty. You can imagine head coach Gregg Popovich is the most excited right now.

Let’s fast-forward to next month. What will the Spurs lineup look like with the big man slotting in? Let’s dive in and see how things are about to change for the franchise:

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski called Victor Wembanyama the ‘greatest prospect in the history of team sports’

And, yes, that’s as ridiculous as it sounds

They say comparison is the thief of joy but, apparently, nobody got that message to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Victor Wembanyama is absolutely the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and the best prospect available. Both of those are pretty noteworthy things that, if you’re a member of the media covering the draft, you could say and have people easily recognize how impressive the dude is supposed to be.

Woj couldn’t just stop there though. Nope. He had to take things a massive step further.

Instead of saying all that, Woj called Wembanyama the “greatest prospect in the history of team sports.” Seriously. Yes. That’s exactly what he said.

“This is the most highly anticipated player to ever enter the NBA. And this is, maybe not only the greatest prospect in NBA history, maybe the greatest prospect in the history of team sports.” 

And, well, look. Wembanyama is an absolute phenom. We all fully expect him to be great — there’s no denying that. But, honestly, folks. Who in the world does this hyperbole serve?

This does nothing but put pressure on Wembanyama in a completely unnecessary way.

Sorry, Woj. It’s great when you break news. But this is just a little too much. Good luck to Wemby, though. Hope you crush it in San Antonio.

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2023 NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Instant predictions for all 58 picks after the Victor Wembanyama lottery

We factored in scouting, intel, fit and several other factors for these results.

The San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft lottery and will have the opportunity to select Victor Wembanyama, the most coveted prospect since LeBron James.

Wembanyama completely alters the direction of the franchise for the Spurs, and he will provide an instant bolster to their offense. He can  change the game on the defensive end of the floor with an 8-foot wingspan. His intersection of size and skill set is something we have never before seen in the NBA.

While the incredibly hyped French big man is the most well-known and discussed prospect in this class, there are plenty of other names to learn before the draft on June 22.

Although the Final Four didn’t feature many projectable NBA players, the most notable prospect was UConn star Jordan Hawkins. We had several other breakout stars during the NCAA men’s tournament as well.

Unless noted otherwise, all data was pulled from our friends at Cerebro Sports — you can create a free account to evaluate player performance across all levels globally.

The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

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Victor Wembanyama has a really good reason why he isn’t attending the NBA Draft Lottery

Metropolitans 92 are competing for a championship

While basketball fans around the world will soon know where Victor Wembanyama is playing next season, he will not be there to hear it himself.

Usually, we get to meet some of the top prospects on the telecast — like when we saw Chet Holmgren wear a suit for the first time in his life last year. Don’t expect to hear from Wembanyama, however, unless he calls into the show.

The coveted prospect is not attending the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago because his team is still playing international basketball. The big man is currently overseas suiting up for Metropolitans 92 in the French Jeep Elite league against Paris Basketball at Stade Pierre de Coubertin.

The club entered the game tied with ASVEL Basket for the second-best record in the league. ASVEL narrowly escaped with a win over JL Bourg, which made this a must-win game for Wembanyana.

Wembanyama, indeed, led his team to victory behind 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in the final game of the regular season. The victory led Metropolitans 92 ahead of ASVEL for second place in the standings.

The performance helped Wembanyama secure the scoring title in the primary French league. He also led the league in rebounds, blocks, and total minutes.

Because of this schedule, Wembanayama and his teammate Bilal Coulibaly also cannot attend the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

As we wrote in our last mock draft, Coulibaly has played particularly well of late and could (and should) be a first-round draft pick as well.

The French Jeep Elite playoffs begin on May 23 and will potentially last until June 24 if the championship series extend to five games.

Meanwhile, the 2023 NBA Draft is June 22. So there could potentially be a real scheduling conflict if the Metropolitans 92 do well in the postseason and compete for a championship, but that’s something we won’t know for at least a few more weeks.

You can watch Wembanyama and Coulibaly during the playoffs for free via the NBA App.

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