Victor Wembanyama is in the midst of a well-documented transition to the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs. The No. 1 pick has had plenty of hype surrounding his arrival in the United States.
Wembanyama is fresh off a dominating campaign with Metropolitans 92 in France, in which he was named MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Because of that run, along with his size and overall ability, he is viewed as the most-hyped rookie since perhaps LeBron James.
James once referred to Wembanyama as an alien instead of a unicorn given his unique skills. Hall of Famer Magic Johnson also gushed over his potential and called him a league-changing type of prospect.
But it is a bit too much for one Hall of Famer.
In an interview with Howard Beck of GQ, Tracy McGrady pushed back on the notion the league hasn’t seen a player like Wembanyama prior to this season.
I’m just saying the hype is crazy to me. It’s too much, bro. I’ve seen this before. Y’all act like you haven’t seen it. That (expletive) that Bol Bol can do? He’s just not given the real opportunity, like I think he should. That kid is skilled. (Kristaps) Porzingis was highly skilled when he first came out, just like that. And hell, he’s 7-3, too. So I’ve seen it.
The hype is just crazy. But I get it. It’s the media, they’re looking for a face for the NBA, and you got to have a new star that you got to build around. Bron is about to be on his way out, Steph (Curry) and those guys, I get it.
Wembanyama debuted with the Spurs on July 7 in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He had an uneven first game but responded with a 27-point, 12-rebound effort two nights later and showed what made him so highly touted entering the NBA draft.
McGrady believes Wembanyama landed with the perfect organization to help with the move to the NBA. Having Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and others available to talk to, McGrady said, will put him in a position to succeed.
“He’s in a perfect situation because he’s around greatness,” McGrady said. “One of the greatest coaches ever, greatest power forward ever, one of the greatest centers ever. Sit down and have those conversations with those guys, and just soak up all the advice you possibly could.”
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