Victor Wembanyama, a 19-year-old French basketball player, was selected as the first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs at the NBA Draft. Standing at an impressive height of 7 feet, 4 inches (2.24 meters), Wembanyama is considered a once-in-a-generation talent and the highest-drafted French player in NBA history.
Wembanyama possesses the skills of a center combined with the ball handling, passing, and shooting abilities of a guard.
His unique combination of size and skill has the potential to revolutionize the sport. His entrance into the league has generated a buzz comparable to that seen when LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, was drafted out of high school 20 years ago.
When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name at Barclays Center, Wembanyama was overcome with joy and shed tears of happiness. He expressed his lifelong dream of being drafted into the NBA and described the moment as the best night of his life.
Wembanyama is a dangerous shooter from long range, possesses the athleticism to rebound and dunk his own misses, and his nearly 8-foot wingspan allows him to block shots and grab rebounds with ease. Despite his height advantage, he currently weighs only 104 kilograms, and it remains to be seen whether he can add bulk to his frame before the regular season begins in late October.
