3 minute read
Victor Wembanyama is focused on winning the NBA Championship after the San Antonio Spurs chose him as their number one pick.
The Frenchman is considered a once in a generation player, with a listed height of 7ft 5in and a wingspan of 8ft, and becomes only the 14th player from outside the US to be selected first.
It was expected that the 19-year-old would be picked first in the 2023 NBA Draft, which took place on Thursday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the picks, with Wembanyama saying being selected is a dream come true.
He told ESPN: "This is accomplishing something that I have been dreaming of my whole life.
"Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much that I have to cry, man."
Wembanyama will move to Texas from French side Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, where he played 44 games. He averaged 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 2.5 assists.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he was "thrilled" to have secured him.
He continued: "He's obviously a heck of a talent, a very mature young man. But just like with every draft pick, whether it's the first pick or the 27th pick, or the 38th pick, we have a responsibility to each and every one to try to create an environment where they can reach the best success possible for them.
"We're going to get him on the court and we're going to see him play, and we'll go from there."
Having received plaudits from the likes of LeBron James, who called him a "generational talent", hopes are high concerning a player who can do it all. He has been frequently compared to current NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.
Meanwhile, Brandon Miller was the second pick in the NBA Draft, with the 6ft 9in 20-year-old moving to the Charlotte Hornets. He has performed strongly at the University of Alabama.
Scoot Henderson will go to the Portland Trail Blazers as pick number three while identical twins Amen and Ausar Thompson were selected fourth and fifth respectively. The former will go to the Houston Rockets, with the latter moving to the Detroit Pistons.