While it’s not as if he needed to further cement his place as the top prospect in the 2023 draft class, Victor Wembanyama put on a dazzling performance in the LNB’s All-Star Game, per an Associated Press report.
Wembanyama was named the MVP of the LNB showcase, which pits the league’s top French players against its non-French stars. The big man racked up 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, leading the French team to a 136-128 victory. The game was Wembanyama’s last as an 18-year-old — he’ll turn 19 next Wednesday before his Metropolitans 92 resume play on January 9.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Canadian forward Leonard Miller, currently a member of the G League Ignite, is planning to enter the 2023 NBA draft and go pro, he tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Miller is viewed as a potential first-round pick and currently ranks 26th overall on ESPN’s big board of 2023 prospects.
- Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports is the latest reporter to take a closer look at the G League’s experimentation with a “target score” (also known as the Elam Ending). The NBAGL has used a target score in overtime all season long and employed it in the fourth quarter of games during its Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. The new overtime format has “strong supporters” in NBA front offices and the league office, according to Fischer. When we asked you last week whether the NBA should adopt the Elam Ending for overtimes, more of our poll respondents were against it than for it.
- Veteran point guard Jeremy Lin, who had been playing for the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, has left the CBA for the rest of the season, he announced in an Instagram post. “I’m gonna go back to the U.S. to rest and reset before I make a decision with my family for my next step,” Lin wrote. He has appeared in 480 total NBA regular season games, but hasn’t played in the league since 2019, when he was a member of the champion Raptors.
what ever team gets Victor they will have the biggest turn around next year. This years draft is deep so looking at the bottom teams they all should get better if they have a top 3 pick.
Not.
Why Not?
I’m hoping it’s Houston or OKC. They already have lots of potential so throw Vic into the mix and it’s gonna be like the aughts thunders again.
Even funnier situation is Pels getting Vic from the lakers pick
That would be the greatest thing ever! I know LA won a title after the deal, so it’s not like they didn’t get anything from the trade. That said, seeing them sink into the abyss and them having to sit by and watch the Pels get Vic and become a force for the next decade plus would be hilarious.
My lakers trade idea is exclusively for Lakers teenager fans
Lakers get Wemby, Ball and Hayward
Hornets get Westbrook and 2 unprotected picks
Lakers lineup
Wemby
Davis
LeBron
Hayward
Ball
Sullivan is now trolling laker fans.
Would be a instant playoff team if either of those 2 teams get him. Both teams have some real good young players. Most of the bottom teams already have a future star so combining him with another future star means instant success.
What would happen to Chet, if OKC get the #1?
Do they go for the 2 bigs or trade Chet for another star to fit needs? Crazy thought to have two generational bigs in successive drafts.
They could go the Cavs route and try to play him as a Power Forward, the way the Cavs are with Evan Mobley. Those two with SGA and Giddey in the backcourt? Scary stuff, if they go with it. Depends on if you think Chet has the chops to play the 4.
Agreed. Reminds me of when Houston drafted Hakeem right after Sampson and played them together. Only time I can remember when something like this could or would happen.
I didn’t see enough of him in college to make the opinion on moving the 4 but what I have seen, if they don’t get #1 I don’t think OKC will be too upset knowing Holmgren is there already.
From what I’ve seen either Holmgrem or Wembanyama have the skill set to play 3-5.
We know it won’t be the Lakers
It really depends on where he goes. I don’t see him making the Spurs, Pistons, or Rockets that much better in year 1. He could make the Magic, Hornets or Thunder 6-10 seeds or he could be the final piece ala Magic Johnson/Tim Duncan if he went to New Orleans.
Orlando would be sweet if for no other reason than the following starting lineup.
PG-6’10” 250 Paulo Banchero
SG-6’10” 220 Franz Wagner
SF-7’2″ 230 Victor Wembanyama
PF-6’11” 245 Moritz Wagner
C-7’2″ 220 Bol Bol
Swap out Mo Wagner for 7’0″ Mo Bamba’s superior defense and 3point shooting. Just the most insane lineup ever xD
Let’s just say, whoever lucks out and get #1 they’ll be a force if not straight away, eventually. Even with Scoot & Thompson a team will be getting a likely star. This daft is strong.
Elam ending is bush league