Victor Wembanyama will be the grand prize at Tuesday’s draft lottery, so Brian Windhorst and Jonathan Givony of ESPN took a look at the decade-long development of the French phenom. Long before he grew into a 7’5″ international star, Wembanyama was considered a special prospect even at age eight. The authors cite a YouTube video in which he intercepts a pass in a 2012 game and covers about 30 feet in two dribbles before laying the ball into the basket.
Wembanyama grew up in an athletic family near Paris with his mother playing basketball professionally before becoming a youth coach and his father competing as a long jumper. Wembanyama also learned the game from Karim Boubekri, a coach who developed his strategies by watching Pete Maravich and the AND1 Mixtape stars. That brought a level of creativity to Wembanyama’s game that he was determined to preserve, even if it meant battling with his coaches.
“I was probably born with that will to do things differently and do things my way,” he said. “I’m really glad I kept that willpower, to not (let) sometimes coaches put me in a box. That’s really an everyday fight.”
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- G League guard Scoot Henderson, who’s a strong candidate to be taken second overall, is receiving assistance from Stephen Curry‘s training team as he prepares for his NBA future, writes Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. Henderson and his sister Moochie, who will play at Georgia State, have partnered with Curry’s company, SC30 Inc. “Just getting this early training and early knowledge from Steph mentoring me and the people around him, it’s a blessing,” Scoot Henderson said. “Me just turning 19, just getting that knowledge early, it’s really cool.”
- Wembanyama and Henderson occupy the top two spots in the latest mock draft issued by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson round out the top five.
- With the NBA Draft Combine starting today, eight players have been called up from the G League Elite Camp, Givony tweets. They are Jazian Gortman of Overtime Elite, Sir’Jabari Rice of Texas, Hunter Tyson and PJ Hall of Clemson, Johni Broome of Auburn, Tosan Evbuomwan of Princeton, Kendric Davis of Memphis and Dillon Jones of Weber State.
- Jeremy Roach has elected to pull his name out of the draft and return to Duke for another season, tweets Jeff Goodman of Stadium. Roach wasn’t listed on ESPN’s big board and was considered unlikely to be drafted.
7’5 I’ll be laughing at him
Wonder if Warriors will try to trade up for an early pick. Imagine Wemby playing with Curry? Or actually, imagine Warriors blowing another lottery pick and trading Wemby to the Pistons two years from now lmao
Fact remains, after this dumpster fire of a season they need to do something…and it starts with the players. Very lazy to blame the coach.
Whoever gets #1 isn’t trading it, so I’ll say there’s a 0.0% chance of Wembanyama being drafted by Golden State.
And how do you know that?
Let’s put it another way: the Warriors do not have the assets to acquire Wemby unless Steph Curry is involved in the trade.
This draft can be another ja morant ,zion situation(with scoot & victor). Players that are 7’5 have never been able to stay healthy .
I said the same thing. But ironically now comparing any prospective draft to Ja and Zion is quite Taboo.
This do seem like a Zion Williamson and Ja Morant situation with Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. I think that Wembanyama going to be healthy because he’s so light on his feet.
I’m so excited my boy Jeremy Roach is returning to the Duke Blue Devils. It’s a major step in winning the National Championship. I wish we could’ve had both Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead return for one more year but they going off to the next level. Dereck Lively II going to be a very solid defensive minded Center in the NBA. Dariq Whitehead going to be a nice 3 and D wing in the NBA.
I think the twins are going to be special. Great athletes with potential for 2way stars. They are players who just fit in. Like Hart with Knicks. Don’t need the ball to be effective. And their offense will improve every yr. Imo this lottery is loaded this yr.
Praying for Mavs to fall to #11. I would jump on
link to nbadraft.net If he’s there.
They must figure out a way to shoot at an average NBA level to be special. Hopefully they will.
Yeas I agree. Jimmy had no offense when he came into league. He worked his way there. These guys work. It’s what I like about them.
Imo best pick for Rockets would be Scoot. He’s the Real PG man. Think D Rose and CP3 mix. He’s an excellent piece to add to that young core. Scoot and Green would the backcourt if the future. Then they can move Porter. Porter is not right for this team.
I’m not a Porter fan. But I admit the guy has real talent. He still hasn’t grown up imo. He’s about everything but playing to win. In the NBA you win as a team. By playing both ways. Seems more interested in the lifestyle and perks. To be young and a millionaire. Can’t be easy that’s for sure. Not going to hate. Cause can’t say I’d handle it any better.
But if someone can reach this kid. Like the Sixers and Embiid might. If going for chips can make him a man with commitment. He’s still young enough to get it. And could help get the Sixers right. Just might be what both need. Each other ……. Sixers need a miracle. Porter could be that, I hope.