2023-06-23 04:10:57
History was written that night. Unsurprisingly, but with lots of glitz and glitz, Victor Wembanyama became the first Frenchman to be selected as the first pick in the NBA draft. At the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, around 2:30 a.m. French time, the name of the 19-year-old French giant was called by the San Antonio Spurs, his future franchise.
“And win the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft, the San Antonio Spurs select Victor Wembanyama from Nanterre, France”. This is the exact phrase that resounded and made “Wemby” the hero of the evening. It’s not really a surprise, of course, but a confirmation of the incredible potential of the French player, considered today by all American experts, and therefore by the San Antonio Spurs, as a player whose size (2 .22m) and agility on the court like ball in hand can revolutionize the game and dominate the league for years to come.
A few minutes after being called, Victor Wembanyama gave an emotional first interview to ESPN. “Hearing this sentence from Adam Silva, I dreamed of it so much”.
“Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I’ve dreamed of it so much.”
—Victor Wembanyama and his siblings were emotional after he was drafted No. 1 overall pic.twitter.com/YRlkTcMpbl
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2023
At Spurs, Wembayama will be coached by one of the most recognized coaches in NBA history, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker’s former mentor. It is indeed in this Texas franchise that the former star playmaker of the France team has accomplished most of his great history in the NBA, winning four NBA titles in the process.
Just minutes after the pick, Kylian Mbappé, who had stayed up to see his friend Wembanyama, was the first to congratulate him on Twitter. “The story begins now,” he said.
WEMBY ????????????????????????…
The story begins now.— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 23, 2023
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