Victor Wembanyama is expected to become the NBA’s latest sensation, and he will get to do so as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, an organization that was one of the league’s best not too long ago.
There, he will be coached by Gregg Popovich, the same man who guided Tim Duncan to greatness, not to mention five world championships.
The 7-foot-2 French phenom has a shot at becoming one of just a handful of rookies who have made the league’s All-Star team.
The last five players to make the NBA All-Star team as rookies:
⭐️ Blake Griffin
⭐️ Yao Ming
⭐️ Tim Duncan
⭐️ Grant Hill
⭐️ Shaquille O’NealCould Wemby be next? 👀 pic.twitter.com/JoMN13llUd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2023
Not coincidentally, four of the last five players to do so were big men.
Wembanyama, who is just 19 years of age, is not only a good rebounder and an impressive rim protector, but he has the type of ball-handling skills and fluidity that are nearly unprecedented for a man as tall as him.
Although the Spurs are far from being title contenders again (they haven’t made the playoffs in four years), he is expected to make them relevant again in a hurry.
Duncan is one of those rare players who was an All-Star as a rookie, as was David Robinson, the No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft who initially put the Spurs on the map at the start of the 1990s.
Many have called Webmanyama a generational talent, and some even feel he is the greatest draft prospect in NBA history, greater than even LeBron James or Shaquille O’Neal.
He couldn’t have asked for a better situation to start what could be a legendary pro career for him.
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Video Shows Spurs Fans Giving Victor Wembanyama A Warm Welcome