{"id":236389,"date":"2022-10-08T17:13:10","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T22:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=236389"},"modified":"2022-10-08T00:46:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-08T05:46:16","slug":"nba-teams-tank-top-prospect-victor-wembanyama-2023-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/nba-teams-tank-top-prospect-victor-wembanyama-2023-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Eyes Victor Wembanyama as 2023 Draft Top Prospect"},"content":{"rendered":"

NBA scouts gushed about Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 big man prospect from France. But fans caught their first real glimpse of the future #1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and the 18-year-old kid lived up to the hype<\/a> during a pair of exhibition games in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\"Victor
Victor Wembanyama, seen here playing for Metropolitan 92 against the Ignite from the NBA G League in Las Vegas, is the top-rated prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft. (Image: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wembanyama played with his French professional team, Metropolitan 92, against the Ignite of the NBA G-League. Wembanyama sizzled in his North American debut scoring 73 points, 15 rebounds, and nine blocks in two games of action. He knocked down 9-for-18 from 3-point range and shot 50% overall from the floor.<\/p>\n

Wembanyama scored 37 points in his debut on Tuesday, then added 36 points in his second game on Thursday.<\/p>\n

He’s like an alien,”<\/strong> said LeBron James<\/a>. “I’ve never seen, ahh, no one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is, but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor. He’s for sure a generational talent.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With Wembanyama getting the stamp of approval from King James himself, as many as ten teams are likely hoping for a chance to turn around their franchises with a “once in a generation” player like Wembanyama.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IF9mlZzfT_o<\/a><\/p>\n

Best Prospect Since…?<\/h2>\n

Scouts initially compared Wembanyama to Tim Duncan. But after the two games in Las Vegas this week, Wembanyama looks like a hybrid of Duncan and Kevin Durant. He’s also a heck of a defender and shot blocker.<\/p>\n

“He’s like Rudy Gobert on steroids,” said Bill Simmons on The Lowe Post<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n

Holy smokes, there are no words for it,”<\/strong> said Zach Lowe. “That’s why people are saying ‘Alien’ to describe Wembanyama. The superlatives are insufficient.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Simmons said catching a glimpse of Wembanyama for the first time is like watching one of LeBron James’ high school games. There has not been this much excitement surrounding a teenager since LeBron’s high school years and further back, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominating the New York City hoops scene at Power Memorial High School.<\/p>\n

Kristaps Porzingis earned the nickname “The Unicorn” because he was a 7-foot-3 player from Latvia with a deadly 3-point shot and great ball-handling skills. However, scouts all agreed that Wembanyama is a far superior prospect. Heck, Wembanyama the Alien might be better than Porzingis the Unicorn right now.<\/p>\n

“He has ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot step-back jumpers out of the post, step-back 3s, catch-and-shoot 3s, block shots,” added LeBron.<\/p>\n

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