2023 NBA Draft’s No. 1 pick: Why many think Victor Wembanyama is already locked in
In this myopic world, it’s hard not to always think of the next thing or the next season. But when it comes to the NBA Draft, it makes all the sense in the world to already turn your eyes to 2023. The NBA has, and what it sees just might be its next generational draft prospect, if not eventually its next great star.
Victor Wembanyama is the headliner of the 2023 draft. That is an understatement. He towers over it.
Wembanyama is an 18-year-old sensation out of France who is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick next summer. He may be the epitome of what the modern NBA is becoming, as a 7-2 threat from everywhere on the court who can also provide rim protection with his smooth movement and Mister Fantastic length. He has already garnered major minutes playing for ASVEL, his professional team in France, as a teenager and is likely to have an even larger role next season.
This is the draft prospect teams will position themselves for next season because he could change a franchise for a decade. If you haven’t heard of him yet, here is what you need to know.
The numbers
Height: 7-2
Wingspan: 7-9
EuroLeague stats: 13 games. 17.5 minutes per game, 6.5 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.9 blocks per game, 34.8 percent from the field, 30.3 percent on 3-point attempts, 66.7 percent on free throws.
Though the statistics may not look that impressive, just know he’s doing this at 18, against players a decade or more older than he is, in the second-best league in the world — not at Southern Miss or in the MAC. He scored 18 points, hitting 4 of 5 3s, and grabbed six rebounds against AX Armani Exchange Milan — the league’s third-place team — in April.
Wembanyama had 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight blocks in a marvelous performance against Team USA — which included Chet Holmgren and Jaden Ivey — in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. France lost, but just 83-81, and Wembanyama was a team-high plus-7 in 27 minutes before fouling out. He averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and, in what looks like a statistical error, 5.7 blocked shots across seven games in just 22.5 minutes per game.
“I don’t really give too many people credit, but I give credit to this guy right here,” Holmgren said afterward. “I thought I was tall, I thought I had long arms, but he takes it to a whole other level. He moves great. He’s got a shot. He’s got skills too. He’s gonna be a rich man one day.”
For more on what Wembanyama is capable of, let’s turn to The Athletic’s NBA Draft analyst, Sam Vecenie.
Scouting report
Vecenie: Wembanyama is one of the most impressive prospects I’ve gotten a chance to see. His length is obviously outrageous and on par only with guys like Rudy Gobert and Mark Williams in the NBA. Unsurprisingly, it makes him a terrific shot-blocker. He led the Euroleague in blocks this year with 1.9 per game.
But what makes him truly special is he’s not limited to being a rim-runner and shot-blocker like those guys. It all starts with balance. Wembanyama moves like a guy five inches shorter than he is, with real coordination. He’s not very explosive, but his balance is wild for someone with this kind of length. It allows him to be a real defender in space, as well as to effectively rotate over from the weak side. He’s skinny, but he’s not skinny like Holmgren, as he has a relatively well-proportioned 235-pound frame.
Wembanyama projects to be an incredible defender. But his craziest stuff actually tends to come on offense. He can take and knock down 3s with confidence, as well as showcase some real skill off the bounce as a straight-line driver. He’s even flashed the ability to hit stepback pull-up jumpers, again showcasing his coordination and balance. Guys this big shouldn’t be able to have this kind of impact at this level.
When Wembanyama attacks closeouts off the bounce, he covers ground so quickly with his strides that it’s almost impossible to stay in front. His lob radius is elite, as guards can just throw it up anywhere around the rim and he can out-high-point the ball against nearly anyone. He’s still improving his consistency in this regard, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen someone who has this kind of length, coordination, touch and real offensive skill.
What does he project out to be, and what is his ceiling?
Vecenie: Wembanyama is still working through being able to impact the game every single night on offense. Defense, it’s basically there, even as an 18-year-old in an incredibly difficult league. On offense, he’s definitely still improving.
But with the flashes and tools he shows at his size, it’s hard not to get ahead of yourself and think he can turn into a franchise player in time. He’s 7-foot-2 with elite length and great shot-blocking instincts. He can defend in space. He can shoot from distance. He can handle the ball. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a player who has these tools available.
It is worth noting he’s had a few injuries. He missed the end of this season with ASVEL because of a muscle injury. He also had a bone bruise earlier this year to his shoulder that forced him out, and a finger injury also caused him to miss a couple of weeks. He missed some time back in late 2020 and early 2021 with a stress fracture. He will need to stay healthy to reach his ceiling. But it’s difficult to say anything other than that Wembanyama’s ceiling is higher than that of anyone who has entered the league in a while. These tools are just so outrageous.
Is there an NBA comp you can make for him?
Vecenie: It’s almost like watching Rudy Gobert if he were able to dribble, pass and shoot at an effective NBA level. That seems kind of impossible, I know. But that’s what it’s like watching Wembanyama. Hopefully, he stays healthy and his body allows him to reach what is an immensely high ceiling. He’ll unequivocally enter the season at No. 1 on NBA teams’ boards.
2023 NBA Draft’s No. 1 pick: Why many think Victor Wembanyama is already locked in
In this myopic world, it’s hard not to always think of the next thing or the next season. But when it comes to the NBA Draft, it makes all the sense in the world to already turn your eyes to 2023. The NBA has, and what it sees just might be its next generational draft prospect, if not eventually its next great star.
Victor Wembanyama is the headliner of the 2023 draft. That is an understatement. He towers over it.
Wembanyama is an 18-year-old sensation out of France who is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick next summer. He may be the epitome of what the modern NBA is becoming, as a 7-2 threat from everywhere on the court who can also provide rim protection with his smooth movement and Mister Fantastic length. He has already garnered major minutes playing for ASVEL, his professional team in France, as a teenager and is likely to have an even larger role next season.
This is the draft prospect teams will position themselves for next season because he could change a franchise for a decade. If you haven’t heard of him yet, here is what you need to know.
The numbers
Height: 7-2
Wingspan: 7-9
EuroLeague stats: 13 games. 17.5 minutes per game, 6.5 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.9 blocks per game, 34.8 percent from the field, 30.3 percent on 3-point attempts, 66.7 percent on free throws.
Though the statistics may not look that impressive, just know he’s doing this at 18, against players a decade or more older than he is, in the second-best league in the world — not at Southern Miss or in the MAC. He scored 18 points, hitting 4 of 5 3s, and grabbed six rebounds against AX Armani Exchange Milan — the league’s third-place team — in April.
Wembanyama had 22 points, eight rebounds, and eight blocks in a marvelous performance against Team USA — which included Chet Holmgren and Jaden Ivey — in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. France lost, but just 83-81, and Wembanyama was a team-high plus-7 in 27 minutes before fouling out. He averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and, in what looks like a statistical error, 5.7 blocked shots across seven games in just 22.5 minutes per game.
“I don’t really give too many people credit, but I give credit to this guy right here,” Holmgren said afterward. “I thought I was tall, I thought I had long arms, but he takes it to a whole other level. He moves great. He’s got a shot. He’s got skills too. He’s gonna be a rich man one day.”
For more on what Wembanyama is capable of, let’s turn to The Athletic’s NBA Draft analyst, Sam Vecenie.
Scouting report
Vecenie: Wembanyama is one of the most impressive prospects I’ve gotten a chance to see. His length is obviously outrageous and on par only with guys like Rudy Gobert and Mark Williams in the NBA. Unsurprisingly, it makes him a terrific shot-blocker. He led the Euroleague in blocks this year with 1.9 per game.
But what makes him truly special is he’s not limited to being a rim-runner and shot-blocker like those guys. It all starts with balance. Wembanyama moves like a guy five inches shorter than he is, with real coordination. He’s not very explosive, but his balance is wild for someone with this kind of length. It allows him to be a real defender in space, as well as to effectively rotate over from the weak side. He’s skinny, but he’s not skinny like Holmgren, as he has a relatively well-proportioned 235-pound frame.
Wembanyama projects to be an incredible defender. But his craziest stuff actually tends to come on offense. He can take and knock down 3s with confidence, as well as showcase some real skill off the bounce as a straight-line driver. He’s even flashed the ability to hit stepback pull-up jumpers, again showcasing his coordination and balance. Guys this big shouldn’t be able to have this kind of impact at this level.
When Wembanyama attacks closeouts off the bounce, he covers ground so quickly with his strides that it’s almost impossible to stay in front. His lob radius is elite, as guards can just throw it up anywhere around the rim and he can out-high-point the ball against nearly anyone. He’s still improving his consistency in this regard, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen someone who has this kind of length, coordination, touch and real offensive skill.
What does he project out to be, and what is his ceiling?
Vecenie: Wembanyama is still working through being able to impact the game every single night on offense. Defense, it’s basically there, even as an 18-year-old in an incredibly difficult league. On offense, he’s definitely still improving.
But with the flashes and tools he shows at his size, it’s hard not to get ahead of yourself and think he can turn into a franchise player in time. He’s 7-foot-2 with elite length and great shot-blocking instincts. He can defend in space. He can shoot from distance. He can handle the ball. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a player who has these tools available.
It is worth noting he’s had a few injuries. He missed the end of this season with ASVEL because of a muscle injury. He also had a bone bruise earlier this year to his shoulder that forced him out, and a finger injury also caused him to miss a couple of weeks. He missed some time back in late 2020 and early 2021 with a stress fracture. He will need to stay healthy to reach his ceiling. But it’s difficult to say anything other than that Wembanyama’s ceiling is higher than that of anyone who has entered the league in a while. These tools are just so outrageous.
Is there an NBA comp you can make for him?
Vecenie: It’s almost like watching Rudy Gobert if he were able to dribble, pass and shoot at an effective NBA level. That seems kind of impossible, I know. But that’s what it’s like watching Wembanyama. Hopefully, he stays healthy and his body allows him to reach what is an immensely high ceiling. He’ll unequivocally enter the season at No. 1 on NBA teams’ boards.
