American basketball fans aren't screaming his name yet, but the entire NBA already has eyes only for Victor Wembanyama.
The favorite to be the number one in the next draft, and object of all covetousness, sporting and media, has even just received praise from boss LeBron James.
“What do I think when I see him playing?
Probably like everyone else.
Everyone is using that term unicorn right now.
We've been talking about a lot of unicorns in recent years.
But he is more of an alien.
I've never seen… No one has ever seen someone like that,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, basketball monument, said after the Frenchman's performance in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
"To be as tall while being as fluid and graceful on the pitch"
More than 70 media were accredited for his very first match in the United States, lost (122-115) with his club Metropolitans de Boulogne-Levallois against the G-League Ignite.
A team made up of young talents, likely like him to be selected by a franchise in 2023. And they were not disappointed with the trip: the 18-year-old gem displayed his immense talent with 37 points (7 out of 11 award-winning shots ) and 5 blocks, managing to raise his level in his distance duel with another great prospect, Scoot Henderson, designated rival in the fight at the top of the draft.
Read alsoBasketball: Victor Wembanyama's NBA gaga… "I've never seen someone like him"
“To be as tall while being as fluid and graceful on the pitch.
Whatever his size, 2m15, 2m20, 2m25… He has this ability to dribble, to take shots in step-back, to shoot 3-pointers in catch-and-shoot, to counter… It is clear that it is a generational talent.
I hope he stays healthy, that's the most important thing for him.
But it shows that he loves basketball, he was smiling a lot last night,” added LeBron James.
LeBron has given his opinion on Victor Wembanyama.
"It's not a unicorn, it's a UFO" 👽 pic.twitter.com/UEv8aXxOrq
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) October 6, 2022
“What makes players like Victor special is their ability to manage everything, the expectations, the excitement they generate.
And once the kick-off is given, they manage to focus on the game and be really good,” said Abdur-Rahim.
Victor Wenbanyama, left, faces other great prospect Scoot Henderson.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP 2022 Getty Images
“His maturity is impressive, for an 18-year-old boy.
He knows who he is, what he wants and the efforts to be made to get it, ”summarized, admiringly, his trainer Vincent Collet.
"When you're dealing with unique players like Victor, you can't be surprised.
He is able to do what normal players can't.
It's talent, ”added the coach of the France team, finalist of the last Olympic Games and Euro, who can see with relish the next international deadlines with this diamond that he will work to polish.
Proof of the importance of Wembanyama in the eyes of the NBA, it was she who had the idea of organizing two friendly matches involving the Metropolitans 92, yet already engaged in the French Championship.
This had never happened before for a “prospect”.
As a reminder, the draft will take place on June 22, 2023. The next big chapter of “Wembamania” in America.