Victor Wembanyama from France: “Alien” with 2.23 meters drives the NBA crazy

As of: 10/24/2022 10:45 a.m

Victor Wembanyama is considered the biggest promise of basketball since LeBron James. The Frenchman is huge, agile and an excellent thrower. He also sought advice in Germany.

The basketball superstars rave, half a dozen teams start losing to be on the safe side: The NBA has the countdown for super talent Victor Wembanyama heralded.

The 18-year-old Frenchman will not appear in the best league in the world for a year at the earliest, but he is already influencing it with his almost unfair combination of size, mobility, athleticism and basketball skills. Wembanyama is – experts agree – the biggest promise since LeBronJames 20 years ago.

LeBron James calls Wembanyama ‘an alien’

Also Dirk Nowitzki’s mentor Holger Geschwindner, who in summer 2021 Wembanyama worked together in Germany is enthusiastic. “He’s a bunch of talent and a smart guy“, said Geschwindner of the German Press Agency about Wembanyama, who measures 2.23 meters and thus towers over most players by a head even in basketball. “I hope he’s lucky. He brought in good ideas – he can deliver what only the short ones used to be able to do‘ said Gegeschwner.

If you compare the statements of the Nowitzki mentor with those of the NBA stars, Geschwindner seems almost reserved. lakers-Leader James called Wembanyama “a alien“, NBA champion Stephen Curry attempted the comparison with a “cheat code” in a video game. Kevin Durant assumes that the NBA “a problem” gets as soon as Wembanyama arrives and participates in sports.

But what is the youngster doing, who is currently at the Parisian suburb club Metropolitan’s 92nd actually plays out? In addition to its unusual size Wembanyama Extremely agile and light-footed, has great speed and a surprisingly stable distance cast for this age. The math is simple: If a 2.23 meter tall player can easily throw over his opponents from the line of three, it will be an extremely nasty task for all opponents. Especially since the throw is only one component in the overall Wembanyama package.

The case shows how much such a talent of the century can change the league LeBronJameswho has shaped the NBA since 2003 and is likely to be the most successful pitcher in league history this season. James won championships for those Cleveland Cavaliersthe Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakershas been the league’s top player for more than a decade and is even included in terms of his career accomplishments Michael Jordan compared. James was then ranked number one by Cleveland drafted.

Which NBA team will win the draft?

It will be the same for June 2023 Wembanyama expected. The really big question is which team will get the coveted prize in the raffle in May. In order to keep the league balanced in the long term, worse teams are placed in the so-called draft lottery with better chances. In concrete terms, this means that those who lose more often this season have better chances of winning Wembanyama. This could lead to bizarre scenes and games in the high-gloss league later in the season. But even the worst team only gets a 14 percent chance of the top pick. In addition to a lot of defeats, you also need luck.

With Metropolitan’s 92nd the center will continue to play in the French league, the games will attract much more attention than usual. Geschwindner, who made Nowitzki big and accompanied him until the end of his career in 2019, sees huge differences between the two cases. “We had to open the door first, now it’s the other way around“, said Geschwindner. Everyone has “smart tips“, with this enormous media hype you get dizzy. “The boy has to grow up in a world of fame“, said Geschwindner. That was completely different with Nowitzki.

Glory rose to new heights in early October when Wembanyama excelled in two preseason games in the United States. The giant hit threes, blocked shots and moved so gracefully across the field as if it were 1.90 meters and not 2.23 meters. “It is a great honor that so many rave about me in such high tones“, said Wembanyama. But he hasn’t achieved anything yet. NBA teams are also more betting on what the giant will achieve going forward.

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