Generational prospect and projected No. 1 overall pick for the 2023 draft, Frenchman Victor Wembanyama is a winner, and winners could do better without losing. This ideology leads Wembanyama to believe that tanking is an “unreasonable” thing to do. Unfortunately, he will land on a team that has done some tanking or favorable losing to get him.
The 7-foot-2 unicorn big man from France isn’t too keen on tanking, regardless of what it can bring a franchise,” per BasketNews.
“Tanking? It’s a weird strategy,” Wembanyama said to BasketNews. “I find it unreasonable, and I try not to think about it. I also heard that the NBA considered changing a few rules for me, but that doesn’t concern me.”
Nah! Why didn’t y’all tell me Victor Wembanyama was pulling off tween, hesi, crossover, reverse layups at 7’4? 😱 What is this! pic.twitter.com/XytZf4IVWG
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) December 31, 2022
Fruition
This is the same guy that the basketball world has been raving about since he was a younger player. NBA legends such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have all talked nonstop about Victor.
So you can imagine how many low-tier teams are salivating over the idea of having this guy on their team for the next 10 to 15 years leading them to greatness. This, of course, can only be achieved by obtaining the draft’s first pick. The lottery will be the most anticipated one since the 2003 draft that saw some modern greats get selected, including LeBron James, whose draft hype has just been eclipsed with Victor.
The hype behind this guy is genuine and warranted as well. ESPN recently announced that Victor won the MVP award for the French League All-Star game. As a member of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, he’s dominating the French League as an 18-year-old.
Victor Wembanyama is really a 7’4 guard.. pic.twitter.com/Gu5hOf6duN
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) December 29, 2022
A League Of His Own
In the French League, Wembanyama is currently averaging 22.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, three blocks, and a steal per game.
Besides his physical measurables such as height, weight, and wingspan, Wembanyama can shoot, dribble, defend, and move at an elite pace. He is unlike any prospect we’ve seen in basketball yet.
He’s already playing basketball professionally in the French League. We’ve seen some good examples of how players who’ve already had years of experience playing professionally, even overseas, can turn out in the NBA. Luka Dončić should be the first player that comes to mind. He’s in a tight MVP race this year, right after being the first player to have a 60-point, 20-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double in the NBA.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA = UNSTOPPABLE 😳pic.twitter.com/icBRNnPcPN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 30, 2022
We’ve also seen the likes of LaMelo Ball and Jalen Green, who has played professionally in the NBL and the G-League, respectfully. Ball is an NBA superstar, while Jalen Green is one of the better young players in the league who the Houston Rockets are trying to build around.
Regardless of how good Victor is, and he knows he’s damn good, he doesn’t buy into the idea of tanking. In his mind, whoever he goes to play for, he will instantly turn their fortunes around and will give them an early return on investment.
While the NBA is actively trying to devise different rules and plans to rid the game of tanking, when a team knows its role in the league, nothing will stop it from playing it, especially if Victor Wembanyama is the consolation prize.
