feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

Experts touted the 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama as the league’s most exciting prospect since LeBron James. The French phenom was the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. NBA world is waiting with bated breath to see the San Antonio Spurs rookie make his NBA debut.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

While there is a lot of buzz surrounding the 7’4 unicorn, an NBA insider dismisses the hype with an interesting take. He requests everyone to not set such high standards for the rookie player while drawing comparisons to young LeBron James.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

ADVERTISEMENT

ESPN analyst dismisses the hype surrounding No.1 pick’s NBA debut

ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst did what he does best. Known famously for covering a young LeBron James’ career trajectory, he did something similar with Wemby. He hoped on a flight to France for a 70-sec interview with the consensus No. 1 Draft pick as soon as it was determined that the Spurs would get the first pick. Having followed both LeBron and Victor’s careers closely, Brian offers some insightful perspectives on the latter’s NBA debut.

On the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, the NBA insider said, “Victor obviously I spent a lot of time with him, I study them a lot. Spent time with him, spent time with his coaches, spent time with his family. I know him as well as I’ve ever known a prospect coming into the NBA since LeBron. And I am just saying to everybody – keep your expectations at a reasonable level. Even though he is not 17 years old, he is not coming straight out of high school like we saw some young guys. I do believe it’s going to take him some time.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

He possesses great agility for a player with a 7-foot, 3-1/2 inches tall frame. Everyone has already witnessed what he can do on both ends of the court, but King McClure feels everyone has set the bar high for the young player.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read More: ?SOLD OUT?: LeBron James? $1,700,000 Revenue Generating Tequila Brand Might Take Over Lakers Star?s Nike Earnings Soon

He featured in two Summer League games, registering 36 points. His debut performance was a little underwhelming. But he quickly bounced back during game 2. This led the panel to conclude that everyone has set unrealistic standards for the Spurs’ youngster, comparing him to the legend, this early in his career. King McClure pointed out, “We’re supposed to expect them to have 2K numbers, 40 points, 20 rebounds, 15 blocks, and that’s just not realistic.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Victor Wembanyama gets compared to young LeBron James

Wembanyama has already started attracting comparisons to basketball greats like LeBron James. Brian Windhorst, who has followed both Wemby and LeBron’s careers closely, had an interesting take. He believes that the former Metropolitans 92 player is ahead of where King James was at 19 in terms of training.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, one thing that sets them apart is their size. When he first entered the NBA, James weighed 245 pounds, whereas Wembanyama’s thin frame is perhaps his only negative as a prospect.

Watch This Story:?NBA players trauma bonding over prime LeBron James is pure comedy

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Darshita Daga

618 Articles

Darshita is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports who is creating her own space in the spectrum of sport journalism. Darshita specializes in dissecting post-game interviews, trade, and contracts. Her appetite for literature, akin to her affection for the Milwaukee Bucks, knows no bounds. As a dedicated fan of the Cream City and a particular admirer of the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Darshita's beat writing details every intricacy, even the critique. Her articles go beyond the box scores and game highlights, delving into the human stories behind the players, the franchises, and the unforgettable moments that make the NBA an unparalleled spectacle. Darshita's passion for the NBA extends beyond the written word, finding solace in the world of books.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Saumya Khanduja

ADVERTISEMENT