As the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is the talk of the Association. The generational talent from France made his Summer League debut in Las Vegas Friday night. It came with a ton of fanfare.
That included a sold-out Thomas & Mack Center in Sin City as San Antonio took on No. 2 pick Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets.
As the most talked about NBA Draft prospect since LeBron James back in 2003, Wembanyama is going to be under a microscope in Vegas and moving forward to the 2023-24 season. His trandscendant skill-set and 7-foot-4 frame adds another layer to that.
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Friday’s matchup was particularly interesting given that Wemby made his professional debut and was going up against the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Below, we look at some highlights as the generational talent made his pro debut stateside.
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Big man comes up with amazing dish
People that stand at 7-foot-4 are now supposed to be able to run up and down the court like Wembanyama. Certainly, they are not supposed to be able to put up an assist like what we saw within the first couple minutes from Wemby Friday night.
How in the world? That’s just some insane stuff right there.
Victor Wembanyama’s first bucket is an And-1
The 6-foot-7 Angelo Allegri and 6-foot-4 James Bouknight had absolutely no chance as Wembanyama put up an And-1 on a rim run for his first basket as a professional.
The Hornets got a first-hand look at how difficult it is going to be to compete with the rookie first-round pick’s frame and skill-set. Check it out here. First of many And-1’s from Wemby in his career. That’s for sure.
Victor Wembanyama is a draw
This has to be considered a highlight for the NBA. Just check out Thomas & Mack Center with the Hornets and Spurs doing battle Friday night in comparison to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets game inside Cox Pavilion. The difference is insane.
For his part, Wembanyama struggled to a 1-of-7 start to the game as his nerves seemed to take hold.
Victor Wembanyama on the wrong end of a poster
It’s bound to happen. Youngsters are going to be on the receiving end of highlight-reel plays. Former Texas star Kai Jones provided that in putting Wemby on a poster in the second half of Friday night’s game.
That’s some brutal stuff right there. Wembanyama just didn’t have a chance.
Wembanyama puts up astonishing four-point play
After struggling with five points through three quarters, Wembanyama put up the first highlight-reel play of his career with a four-point play late in the fourth quarter.
The rookie No. 1 pick would finish his debut with nine points, eight rebounds, five blocks and three assists while shooting 2-of-13 from the field. Certainly, it was a mixed bag from Wemby Friday night.