The Spurs won titles with their last two No. 1 overall picks. After San Antonio won the right Tuesday night to take French phenom Victor Wembanyama, the most-hyped pick in modern NBA history plans to win posthaste.
“[They’re getting] a team player. I’m going to make everything to win as many games as I can,” Wembanyama told ESPN from a draft lottery party in Paris. “And I’m trying to win a ring ASAP, so be ready!”
The Spurs drafted big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan No. 1 overall a decade apart in 1987 and ’97, and legendary coach Gregg Popovich parlayed that into a dynastic run, the beginning of his five NBA titles.
They had a 14 percent chance of winning the NBA draft lottery on Tuesday night, and did just that, landing the right to add the French big man to that illustrious list.
“I can’t really describe [my feelings], it’s just my heart is beating, I’ve got everyone I love, everyone I know around me,” Wembanyama said. “It’s a really special moment I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”
San Antonio might not be the NBA’s biggest market, but it’s arguably the best possible fit for Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama is a lock to go No. 1 in the 2023 NBA Draft. AFP via Getty ImagesGranted, the 7-foot-4 prospect with the 8-foot wingspan and guard skills will make wherever he goes relevant.
He has Kevin Durant-like traits on offense and Rudy Gobert potential on defense.
But the Spurs are a steady, machine-like franchise opening a glistening new training facility and already having a proven track record of molding young players.
Popovich can put his Hall of Fame skills to molding this team around Wembanyama, who’ll follow great French players Tony Parker and Boris Diaw in playing for the Spurs.
“I might faint I’m so excited. The city of San Antonio, our fans, man, we just have so many people that love the Spurs, so we’re pumped,” Spurs managing partner Peter Holt told ESPN at the lottery.
Wembanyama is the first can’t-miss prospect in the NBA draft since LeBron James in 2003, and as hyped as any prospect in any sport in recent memory.
Maybe even not-so-recent memory. And before setting foot in the NBA, he’s impressed the league’s all-time leading scorer.
“We’re labeling like this unicorn thing — everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years,” James said. “But he’s more like an alien — no one has seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor.”
Victor Wembanyama dunks during a Metropolitans 92 game on May 7, 2023. AFP via Getty ImagesLiving and playing in France, Wembanyama didn’t get to study many NBA greats up-close.
But from afar he picked out Durant to emulate, studying how the four-time scoring champion gets his feet underneath him, how his footwork is to launch shots and how to play the game like the former Nets star.
Still, he wants to be his own player.
“I heard a comment he said, somebody compared him to a few players in the league and he was like, ‘I think I’d do myself a disservice if I compared myself to one or two players. I’m going to take from everybody.’ That’s such a profound statement and made me a big fan of his,” Durant said earlier this season.
“That type of talent and skill just puts a smile on your face if you play basketball. The evolution of the game has taken us this far. We got a 7-5 dude that’s able to do everything on the court. It’s inspiring to a lot of people.
“The league’s really in trouble when he comes in. I want to see how it plays out. Everybody has been excited about his arrival to the league so we’ll see what happens.”
Wembanyama isn’t just a combination of size and skill, but also of focus.
His Metropolitans 92 point guard DeVante’ Jones — who played at Michigan — recalled the all-but-anointed top overall pick crying after a loss to former club ASVEL, such was his competitive drive to win despite an already-assured future so bright NBA teams were brazenly tanking to get the merest chance to take him.
And as far as the French phenomenon’s offensive game, Jones couldn’t find a flaw.
“I just think you can’t really guard him,” Jones told the “Field of 68” podcast. “He’s 7-3, got a really long wingspan, so you can’t block it. So he’s going to get [where] he wants to get, so I feel like if he missed it’s going to be on him. I think nobody’s really going to affect this shot.
“He’s got the back-to-the-basket easily over both shoulders. Lately he’s been working on his floater. People are trying to make him take more left-handed shots, especially in the post but he’s done a great job. … It’s hard to point out flaws, because whatever you take away he has something else.”








