5 Things that separate Victor Wembanyama from even the best prospects

The San Antonio Spurs won the lottery for the third time in franchise history and drafted Victor Wembanyama, who is arguably the most hyped prospect in NBA history. LeBron was anointed “The Chosen One” in high school, but Wemby has been discussed as a league-changer since he was 16. There were zero questions about who San Antonio was taking, and everyone is excited to see what Wemby can do in year one.

The Spurs saw the impact in the schedule release as they got 11 nationally televised games on ESPN and TNT, which is their most since 2019. Wembanyama is not shying away from the hype and most believe he will quickly become a superstar.

Prospect hype is an annual thing, but not to the level of Wemby. Fans remember Zion Williamson, Greg Oden, Anthony Davis, and LeBron all getting massive attention and buzz before their drafts, but it goes back further to players like Shaq and Wilt. If Wembanyama is the best ever like Adrian Wojnarowski claims, what makes him stand out?

Things that separate Victor Wembanyama from even the best prospects

5. Proven against top competition

LeBron was dominating the top high school players in the country before his draft and most of the other elite prospects were wreaking havoc in the NCAA. Impressive feats, but not exactly winning MVP of the French Professional League or facing the top competition in Europe.

Wemby averaged 20.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 3.0 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game as a teenager against professional players. He led Metropolitans 92 to the LNB Pro A championship finals and a second place finish. It is a rare feat for a teenager to be the top player on a European club and further proves just how special Wembanyama is.

The 7’4 big man played in the EuroLeague as an 18-year-old, which is largely considered the second-best professional league in the world behind the NBA. He can hang against the best competition and is already being groomed to take over as the best player on the French Senior National Team for the 2024 Olympics and beyond.

Luka Doncic was a dominant teenager in Europe and immediately became a star in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama is following a similar path but with a few distinct advantages.