Victor Wembanyama

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has joined the basketball world in marveling at the talent of potential 2023 No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama.

Gobert, who is Wembanyama's teammate on the French national team, praised the rising star and discussed what sets him apart from the rest when asked about him Saturday:

Rudy Gobert, on French national teammate and top prospect Victor Wembanyama: “He’s unique, something the world has never seen. … He’s taller than me, longer than me. He can space the floor, he can pass. But (he) also wants to play defense. … And he just loves to win.” pic.twitter.com/f7qJos9uZF

— tribjazz (@tribjazz) October 22, 2022

Gobert, who is a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has gone up against every top big in the league over the past several years, labeled Wembanyama as "unique" and ran down the long list of everything he is able to do on the court.

The 18-year-old Wembanyama has a combination of size, athleticism and fluidity that has perhaps never been seen before in the world of basketball, as Gobert alluded to.

Despite being 7'3", which is taller than the 7'1" Gobert, Wembanyama possesses impressive ball skills and the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting.

Wembanyama now plays for Metropolitans 92 of France's LNB Pro A league after spending last season with ASVEL Basket in the same league.

In 16 LNB Pro A games for ASVEL, Wembanyama averaged 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, despite playing against much older and more mature competition.

Wembanyama truly opened the eyes of basketball players, fans and analysts earlier this month when he played in two exhibition games in Las Vegas.

In those two games, Wembanyama averaged 36.5 points, shot 50 percent from the field and grabbed a total of 15 rebounds, to go along with nine blocks.

Per Michael Scotto of USA TODAY Sports, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was among those who were blown away by the performance, saying: "Everybody's been a unicorn over the last few years, but he's more like an alien. No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor … He's, for sure, a generational talent."

Unless something unexpected happens, there is every reason to believe Wembanyama will go first overall in next year's NBA draft regardless of who owns the pick.

That means teams attempting to position themselves for a high draft pick will perhaps have even more incentive than ever before to lose games and increase their odds of picking No. 1 overall.

Victor Wembanyama is such a rare talent that not even a catastrophic injury would stop at least one NBA executive from selecting him No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA draft.

An anonymous executive from a Western Conference team told The Athletic's David Aldridge that Wembanyama would be the top pick for them even if he broke both legs before the draft.

"Wembanyama has essentially told everybody, even though I’m the No. 1 pick in the draft, I’m not going to shut it down and sit and wait," the executive said. "Right there, he just solidified—if he breaks both legs, I’ll still draft him No. 1 and wait for him. The guys that scare me the most are the guys who won’t compete. And this kid says, ‘I like playing. And the only way I’m going to get better is by playing.’"

It's not unusual to see teams bet on a wildly talented player with injury concerns at the top of the draft.

Joel Embiid missed the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments while playing for the University of Kansas because of a stress fracture in his back. He also had foot surgery in the days leading up to the 2014 NBA draft, but the Philadelphia 76ers selected him No. 3 overall.

Injuries wound up keeping Embiid out for his first two NBA seasons, but he's been one of the most dominant players in the league since the 2016-17 season.

A lot of the time when injuries happen to a top prospect, it comes after they have been drafted. Ben Simmons missed the entire 2016-17 campaign after suffering a foot injury during training camp. Zion Williamson tore his meniscus during training camp and was limited to 24 games as a rookie in 2019-20.

Wembanyama's hype has reached heights that haven't been since LeBron James in 2003. The 18-year-old French superstar dropped 37 points on 7-of-11 three-point shooting, five blocks and four rebounds for the Metropolitans 92 in a 122-115 loss to the G League Ignite on Oct. 4.

ESPN NBA draft analyst Mike Schmitz called Wembanyama "the best prospect I've personally ever evaluated."

There could be a race to the bottom of the NBA standings among several teams this season as they jockey to secure the No. 1 pick.

If one Western Conference executive has no issues selecting Wembanyama if both his legs were broken, it's unlikely many other teams would have qualms betting on him eventually turning into a superstar even if injuries were a concern.

There's no doubting Victor Wembanyama is a generational talent, and the French basketball prodigy is prepared to take the NBA by storm in 2023.

Wembanyama, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, feels he was built to succeed at the next level, striving for greatness from a young age, he told Tania Ganguli of the New York Times:

“I’ve always felt like I was on a different level. I was living a different life than everyone else in school, for example, even in elementary school. I was just thinking differently than everyone. I’ve always tried to be original in everything I do, and it’s really something that stays in my soul: Be original. Be one of a kind. It’s like, I can’t explain it. I think I was born with it.”

The 18-year-old made similar comments while speaking with Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, saying that he's "always been trying to be original" and "unique" from a young age, adding that his goal is "to be like something you've never seen."

Wembanyama, who is 7'2" and has a wingspan that's nearly eight feet, showcased his talents earlier this month when the Metropolitans 92 and the NBA G League Ignite met in a Las Vegas showcase.

In his first exhibition game against the G League Ignite, Wembanyama finished with 37 points, four rebounds, one steal and five blocks. In the second game, he notched 36 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal and four blocks.

Wembanyama has been lauded by NBA stars such as LeBron James, who called him an "alien" because he's like nothing the league has ever seen before.

Whichever team lands the French superstar is going to be extremely lucky, especially because he'll likely change the trajectory of the franchise.

The new-look Portland Trail Blazers haven't exactly set the world on fire during the preseason, going 1-4 ahead of next week's start to the regular season.

But Josh Hart isn't sweating it.

"We're 0-0," he told reporters. "I don't think we're panicking. We're not trying to get Victor...whatever his name is."

Hart, of course, was referencing Victor Wembanyama, the top prospect in the 2023 NBA draft who looks like he might be a mix between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, and a player who could set the league on fire.

The Blazers spent the 2022 offseason looking to rebuild the team around Damian Lillard and avoid a full-scale tank, hoping to remain in contention. The result was the addition of Hart, Jerami Grant, Gary Payton II and first-round pick Shaedon Sharpe. Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic were re-signed. Nassir Little and Justise Winslow return, offering solid wing depth.

Hart has impressed during training camp, earning the starting small forward position heading into the season despite plenty of competition:

Chauncey Billups confirms @AaronJFentress’ report that @joshhart will start at small forward tonight and once the regular season starts

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) October 9, 2022

The 27-year-old also played well for the Blazers last season after being traded to the team in the CJ McCollum deal, averaging 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three.

There would be little reason for the Blazers to tank this season. They've built a solid foundation around Lillard, and while they don't appear to have a team worthy of title contention, a playoff berth is more than feasible in the wide-open Western Conference.

Landing Wembanyama would be an excellent moment for the franchise. But it would mean that the current iteration of the Blazers failed miserably in the 2022-23 season.

After French prospect Victor Wembanyama's impressive performance Tuesday night, NBA executives are salivating at the thought of drafting him next year, with some comparing him to the best players in the game.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony, one general manager of a team likely to contend for the No. 1 pick in 2023 described Wembanyama as "a 7'4" Durant who blocks shots--and he's not even close to what he's going to be. He will be the most hyped player since LeBron."

Wembanyama put up 37 points with seven three-pointers and five blocks as his Metropolitan 92 club fell to the G League Ignite, who were led by another top 2023 draft prospect in guard Scoot Henderson. Despite the loss, it was Wembanyama's special combination of size and skill that was the talk of the night.

The 18-year-old also didn't shrink under the pressure, as 200 scouts and executives were reportedly in attendance to watch the nationally televised exhibition game. Tuesday's performance enforced the belief that Wembanyama is a once-in-a-generation talent.

However, there is a question of how NBA teams will go about competing for position to land the future star.

"Victor distorts basketball reality," one GM said. "The tank/trade market will really shift after that showing. It feels like last night will start a race to the bottom like we've never seen."

Wojnarowski and Givony noted that after Wembanyama's impressive showing, "front offices have a better chance to sell a tanking strategy to both owners and fans." Henderson, the presumptive No. 2 pick next year, also had a strong performance with 28 points and nine assists, which would further motivate teams to tank this season.

Wembanyama and Henderson will have another chance to put their skills on display when their teams rematch Thursday. Wembanyama's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, told ESPN his client was so upset by Tuesday's loss that he suggested he'll go for 50 points when the teams run it back, so it's clear that fans and NBA scouts are in for another show.

NBA teams may not love it, but Victor Wembanyama will continue playing competitive basketball this season rather than being shut down for the 2023 draft.

"NBA people are telling me to shut him down, and we are not going to shut him down," Bouna Ndiaye told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony. "If we came with that kind of talk to (Wembanyama), he will look at us and say, 'What are you talking about?' He'll never agree to that. He wants to compete and get better. With Victor, it's basketball first and everything else second. He was so pissed off that he lost."

Wembanyama showed Tuesday night why he's a mortal lock for the top selection next June, pouring in 37 points and blocking five shots as his Metropolitans 92 team lost to the G League Ignite in the most anticipated exhibition matchup in recent memory.

Scoot Henderson, widely considered the No. 2 prospect in the 2023 class, had 28 points and nine assists in an equally impressive outing. Wembanyama and Henderson are considered the best one-two punch in an NBA draft in at least a decade.

It's not since Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley that two players have so clearly established themselves as head-and-shoulders above their competition—and that might even be underselling the Wembanyama hype.

"He's a 7-foot-4 Durant who blocks shots — and he's not even close to what he's going to be. He will be the most hyped player since LeBron," one general manager told ESPN.

Wembanyama is considered a generational athlete, capable of scoring at will while presenting a Rudy Gobert-esque level of intimidation at the rim. While he clearly needs to add some muscle, Wembanyama is as close to a modern basketball prototype that exists in the human race. There is no ceiling to the level of achievement he can attain, provided his frame stands up to the rigors of an NBA minutes load and he's willing to work on his body.

The NBA has taken significant steps to curb tanking in recent seasons, most notably making changes to the lottery that give lower odds to the worst teams. That said, it's probably not going to take much for struggling teams to decide it's worth punting next season to land what could be a generational superstar next June.

Let the tanking begin.

After Victor Wembanyama's performance during Tuesday's high-profile showdown with fellow top prospect Scoot Henderson, one general manager believes teams will be striving for the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft like never before.

"Victor distorts basketball reality," the GM said, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony of ESPN. "The tank/trade market will really shift after that showing. It feels like last night will start a race to the bottom like we've never seen."

While Tuesday's exhibition was between France's Metropolitans 92 and the G League Ignite, it was billed as a clash between the potential top two picks in the next draft.

Henderson led his team to a victory with 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds, showing off his skill set as a foundational guard who could be the face of a franchise for years to come, but it was the 7'4" Wembanyama who dazzled with 37 points, five blocks and seven threes.

Victor Wembanyama & Scoot Henderson's duel was a MOVIE!

Victor: 37 PTS (11-20 FGM), 7 3PM, 5 BLK
Scoot: 28 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST

Game 2: Thurs. 3PM ET on ESPN 2 and the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/WIy2EVo02V pic.twitter.com/ljStpTNQt5

— NBA (@NBA) October 5, 2022

The overall smoothness of his game at that size and the reality he is an absolute matchup nightmare with his outside shooting surely had front offices around the league dreaming of the chance to draft him.

"He's a 7'4" Durant who blocks shots—and he's not even close to what he's going to be," one GM said. "He will be the most hyped player since LeBron."

The possibility of more teams tanking could have a ripple effect across the league during the 2022-23 campaign, as Wojnarowski and Givony explained.

Perhaps that comes in the form of teams on the fringe of the play-in tournament trading or resting more of their go-to players. That, in turn, could help the teams near the top of the standings who are looking to make additions prior to the trade deadline.

Tanking does not guarantee anything, though, as the league changed the draft lottery rules in 2019. The teams with the three worst records in the league all have a 14 percent chance of the top pick, and the numbers fall to 12.5 percent for the team with the fourth-worst record and 10.5 percent for the one with the fifth-worst.

Those lottery odds will be even more important ahead of the 2023 draft if Wembanyama does live up to his potential as someone who could be the face of the league in the future.

Highly-touted NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama draws inspiration from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, but his goal isn't to become the next version of those players.

Instead, Wembanyama wants to carve out his own path and be something completely different, he said in an interview with Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press:

"I'm gonna tell you something that's been going on in my life, like for my whole life, since I've been a kid, even before I played basketball. I've always tried to do [something] different. I'm not even talking about sports, whatever. Any field, I'm always trying to be original, something original, something one of one, something that's never been done before. And this is really how it worked in my life. I don't know where it comes from. I think I was born with it. I've always been trying to be original. Unique, that's the word."

He added: "My goal is to be like something you've never seen."

The 18-year-old power forward could be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He is 7-foot-2, has a wingspan of nearly eight feet and has a beautiful three-point shot. In addition, the Frenchman has great vision, can run the floor and is highly creative.

He told Reynolds he's prepared to handle the hype that's already building around him.

"I was built for this, I guess," Wembanyama said. "All of what happens to me, I expected for myself. So it's just a checklist of expectations. I'm not surprised by what's happening to me. And yeah, this is happening, this is how I can manage it and I think I managed it well."

Whichever team lands the No. 1 overall pick is going to get extremely lucky, though Scoot Henderson could be a great consolation prize with the No. 2 overall selection.

The race to the bottom of this season's NBA standings could be just as competitive as the battle for the top seeds with coveted prospect Victor Wembanyama awaiting the 2023 draft lottery winner.

An unnamed NBA executive told Pascal Giberné of Slam Magazine on Monday there's no shortage of excitement within front-office circles as Wembanyama prepares to play his first game in the United States on Tuesday as his French squad, Metropolitans 92, takes on the G League Ignite.

"The whole NBA will be in the arena," the executive said. "They want to see the unicorn."

Another exec joked: "Everybody is so ready to tank."

Wembanyama is the embodiment of the evolving nature of basketball.

The 18-year-old Frenchman combines his 7'4'' frame with terrific athleticism, an ability to run the floor with fluidity and ball-handling skills approaching the level of a guard.

A decade ago, a player of his size would have been relegated to the low post and urged to gain 75 pounds so he could contend with NBA centers. Now, as the league continues its trend toward positionless basketball, executives are in awe with a 7-footer who owns a generational skill set.

Wembanyama is so enticing that Sterling "Scoot" Henderson, a member of G League Ignite, has been lost in the shadows despite potentially being a franchise-altering prospect in his own right.

"He's really a great player. If I was never born, I think he would deserve the first spot," Wembanyama jokingly told reporters Monday.

The French sensation is still a work in progress—he averaged a modest 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 26 percent from deep in 16 LNB Pro A games last season—but his game-changing upside is evident.

All told, the availability of Wembanyama and Henderson gives NBA teams with no hope of championship contention every incentive to lose a ton of games this season.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the amount of tanking that takes place ends up causing the league to consider alternatives or adjustments to the draft's lottery model for the future.