1. Victor Wembanyama (ASVEL, PF/C, 2004) Scouts are looking at Wembanyama differently than any recent prospect pre-draft. Generational is the cliche...
ESPN: 2023 NBA Draft Top Prospect Victor Wembanyama to Stay In Paris over G League
Jun 30, 2022
ATHENS, GREECE - OCTOBER 29: Victor Wembanyama, #1 of LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne in action during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 7 match between Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne at OAKA on October 29, 2021 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
Victor Wembanyama is remaining in France and signing with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
Givony reported the NBA G League Ignite made a run at Wembanyama before he decided to sign with Metropolitans 92.
The 7'2" prospect is widely considered one of the top players in the 2023 NBA draft class. In March, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked him first overall.
"He's struggled from the floor this season as a member of ASVEL, playing up against some of the top competition outside the NBA," Wasserman wrote. "But Wembanyama possesses an unheard of combination of 7'9" wingspan, mobility and perimeter skill, including speciality shot-making around the post and three-point range."
Wembanyama averaged in 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks 16 French league games with ASVEL Villeurbanne. He also made 13 appearances in the EuroLeague, averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 boards. In Europe's top club competition, he shot 34.8 percent overall and 30.3 percent from three-point territory.
While he still needs to smooth out his game, a quick look at the 18-year-old's highlight reel shows why he's likely to be the most coveted player on the board next summer.
Who is the true prize of the 2023 NBA Draft? Victor Wembanyama. We often overuse the term "generational prospect." This is not one of those times. https://t.co/Cf5xYRYecKpic.twitter.com/Dh7YuA6aZp
Signing with Barcelona or Real Madrid, both of whom were linked in Givony's reporting, would have allowed Wembanyama to test himself at a higher level. Liga ACB is arguably the best domestic league in Europe.
The G League pathway would also help Wembanyama adjust to life in the United States before he makes the jump to the NBA.
Spending another season in France is unlikely to hurt his draft stock, though.
