The NBA’s Summer League threw a coming-out party for Victor Wembanyama in Las Vegas.
The San Antonio Spurs No.1 overall draft pick from France responded with nine points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots, and three assists in one of the most-anticipated rookie debuts since LeBron James 20 years ago.
James, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, was the Cleveland Cavaliers’ top pick before the 2003-2004 season. He broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record last season.
Whether Wembanyama breaks records remains to be seen.
But more than 17,500 bought tickets at the Thomas & Mack Center for what amounted to a practice game for “Wemby,” as he has been nicknamed, and his Spurs teammates, many of whom may not make the team’s final roster in October.
For the record, the Spurs defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 76-68.
The 7-foot-3-inch center, who wore jersey No.1, made only 2 of 13 shots and was rusty from long distance, making only one three-pointer.
“Special moment,” the Las Vegas-Review Journal quoted Wembanyama as saying. “Really special to wear that jersey for a first time. It’s really an honor.”
The Hornets’ Brandon Miller, the No.2 pick in the draft, matched up with Wemby for the first time. He had one of his shots blocked by the quick center’s long arms.
“Victor is a great guy, great off the court,” Miller said. “He’s going to have a great career, and just to see him step up to the challenge, I think that shows a lot of heart.”
Miller actually outscored and outrebounded Wembanyama. The 6-foot-9 forward from the University of Alabama had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Wemby said he has not played much basketball since leaving France for San Antonio earlier this month.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing on the court tonight,” Wembanyama said, according to the Las Vegas newspaper. “The hardest (thing) for me was understanding — sometimes I was not very good with the (sets) and calls. The biggest improvement I’ve got to do is being ready to react to plays that we’re called by the point guard.”
The draft’s No.3 overall pick, Scoot Henderson of the G’s League Ignite, was scheduled to play against Wemby and the Spurs on Sunday. Henderson was slightly injured in his debut game for the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. His status is day-to-day.
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich was at courtside, watching his new franchise player. After the NBA draft on June 22, the 74-year-old, five-time NBA champion coach said he wanted Wemby to ignore the hype, not worry about comparisons to James, former Spurs legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson, or Kobe Bryant.
“Because of all the hype, he’ll have a target on his back. More than O’s and X’s to begin with, will be most interested in setting the framework and an environment where he’s comfortable, where he can be Victor. He’s not LeBron, or Tim, or Kobe, or anybody else, he’s Victor, and that’s who we want him to be,” Popovich said, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
