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The San Antonio Spurs have owned the No. 1 choose within the NBA Draft 3 times within the group’s storied historical past, with the earlier two choices leading to 5 NBA Championships.
The Spurs chosen David Robinson first general in 1987 earlier than taking Tim Duncan in 1997, with each gamers occurring to have Hall of Fame careers as San Antonio turned the envy of the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama talks to the media throughout 2023 NBA Draft week on June 21, 2023 in New York Metropolis. (David Dow/NBAE through Getty Photos)
San Antonio is hoping its string of luck in deciding on first continues.
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French phenom Victor Wembanyama turned the primary participant chosen within the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday as San Antonio begins its rebuild following 4 down seasons.
Wembanyama, a 7-foot-5 middle who has garnered extra consideration than any prospect since LeBron James, is the prize jewel of this 12 months’s draft class, tabbed as the subsequent nice NBA star.
“For me, San Antonio is synonymous with successful,” Wembanyama mentioned, in keeping with ESPN. “When, on lottery night time, when the Spurs acquired the No. 1 choose, I used to be simply pondering, I used to be feeling fortunate that they acquired the choose as a franchise that has that tradition and that have in successful and making, creating good gamers. So, I actually cannot wait.”
Metropolitan 92’s French middle Victor Wembanyama attends previous to the sport three of French Elite basketball finals between Monaco and Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in Paris, on June 15, 2023. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP)
The 19-year-old instantly makes San Antonio probably the most fascinating groups within the NBA, regardless of the Spurs coming off a season by which they received simply 22 video games, the least quantity of wins for the group for the reason that 1996-1997 season.
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The expectations for the French star are sky excessive, although Wembanyama just isn’t anxious concerning the hype.
Victor Wembanyama poses for a photograph with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being chosen first general by the San Antonio Spurs throughout the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in New York. (AP Photograph/John Minchillo)
“I do not let all these things get into my head,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I’ve acquired such excessive expectations for myself that I am resistant to all these things. I actually do not care.”
Wembanyama is the right middle for right now’s NBA, capable of stretch the ground together with his capturing whereas with the ability to defend the rim and contest shooters.
Nikola Jokic, one other European middle, simply led the Denver Nuggets to an NBA championship as an enormous man who forces defenses to protect him on the perimeter.
Victor Wembanyama of Metropolitans throughout the Betclic Elite Playoffs match between Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitan 92 (Mets) and Cholet Basket at Palais des Sports activities Marcel Cerdan on Could 25, 2023 in Levallois-Perret close to Paris. (Jean Catuffe/Getty Photos)
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Wembanyama is planning on bringing his model to the NBA stage because the Spurs look to place collectively a fast rebuild.
“You noticed me play at 13, and I’ve performed the identical,” Wembanyama mentioned Wednesday, per ESPN. “I have been enjoying like that. And actually, I am simply attempting to be myself. You mentioned I am a hybrid. It is simply I am myself.
“Nobody goes to cease me from dribbling the ball, bringing the ball up and capturing threes. No one goes to cease me from doing that. Despite the fact that generally coaches in my profession would attempt to cease me from doing that as a result of they needed to win proper now. So, it was actually an on a regular basis struggle to remain true to myself, and, yeah, that is one thing that I am by no means going to lose, for certain.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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