Victor Wembanyama is warned by Charles Barkley to level expectations if drafted by San Antonio Spurs
‘The Spurs ain’t close, young guy’: Charles Barkley pours cold water on 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama’s title hopes in San Antonio ahead of 2023 Draft: ‘They’re probably going to be the third best team in Texas!’
Charles Barkley has thrown Victor Wembanyama’s ring-winning aspirations into San Antonio cold water, with NBA legend claiming the Spurs are “not close to winning a championship,” let alone winning the next season. make playoffs.
Ahead of this year’s draft in June, ‘Wemby’ revealed that his aim is to try to win a title as soon as possible after being designated the No. 1 overall pick for the Spurs in the lottery draw.
What’s more, expectations have risen around the six-foot-three phenomenon, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski calling the Frenchman the “biggest prospect in team sports history.”
However, Barkley – a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and TNT pundit – refuted the hype surrounding the 19-year-old, who he says needs to prove himself again after dominating abroad. San Antonio sold over 2,500 hours of season tickets and sealed the first overall pick of this year’s draft, making it Wemby’s most likely destination.
“The idea that just because you’ve got all this hype and you’ve kicked a** in France all these years,” Chuck said on Sirius XM’s NBA Radio. “That means nothing if you get on the track next year.”
¿The Spurs are not close to winning a championship, Young Fella!¿
Charles Barkley talks about the challenges Wembanyama will face in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/shwubzgMMc
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 20, 2023
Charles Barkley has claimed that 7-ft-3 phenom Victor Wembanyama will have to adapt to the NBA
Barkley, an 11-time NBA All-Star, an 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), then responded to Wembanyama’s claim that he “couldn’t wait to win a title to win’. after the lottery on May 16.
“The Spurs aren’t close to winning a championship, young fellow!” said the former 76ers, Suns and Rockets forward.
“You probably won’t make the playoffs next year!”
The last Spurs No. 1 was Tim Duncan, who won five rings with San Antonio
The Spurs are coming off their worst season in winning percentage since 1997 – a 22-60 overall record to finish bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Just under 26 years ago, the last time San Antonio finished last in the West, the team fielded center Tim Duncan No. 1 from Wake Forest.
And together, the Big Fundamental and the Spurs have returned five NBA rings to the Spurs. Duncan now serves as an assistant coach on the team.
While fans are confident that head coach Gregg Popovich will shape Wembanyama into an All-Star, Barkley stressed that the Spurs still have a lot to do before being labeled competitors or even favorites to win a ring.
“They’re probably going to be the third best team in Texas!” Barkley added. “Only in Texas!”