Victor Wembanyama finally took the NBA by storm when he made one of the league’s most anticipated debuts on Wednesday night and he did not disappoint.
Wembanyama was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the most successful first-round pick since LeBron James two decades ago.
And on Wednesday night, he took to court as the entire United States – if not the world – watched.
“How can I deny that,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. ‘It’s pretty clear. There has been a lot of attention for Victor for a long time and that will not change. Fortunately for us, he is a very mature, prioritized young man who knows what he wants. He’s already a professional.’
And that’s exactly what the Frenchman proved when he opened his NBA scoring account with a three-pointer – what else?
Victor Wembanyama finally took the NBA by storm as he made his long-awaited debut
The six-foot-tall phenomenon greets Mavericks star and NBA veteran Kyrie Irving (left)
The 19-year-old’s first bucket in the NBA came with a three-pointer in the first quarter
The 19-year-old, 7-foot-4 Frenchman has been described by LeBron himself as an “alien” due to his precise control, agility and accuracy when shooting from three-point range – traits not normally associated with someone so tall.
Wembanyama’s presence has energized San Antonio’s fanbase more than ever before in the franchise’s history.
The Spurs have won five NBA championships and had countless stars, but none have gotten this kind of attention.
San Antonio received more than 200 media requests from eight countries, matching the level of interest seen during the NBA Finals.
Wembanyama jerseys and T-shirts dominate the stands. Jerseys of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were worn by fans during the Big Three Era, but Wembanyama is the clear darling of a city desperate for its sixth NBA title – even after losing the play for the past four seasons did not achieve -offs.
Wembanyama’s presence forced Spurs to sell standing room only for the opener, a move that comes just months after the team struggled to sell tickets during last season’s 22-60 finish.
“I even had a hard time giving my tickets away last year,” said Spurs fan Melvin Voight. “A 200 percent turnaround. Big ask.”
The No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft captured the undivided attention of fans and media who filled the lower bowl of the Frost Bank Center as they simply practiced free throws before Wednesday night’s season opener.
Dubbed ‘The Extraterrestrial’ by Nike, the 19-year-old from France, who stands almost 2.5 meters tall, amazed with his otherworldly play.
In the preseason, he blocked three-point shots with his 8-foot wingspan and Euro stepped from the free-throw line to the rim for a two-step dunk without a dribble.
Wembanyama was drafted by the Spurs for the most successful first-round pick since LeBron James
The 19-year-old, 2.40 meter tall Frenchman has been described by LeBron himself as an ‘alien’
The French teenager warms up ahead of his debut against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday
And it’s safe to say that San Antonio struck gold when they came out on top in the NBA Draft Lottery earlier this year.
The teen broke down in tears as he sat with his family as the pick was announced at Barclays Center.
After being selected first overall, Wembanyama shared the reason for his emotion with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
“It’s just… achieving something that I’ve dreamed of my whole life, you know,” Wembanyama said. “When I heard that line from Adam Silver, it made me dream so much, so bad it makes me cry, man.”
He later revealed that despite knowing he would likely be taken first, the Draft was still the best night of his life.
That may be until tonight, when he played his first game of the NBA regular season and his NBA career.