Wemby fever sweeps San Antonio! Spurs fans form a HUGE queue as they rush to buy the number 1 jersey, with one supporter even seen wearing one to the Draft before it even started!
San Antonio Spurs supporters didn’t hesitate to welcome their shiny new rookie Victor Wembanyama as they headed straight to the fan store to stock up on merchandise.
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman who is considered a once-in-a-lifetime prospect was long expected to be drafted by the Spurs after dazzling scouts while playing abroad and it came as no surprise when he was taken with the number 1 molar.
Immediately after selection, fans could be seen on a line going around the corner through the arena to enter the team store.
At the counter in the fan shop, staff were seen rummaging through boxes of jerseys to sell to the screaming crowd.
With the choice never in doubt, the Spurs looked well equipped to keep up with demand, having ready their three different jerseys and training t-shirts printed with his name and the number 1.
San Antonio Spurs fans formed a massive queue to buy Victor Wembanyama’s shirt
Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama was drafted first overall by San Antonio in this year’s draft
Some supporters wore custom jerseys bought before the choice was official
Images presque surrealists: The number of Spurs fans who attended, waiting for a tour to buy a Victor Wembanyama leotard for 150 $ pic.twitter.com/wabORkRsi6
— Theo Quintard (@TheoQuintard) June 23, 2023
While most supporters had to rush to secure their jersey after the pick, one fan apparently felt so confident in the pick that he was prepared before the Draft even started.
He was spotted by Mail Sport’s Alex Raskin at the Barclays Center wearing a black Wembanyama Spurs jersey before the evening even started.
After the choice was finally made, official cameras showed the excited reactions of Spurs fans who had gathered in the stands during the team’s viewing party.
ESPN analyst Marty Smith also attended the watch party and showed off a Wembanyama caricature shaved in his head.
After being selected first overall, Wembanyama shared some words with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
“It’s just… achieving something I’ve dreamed of all my life, you know,” Wembanyama said.
“When I heard that line from Adam Silver, you know, I’ve been dreaming about it so much, so many times that, you know, it makes me cry, man.”
Some supporters had made signs with Wembanayama’s face on them. One even showed off the phenomenon of shooting lasers from his eyes, referencing his “alien” status bestowed by LeBron.
Wembanyama arrived in New York on Monday ahead of the Brooklyn Draft and has been on a whirlwind tour of the Big Apple ever since.
One fan was apparently so confident in the pick that he was prepared before the Draft even started
A San Antonio fan proudly holds up his new purchase to celebrate the choice
Back in San Antonio, fans went wild as they celebrated the choice at the AT&T Center
He was with the New York Yankees for their game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night and threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Funnily enough, Wembanyama wasn’t that accurate with a baseball in hand – his pitch went wide and nearly missed the catcher.
But in Texas, he won’t have much of a problem with the Spurs, who will now officially sharpen their focus on building the team around the Frenchman. Wembanyama is coached by Gregg Popovich.
The team was last in the Western Conference last season, finishing the campaign with a miserable 22-60 record.