San Antonio selects Wembanyama first overall in NBA draft

The San Antonio Spurs confirmed the worst-kept secret in sports when they chose Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick, making the player seen as a once-in-a-generation talent the highest-drafted French player in league history.

Wembanyama, 19, is considered the most coveted draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003.

“This is accomplishing something that I have been dreaming of my whole life,” he said on ESPN’s broadcast. “Hearing that sentence from (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver, I’ve dreamt of it so much that I have to cry, man.”

Standing at 2.24m, he hugged family members as the Spurs confirmed a decision which had been a mere formality ever since they were handed the No. 1 selection in the draft in May.

In San Antonio, Spurs fans packed into the team’s 19,000-capacity AT&T Centre to watch the draft ceremony on a giant screen and roared with delight as Wembanyama’s selection was official.

Celebrations also erupted in the streets of the Texas city, with fans honking car horns in jubilation.

“My message to them is I’m going to give 100 per cent, make all that’s in my power to make this franchise win,” Wembanyama added.

The French phenom has cut a relaxed figure since arriving in the United States earlier this week, brushing off the soaring hype that has surged in the build-up to the draft.

On Thursday, the teenager, wearing a dark green suit, happily signed autographs for fans before the draft got under way.

In an interview with ESPN before his selection, Wembanyama said he was relishing the challenge of being a star both on and off the court.

“I know I can bring so much more than just basketball to a franchise,” he said.

“My goal is always going to be to win titles, obviously. But also to the community, the franchise, to the fan base I know I can bring so much more.”

Wembanyama will begin his NBA career under the watchful eye of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who has led San Antonio to five NBA Championships since taking over in 1996.

“Anybody would be excited about getting the No. 1 pick. I’m very excited,” said Popovich. “You don’t want me to jump and down, or put on a show do you? I’d do a somersault but I’d be out for three months.”

San Antonio have selected first overall twice before, choosing future Basketball Hall of Famers David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan in 1997. They led the Spurs to two NBA titles, and Duncan won three more with San Antonio.

At his height, Wembanyama has the size of a centre but the ball handling, passing and shooting abilities of a guard, a jaw-dropping combination with the potential to revolutionise the sport.

He can also block shots and grab rebounds with ease and gets up and down the floor quickly for a player of his size.

Popovich will look to further develop his unique skill set in the hopes of resurrecting the storied franchise, which have missed the play-offs for four consecutive seasons and has not advanced past the opening round since 2017.

Wembanyama has already drawn a legion of admirers across the NBA before even setting foot in the league.

“No one has ever seen someone as tall as he is and as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor,” James said previously.

“He’s for sure a generational talent.”