A little more than nine months have passed since the mind-blowing performances that Victor Wembanyama delivered in Henderson, Nevada. The prospect of selecting him in the draft was made more appealing to scouts by his 73 total points scored in two exhibition games.
After that, the questions that remained were who would wind up picking Wembanyama with the first overall choice (the San Antonio Spurs earned those honors in the draft lottery), and how successful he might potentially be in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
It is not yet known whether or not Wembanyama will live up to the hype that has preceded him, but it may be for the best that performances in the NBA Summer League don’t often carry much weight because of how frequently they occur.
In his first game of the Summer League, which took place on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets, he ended with nine points, eight rebounds, and five blocks for the San Antonio Spurs. Only two of his thirteen field goal attempts were successful, and he committed more turnovers (3) and personal fouls (4) than he did field goals.
According to the head coach of the Spurs Summer League, “I think all in all he did a good job,” You can speak about the things that are happening on the outside, but it’s obvious that there’s a lot of focus on him. On the other hand, the physicality was something that tonight clearly wound him up in the same way that it would. I believed that he handled it, for the most part, in a quite competent manner.”
No. 2 overall selection In his first game with Charlotte, Brandon Miller had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Since his impressive showings in Henderson, a certain air of intrigue has surrounded Wembanyama, the French center who is 7 feet 4 inches tall. He was considered by scouts to be one of the most promising players in NBA history. A few days before to getting picked, he had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Naturally, by Friday, the buzz had spread all the way to Las Vegas. Fans began gathering outside the Thomas & Mack Center at the ungodly hour of three in the morning, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, formerly considered to be one of the most promising players in the history of the NBA, was among those who came to watch.
However, Wembanyama’s debut was marked by a greater number of setbacks than successes. It seemed to him that the game was moving too quickly at times.
KAI JONES HAS OTHERWORLDLY BOUNCE 🤯#NBA2KSummerLeague on ESPN pic.twitter.com/p1Ij0INwkc
— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023
Wembanyama admitted after the game with a chuckle “Honestly I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight.” “In preparation for the upcoming games, I’m attempting to learn. He continued by saying that getting ready for the season was the most essential thing to focus on.
He got off to a sluggish start, missing his first three shots as the audience was roaring with excitement every time he touched the ball. The crowd started chanting “MVP” as soon as he scored his first basket, which was an and-one layup in the first quarter. He then went on to make both of his free throws.
Many of the abilities that Wembanyama possesses that have impressed scouts were on display early in the game, particularly his ability to handle the ball. From outside the 3-point line, he executed a swift crossover dribble and then passed the ball to set up a pair of free throws. After retrieving a rebound, the center, who is 7 feet and 4 inches tall, moved the ball up the floor with ease.
Block the shot.
— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023
Push it in transition.
Drop the dime.
Victor Wembanyama making an impact right away during his #NBA2KSummerLeague debut on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/CCa604r02w
On Sunday, Wembanyama is scheduled to participate in what is anticipated to be his final Summer League game before taking a break from basketball until the start of the NBA preseason. The 16th of June marked the conclusion of Wembanyama’s season in France, so it’s probable that the Spurs will want to give him some time off.
Scoot Henderson, who was selected third overall, is one of the players whom he might face on Sunday. This is the same man that was Wembanyama’s opponent in Nevada the previous year. These performances generated excitement on a scale never seen before. At this point, it is not obvious if he will be able to equal it.
FAQ’s
Q1. Will Victor Wembanyama play Summer League?
Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 choice in the NBA Draft, will make his NBA debut on the first night of the Las Vegas Summer League. On Friday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (ESPN), Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs take on Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets.
Q2. How many points did Victor Wembanyama have in the Summer League?
Victor Wembanyama, making his Summer League debut for the Spurs, registers 9 points on 2-of-13 shooting.
