Every promising prospect gets showered with a sea of expectations before the start of their career, Victor Wembanyama is no different. The 7’4 athlete has put up impressive numbers at the LNB Pro A, a popular league in France. Wembanyama is expected to make a mark in the NBA in the 2023-24 season. Meanwhile, a recent ‘greatest player ever’ claim regarding the French star has left a 3x NBA champion perplexed.
The 18-year-old currently plays center for Boulogne-Levalloi Metropolitan 92 in the French league. However, the hype around the player predicts that he will probably be the #1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
Victor Wembanyama – the greatest ever?
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The 3x NBA Champion Mario Elie reacted to an NBA Central tweet recently which quoted an NBA agent claiming that, “If he’s [Victor Wembanyama] not hurt, he’ll be the greatest player ever.” Elie, clearly disappointed with the statement, replied to the tweet, “HUH… He hasn’t played 1 NBA game yet.”
HUH… He hasn’t played 1 NBA game yet.
— mario elie (@marioelie1) December 26, 2022
However, the story didn’t end there, one user replied to the legend’s tweet, “LeBron’s agent said the same thing about him before he played a NBA game…” But, the former Houston Rockets star gave a fitting reply to the user’s opinion. He said, “LeBron was special as a junior in HS. LeBron body was ready for the league.7’4′ player who shots jumpers.” Elie made it clear that there’s no clear indicator that Wembanyama has what it takes to replicate LeBron’s success. Showering such adulations on a rising star could be detrimental to his growth as player.
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However, the hype around the French sensation has encompassed the NBA for some time now. The NBA agent in question later on clarified his claim, “He’s the best player in the league and the level of players he’s playing against are the best players in the Pac-12, the best college players, borderline NBA guys — and he’s dominating.”
Watch This Story – How Tall Is Young Starlet Victor Wembanyama in Comparision With LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kevin Durant
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As per a Forbes article, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, and the Rockets are in the run to pick the French star in the 2023 draft. Additionally, the same article quoted LeBron James’s statement on Wembanyama. He said, “He’s for sure generational talent.” Despite all the hype around the star, NBA fans would have to wait until the star’s debut to witness the extent of his talent.