After Being Overshadowed by LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, Victor Wembanyama Gets Defended by Former NBA Champion

Victor Wembanyama is one of the biggest prospects to have ever entered the league since LeBron James in 2003. The French sensation, 19, stands at an impressive 7 feet 2 inches tall and with an eight-foot wingspan. Projected to be the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama has made quite a name for himself already. With the no. 1 pick being handed to the San Antonio Spurs, the 19-year-old has become the most sought-after prospect for this year?s draft.

While fans look forward to his arrival, his omission from the summer league has raised a few eyebrows. A staple of the NBA calendar, the summer league is a platform for new recruits to adjust to their respective teams. With the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron taking part in the tournament years prior and having impressed, many were left fuming at Wembanyama’s absence

Former NBA champion defends Wembanyama from unfair criticism

Ligue Nationale de Basketball Pro A is France’s equivalent to the NBA. The league there stretches from the mid of September all the way to mid-May while having a League cum playoff system. Not only did Wembanyama compete in the league, his team ‘Metropolitans 92’ managed to reach the Finals. The team, however, was eventually swept by AS Monaco Basket, who clinched the championship.

The omission of Victor Wembanyama from the summer league isn’t frowned upon for obsolete or over-the-top reasons. Fans fuming over his absence may be right in doing so, granted they have taken one factor into consideration. As former NBA champion Richard Jefferson explained via Twitter “He literally just finished his European season like a week ago.” This is an important piece of information that many have chosen to overlook.

Awarded the league MVP this season, missing out on the summer league might do him a world of good. After a grueling season where he helped his team reach the Finals, recovery and preparing for the upcoming season is the call of the hour. A question in the minds of many, however, is whether the Frenchman can transition seamlessly into the NBA.

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Stars from Europe have already made the transition look effortless in the past few seasons. The likes of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis applied their trade in Europe before switching to the NBA. A stalwart like Victor could easily do the same.

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