Victor Wembanyama is set to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after the San Antonio Spurs won the lottery earlier this week.
They earned the right to land one of the most hyped prospects of all time in the Frenchman, and everybody has expressed their opinion on what’s coming for the player and his potential new team.
Given Wembanyama’s skillset, it’s easy to see why so many people think he’s the next big thing, but others are wary about his future performances in the league.
Charles Barkley recently touched on this topic, giving advice to Wembanyama while also making it clear that the San Antonio Spurs are far away from competing for a championship.
“It’s stupid,” Barkley said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Just because you’re getting all this hype and you’ve been kicking a** in France all these years, that don’t mean nothing when he steps on the court next year.”
“The Spurs ain’t close to winning a championship, young fella!” Barkley exclaimed. ”Y’all probably ain’t gonna make the playoffs next year.”
“The Spurs aren’t close to winning a championship, Young Fella!”
Charles Barkley talks about the challenges Wembanyama will face in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/shwubzgMMc
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 20, 2023
Barkley added that the Spurs will probably be the third-best team in Texas next year, even with Wembanyama on the roster.
The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are better than the Spurs in Barkley’s eyes, even if they both missed the playoffs this season.
Wembanyama brings a lot of things to the table, but many are still unsure about what he can do in the NBA.
The hype around this player even surpasses what fans and analysts felt when LeBron James first made it to the league.
Wembanyama can be great in the NBA, but since his background is different than many other players, certain people want to confirm he can be good in the association before jumping on that train.
He was incredible in France, winning the MVP, DPOY, Best Young Player award, Best Shot-Blocker award, and more this season.
Victor Wembanyama has absolutely destroyed LNB opposition this season. At the age of 19.
– MVP
– Scoring champ
– All-LNB 1st Five
– DPOY
– YPOY
– Best shot-blocker— Dmitry Planidin (@DmitryPlanidin) May 17, 2023
This player is something to behold, although not everybody is buying all the hype.
The last European player to be subject to this scrutiny was Luka Doncic, who was considered overrated by plenty of analysts.
Luka is now one of the five best players in the league, proving doubters wrong and making it clear that talent is everywhere.
Wembanyama can follow in his footsteps and mark an era not only in San Antonio, but the NBA as he has the height and the skills to become a nightmare for every team.
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