Victor Wembanyama has taken the NBA by storm and he hasn't even been drafted yet. Over the past few months, Wembanyama has cemented himself as one of the most exciting young prospects in recent memory. From his highlight reel performances to his duel against Scoot Henderson, Wembanyama has dominated headlines.
Wembanyama has been so hyped that NBA commissioner Adam Silver had to warn teams not to tank for the young star. He even threatened to relegate the teams to the G-League. This season is a race to the bottom for a lot of teams. The Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes have begun.
Wembanyama, who plays for French team Metropolitans 92, posted 32 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks in a game earlier this week. Wembanyama has been putting the basketball world on notice. NBA fans reacted to his recent performance on Twitter.
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The NBA prepares for the arrival of Victor Wembanyama
It isn't just NBA fans and executives that have been preparing for the arrival of Victor Wembanyama. The league's biggest stars have taken notice of the 7-foot-3 phenom. Many players are eager to see how he performs under the bright lights.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo recently spoke about Wembanyama with his teammate Serge Ibaka. During an episode of "How Hungry Are You?," Ibaka asked Antetokounmpo to share his thoughts on Wembanyama. 'The Greek Freak' had a lot of positive things to say about the 18-year old.
"Get ready my friend. How long do you want to play? ... 5-7 more years? My friend, you will be in the league when this kid comes. Get ready. Because if you're not ready, this kid is going to be a problem. Big problem.
"I've never seen this before in my life. I saw him up close. He's taller than Rudy Gobert. He can block shots like Rudy but shoot like KD."
With his ability to handle the ball like a guard and hit shots from all over the court, Wembanyama seems like a fictional player. As Antetokounmpo pointed out, the league hasn't seen anybody like him before.
Despite that, there is one player who many feel is similar to Wembanyama: Bol Bol.
The Bol Bol/Victor Wembanyama comparisson
Currently in the midst of a breakout season with the Orlando Magic, Bol Bol has drawn comparisons to Wembanyama. From his height to his ability to block shots and hit 3-pointers, Bol seems like a slightly older version of Wembanyama. It makes you wonder why teams overlooked Bol prior to this year.
Since his rookie season, Bol has suffered from a lack of playing time. In his last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Bol played in only 46 combined games and averaged just 5.4 minutes per contest. As his minutes decreased, so did his production.
Bol is currently tearing it up for the Magic. Wembanyama is poised to dominate the league next season. It seems as though the era of futuristic big men could be upon us.
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