Victor Wembanyama is getting a fast primer of San Antonio and the Spurs.
The No. 1 general choose in Thursday’s NBA draft was welcomed on the town’s famed downtown River Walk on Saturday and later placed on a uniform and hoisted photographs on his new residence ground.
But Wembanyama was in all probability most thrilled about assembly Spurs’ legends David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. The 19-year-old Frenchmen acquired to listen to about their experiences at a dinner Friday evening, simply hours after he arrived in San Antonio.
“In a couple hours, I learned more about the NBA than in my whole life,” the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama mentioned in a press convention on the enviornment on Saturday. “It’s so comforting to see that these people who are so important to the city of San Antonio and this franchise are such kind people and generous because they genuinely wanted to share with me their experience.
“I really feel like they’ve already began to take nice care of me.”
Robinson (1987) and Duncan (1997) were also No. 1 overall picks. They are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as is Ginobili.
The Spurs have won five NBA titles but have fallen on hard times and missed the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. They were a porous 22-60 last season despite the presence of Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich.
So hopes are high that Wembanyama — the most coveted NBA draft pick since LeBron James in 2003 — can be the force that guides San Antonio back to the top of the NBA food chain.
“To Victor, I needed to say to you instantly, we’re excited to develop with you, assist you, problem you, particularly Coach Pop — there will be plenty of difficult days — in your journey by means of life and basketball,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said at the press conference. “Your expertise is apparent, however as we acquired to know you, the maturity, the strategy, the character actually confirmed us how particular of a younger man you’re.”
Wembanyama is slated to see some action in the NBA Summer League next month but first he is hoping for a bit of relaxation time.
He arrived from France on Monday and there was plenty of pre-draft hoopla surrounding him in the New York City area. The draft was Thursday night and he flew to San Antonio on Friday.
“The final 72 hours have been actually tiring,” Wembanyama said. “But I’m actually having fun with the second. Everybody is doing an ideal job round me. Everybody is doing their greatest. I’ve my household and my folks round me who love me. Everywhere I’ve been I’ve been welcomed warmly. It’s actually comfy. I’m actually completely satisfied to be on this place.”
–Field Level Media/Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
