Update Game 2! Wembanyama vs Scoot on ESPN 2/ESPN App/NBA app

[CptCrunch]

I thought this dude was an elite defensive prospect with some okay offense.

Somehow, he is turning into freaken Durant + Hakeem mixed into one.

[azcatz11]

I thought this dude was an elite defensive prospect with some okay offense.

Somehow, he is turning into freaken Durant + Hakeem mixed into one.

That’s what’s scary about him and why people are talking. Hollinger has him at a Lebron level prospect

[Statlanta]

Not playing devil's advocate here, maybe I'm just don't have enough relevant info in this situation.

But how is Wembanyama different from say Porzingis? Both ultra tall, skilled, reasonably athletic big men.

I guess almost a bit of a dig at Porzingis, that maybe he should be better than what he's shown so far in the NBA.

I’m getting the same vibes. I feel like people overemphasize having a face-up game, a perimeter game or a ‘bag’. I’m like where is the post moves and the rebounding.

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

[Pachinko_]

Also, here are some post moves.

Read on Twitter

Ιt only took Giannis about 8 years in the NBA to learn to do this semi-reliably

[Mamba81p]

I am shocked that these games are even close. This is a professional team, finished 3rd last in regular season in French Ligue. I know they had busy offseason with a lot of changes, but still they should blowout a freaking G League team.

We see this with NBA teams losing to inferior teams from other leagues, motivation and effort can beat talent.
This is also happens quite often in national cups in europe in soccer/basketball.

Umm... Scoot Henderson is getting paid over $1 million this year. G-League teams are professional, too.

Technically yes, but most of his teammates are making 125k or less, with some making 35k or less. That's semi-pro level. Anyways, one of the best teams in France should not lose to a G-League team.

The "excuses" european fans don't like to hear when a NBA teams loses(travel, motivation etc) are starting to pop-up.

[GSWFan1994]

Scrabbarista, on November 18th, 2020, at 5:16 PM:

"Victor Wembanyama has potential like nothing I've ever seen.

I said Embiid would be an NBA MVP when he was still in high school. When his draft came around, I said he should go #1 even if there was like a 70% chance he'd get a career-ending injury in his first few years in the league.

Well, it doesn't look like Embiid's going to get an MVP Award, but that's probably half down to his work ethic and half down to the way the game and the rules have changed. Nonetheless, he's been a great player.

Wembanyama is definitely more impressive than Embiid was in high school. I've watched him for like a handful of minutes on the internet. Maybe ten. But I think he might be the best prospect I've seen since LeBron. Better than Zion or anyone else.

Don't laugh. When you're talking about the 15th pick in the draft, it takes months/years to do the research. When you're talking about an all-time great, it takes minutes.

And I think this is it. Better than Holmgren, Bates, or Cunningham.

If he stays healthy, Victor Wembanyama is going to be the best player in the league one day. You can quote me."

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1980576&hilit=wembanyama&start=40

I believe I also said, "Wembanyama is the next Abdul-Jabbar" in a post shortly thereafter, but I'm too lazy to search for it now.

Can I get an And1? My self-esteem could really use it! The original post still has 0.

Great post! Well said.

I won't give you an and-1, but instead I'll give you something better... a virtual beer!

[SK21209]

I’m getting the same vibes. I feel like people overemphasize having a face-up game, a perimeter game or a ‘bag’. I’m like where is the post moves and the rebounding.

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

The difference is how natural Victor looks doing this stuff. KP and Bol Bol are big men with some guard skills, Victor is basically a 7’4 shooting guard offensively. He’s like AD but even bigger and more polished coming into the league.

[Mamba81p]

I am shocked that these games are even close. This is a professional team, finished 3rd last in regular season in French Ligue. I know they had busy offseason with a lot of changes, but still they should blowout a freaking G League team.

We see this with NBA teams losing to inferior teams from other leagues, motivation and effort can beat talent.
This is also happens quite often in national cups in europe in soccer/basketball.

The French league sucks. French teams struggle to just make the euroleague playoffs. Last year Monaco only made the playoffs cause the Russian teams were banned for political reasons.

The French are good at developing young talent though. Have to give them that. But overall the league isn't anywhere close to the Spanish or even Italian league. Probably more comparable to the Greek league if you remove panathinaikos and olympiakos.

Monaco were in the race for playoff, with good chances to make it, even before Russians were excluded. That's a top 10 team in Europe.

Comparing it with Greek league minus olympiakos or pao is disingenuous at best. Other than those 2, no other greek team is Euroleague material. The 3rd place team in Greece finished last in Eurocup last year, so I am not sure how can you even can compare those 2.

[Clyde Frazier]

I’m getting the same vibes. I feel like people overemphasize having a face-up game, a perimeter game or a ‘bag’. I’m like where is the post moves and the rebounding.

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

That's funny you mentioning hyperbole with that response. Do you feel better now?

[jordanwilliams6]

Easily the best prospect since Lebron and there’s probably a chance he’s actually a better prospect than Lebron.

Of course LBJ lived up to every bit of hype.

[homecourtloss]

I’m getting the same vibes. I feel like people overemphasize having a face-up game, a perimeter game or a ‘bag’. I’m like where is the post moves and the rebounding.

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

Bol Bol was never an impressive defender.

Victor can be a +6 or +7 type of defender she looks to be possibly a + offensive player as well. A +8 or +9 player is a leading MVP candidate every season.

[Big J]

He's easily the best prospect ever. Dude's a fuggin 7'4 KD with Hakeem post moves. He's gonna set foot in the league and dominate it form day one. He's like the guy you create in 2K, but you run out of coins trying to max him out.

[Upperclass]

LeBron is the best prospect ever and it isnt close.. Wemby doesnt have the hoopsIQ to be better than a player like LeBron

[Upperclass]

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

The difference is how natural Victor looks doing this stuff. KP and Bol Bol are big men with some guard skills, Victor is basically a 7’4 shooting guard offensively. He’s like AD but even bigger and more polished coming into the league.

He doesnt handle anywhere near good enough to be a guard or on the perimeter at all really.. KP moved better pre-injury

[Big J]

LeBron is the best prospect ever and it isnt close.. Wemby doesnt have the hoopsIQ to be better than a player like LeBron

He has greater competitiveness than Lebron. The kid wants to be the best and cares about every single win or loss. That's what made MJ the GOAT.

[Upperclass]

You gleaned that from a pickup game? imo he just seems easily the most talented player on the floor and knew the cameras were on.. dude is talented noooooooo doubt. But he isnt a greater prospect that LeBron was

[HardenGoat]

Whoever gets the number one pick is hitting the mega ball on this guy. Truth is we have never seen this. Iam not even buying the body type concern. He has room to grow and build some strength on that frame.

[Antinomy]

Idk why people are offended by the pre-injury Porzingis 2.0 comparison.

Porzingis was slightly less fluid than him in terms of perimeter ballhandling (not that it matters too much) but KP was definitely putting the ball on the floor, crossing over & shooting pull-up jumpers — why are people acting like he wasn’t being called the unicorn early on?

Porzingis was also defensive monster back then based on the numbers.

[NO-KG-AI]

Porzingis was also 7’1.75 in socks, without nearly the same wingspan

[3toheadmelo]

Idk why people are offended by the pre-injury Porzingis 2.0 comparison.

Porzingis was slightly less fluid than him in terms of perimeter ballhandling (not that it matters too much) but KP was definitely putting the ball on the floor, crossing over & shooting pull-up jumpers — why are people acting like he wasn’t being called the unicorn early on?

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.