Charles Barkley suggests the Victor Wembanyama hype might NOT be justified

TNT host and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley does not think expected no.1 overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama deserves the hype he has been receiving – and is reserving further judgement until he is in the NBA.

The 7-foot-5 teenager has dazzled fans and scouts alike with his shooting and ability to dribble the ball like a guard despite his gargantuan size. 

In his most recent game with the French National Team he recorded 22 points, 17 rebounds, six blocks, and four steals against the Czech Republic.

‘Everybody wants this kid and he looks like he’s great, but you really can’t tell until he gets to the NBA,’ Barkley said.

NBA Analyst Charles Barkley said he does not think Victor Wembanyama is worth the hype

Wembanyama is far and away the favorite to be taken no.1 overall in the 2023 NBA draft

Barkley then continued to talk down on Wembanyama after co-host Kenny Smith praised the big man’s scoring abilities by saying: ‘I don’t agree with all that, I think it’s going to be a huge adjustment.

‘The physicality… I think it’s more physical than him playing against the Czech Republic. I mean he’s going to be playing against grown men.

‘And he’s going to have to guard those guys on the other end also, it’s going to bring him into foul trouble.

‘Listen I been in the NBA for 40 years and I ain’t seen but one guy, one guy who didn’t go to college and looks great that was LeBron. Kobe was great, he struggled early. Kevin Garnett was great, he struggled early.’

Barkley must have clearly forgotten a certain MVP candidate Luca Doncic who played in Spain before being drafted to the NBA and averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and six assist as a rookie.

Doncic was also named NBA rookie of the year for the 2018-2019 season after not playing a single second of college basketball, so it appears Barkley may wish to reconsider his statements. 

The 2018-2019 class included players who starred in college such as Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, and Jaren Jackson Jr, all of whom are considered amongst the best players in the league.

Barkley’s co-host Kenny Smith, who has interviewed for multiple NBA coaching positions after displaying a high basketball IQ as both a coach and a TV analyst disagreed with the statements on Wembanyama as well. 

Fellow analyst Kenny Smith disagreed with Barkley and his bleak predictions for Wembanyama

Wembanyama has wowed scouts with his dribbling ability while standing well over seven feet

He has also showed astonishing three-point ability for a player of his towering stature

Smith responded to Barkley’s comments by saying: ‘He’s a special talent because of his ability to handle the ball and shoot the ball.

‘I just think that his skill set is, is the way he scores even in the European game is very similar to the way he would be scoring in the NBA,’ Smith continued after an interruption from Barkley. ‘So I don’t think it’ll be an adjustment for him.

‘It’s not like… I think there’s been errors where guys had to change their game and add something to it.’

‘This kid shoots the three, handles the ball, gets into areas of the floor, seven-foot-five, he’s gonna shoot over you. Not many guys can really defend him and the ball handling is what really makes him special to me. It’s not anything else but his ability to handle the basketball.’