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Thursday’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn had the distinct feel of a wedding.
It wasn’t just the joyous families or an array of colorful, custom-made suits and gowns that populated the Barclays Center floor. Rather, it was the sense of inevitability hanging over Victor Wembanyama’s imminent union with the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the first-overall pick.
Serving as the officiant, NBA commissioner Adam Silver dutifully called out the 7-foot-4 French phenom’s name to begin the festivities, Wembanyama burst into tears, and the two were finally wed.
The Spurs did inject a shred of mystery into the proceedings by using their full five-minute allotment before picking Wembanyama, who briefly feared San Antonio was getting cold feet.
‘Longest five minutes of my life,’ Wembanyama told reporters afterwards. ‘This is when I started getting the butterflies, and it’s where I started seeing my family get silent. Everyone watching their watch.
There was the sense of inevitability over Victor Wembanyama’s imminent union with the Spurs
The teenager admitted to ‘butterflies’ as he waited to be drafted first by the Spurs
But there was no surprise when the 7-foot-4 phenom was the first to walk on stage
‘Then I got called, and I went to the back,’ the relieved Wembanyama continued. ‘I was congratulated by a lot of people there. I saw Adam Silver, shook his hand again, gave him a hug.’
Soon, though, Wembanyama was reminded that this moment was preordained, both by his undeniable talent, size and athleticism, and the fact that the Spurs won last month’s NBA Draft Lottery.
‘Then someone gave me this [Spurs jersey] — someone knew this was happening somehow,’ Wembanyama joked to a round of laughter from reporters.
And it wasn’t just Wembanyama and the Spurs who knew he’d be taken first overall, following in the footsteps of other legendary San Antonio centers, David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Several attendees at Thursday’s draft in Brooklyn were seen sporting custom-made ‘Wembanyama’ Spurs jerseys, not to mention the throngs of autograph seekers lining the arena’s lower bowl for a chance at getting the top pick’s signature.
Wembanyama obliged in many cases, showing off his affable personality along with a few slick moves.
When one brave fan tempted fate by tossing a basketball and a pen to Wembanyama from the crowd, the 19-year-old caught them easily, signed the ball, and deftly passed them back to the sender.
Another spectator reached down to hand Wembanyama a cell phone as the future NBA star approached the tunnel to Barclays Center’s underbelly. Without hesitating, Wembanyama accepted the phone, took a selfie of himself giving a ‘peace’ sign, and handed it back to the young boy, who was left speechless.
Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama was drafted first by the San Antonio Spurs in New York
Back in San Antonio, fans went wild as they celebrated the pick at AT&T Center
One fan held up a sign with Wembanyama shooting lasers from his eyes, referring to the ‘alien’
On supporter had even had the teenager’s likeness shaved into the back of his head
San Antonio had no doubt who it would pick and had Wembanyama jerseys printed ready
There was a brief solemn moment for Wembanyama and his family when he was first drafted.
Joined by his parents, former track athlete Felix Wembanyama and basketball coach Elodie de Fautereau, as well has his hoopster siblings, sister Eve and younger brother Oscar, the family appeared to cry a bit as he exited the draft’s ‘green room.’
‘It’s amazing, we’re all so proud,’ Eve told ESPN in front of her weeping younger brother.
‘I got little tears in my eyes,’ the smiling Oscar followed.
But those tears quickly turned into laughter, and Wembanyama spent the rest of the evening bouncing from one cheerful interview to the other, while overjoyed Spurs fans in San Antonio celebrated as if they just won their sixth NBA title.
‘I need to see footage of this,’ Wembanyama said when told that Spurs fans packed their home arena to watch the draft. ‘My message to them is I’m going to give 100 percent, make all that’s in my power to make this franchise win, to have impact on the franchise and the fan base and the community.’
Of course, there was still some mystery to Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Alabama forward Brandon Miller didn’t know if he’d be going second to Charlotte or third to Portland Trail Blazers until Silver called his name after Wembanyama’s.
The 19-year-old is pictured with his sister Eve (left) and Oscar brother (right)
Wembayama signed a San Antonio jersey for a young fan outside Barclays Center
Highly touted G League point guard Scoot Henderson went third, but there are lingering questions about his potential fit alongside veteran All-Star Damian Lillard, who may be traded if the Blazers decide to rebuild around their newest star.
But the biggest question of the night — and one that will face Wembanyama until he duplicates Robinson and Duncan’s success in San Antonio — is whether or not the top pick can live up to the hype.
It won’t be easy.
For every Duncan there’s a Markelle Fultz, Anthony Bennett, or Greg Oden — top picks who failed to meet expectations for one reason or another.
And then there’s the challenge of playing for Gregg Popovich, a former US Air Force intelligence officer who brings that sort of regimented, militaristic structure to coaching.
‘He’s not intimidating yet, but I’m sure he’s going to get intimidating when I see him in real life,’ Wembanyama said of the five-time NBA champion, who he spoke with after being drafted on Thursday.
Wembanyama already has some familiarity with the Spurs, having watched countrymen Tony Parker play in the NBA Finals for Coach Popovich.
Scoot Henderson was picked at No 3 overall in the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers
Brandon Miller was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the second-overall pick
He also might have the chance to work with Duncan, who briefly served as an assistant coach under Popovich, and has been known to mentor young Spurs players from time to time.
‘Tim Duncan, if I got the opportunity to work with him… I can’t really think of a better role model,’ Wembanyama said.
There are other things to look forward to about San Antonio, namely breakfast tacos.
‘I’ve heard a lot about breakfast tacos,’ Wembanyama joked.
For now, Wembanyama is saying all the right things — and doing so in fluent English, no less.
If there’s one thing he’s made clear in New York, it’s that he knows success is anything but predestined. He may have averaged 20 points a game playing against veteran professionals in France and the rest of Europe, but this is the NBA, and even the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James have needed to work tirelessly for all they’ve accomplished.
It’s a commitment that isn’t lost on Wembanyama.
‘Yeah, the road is going to be very long for me to reach the top, but I’m ready to learn from anybody.’
