Victor Wembanyama is ‘glad’ LeBron James compared him to an ‘ALIEN’ and not a ‘unicorn’ as NBA’s next top prospect says ‘it’s something not from this world’ as he aims to be ‘unique and original’
Projected NBA prodigy Victor Wembanyama has reacted to the praise he’s received from LeBron James, claiming he doesn’t mind the ‘alien’ description given to him by ‘The King’.
The 19-year-old Frenchman was lauded by the four-time NBA champion in October when he came to the United States to square off against another highly-projected 2023 draft pick, Scoot Henderson, and the G-League Ignite with the Metropolitans 92.
‘We’re labeling like this unicorn thing—everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years,’ James said. ‘But he’s more like an alien—no one has seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor.’Â
Wembanyama, who’s seven-foot-three with an eight-foot wingspan, is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft and take the league by storm next season.
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For now, however, the 2022 Pro A champion is enjoying the eulogies coming his way, especially from a man considered by many as the best basketball player ahead of Michael Jordan.Â
Wembanyama, who’s seven-foot-three, is projected to be the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft class
In October, James said he had never seen anyone so tall play as fluid and as gracefully
‘First of all, I’m really glad he said that because I didn’t like to be called a unicorn,’ Wembanyama said.Â
‘I like it because it’s just something not from this world.’
‘I like being called an alien, yeah. It’s really what I’m working to be – something unique and original.’Â
Four months ago, against the G-League Ignite in Las Vegas, the power forward, who can also play center, chalked up 36 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks – all in about 37 minutes of action.Â
The French club and its prized asset went on to win the game 112-106 even though Henderson and his teammates won the first matchup between both teams, 112-115.Â
In that game, Wembanyama had 37 points, including 7-11 from behind the arc (11-20 FG). Henderson nearly had a triple-double, ending the contest with 28 points, five rebounds and nine assists.Â
James (L) and Wembanyama met during a Lakers preseason game in Las Vegas on October 6
Wembanyama registered two 30+ point performances against the G-League Ignite in October
