NBA fans are in for a treat this week, with the top two 2023 draft prospects set to meet twice as Victor Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 and Scoot Henderson’s G League Ignite play in exhibition games.
Wembanyama, the projected No. 1 pick in next year’s class, is widely-considered a generational talent and ESPN’s Marcus J. Spears said “anywhere between 120 and 150 scouts” will be in Las Vegas to watch him play and practice.
That, of course, also gives the projected No. 2 pick Henderson a chance to press his own claims ahead of next year’s draft.
The two talented prospects will first play on Wednesday at 12pm (AEST) on ESPN2 and then Friday at 5am (AEST), again on ESPN2.
Watch Scoot Henderson of Ignite and Victor Wembanyama of Mets 92 go head-to-head LIVE with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Simmons returns to face old team | 00:49
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, Wembanyama said he is “curious” to see how he fares in an NBA-level game while sending praise Henderson’s way.
“We’re playing against an NBA team, with NBA rules, on an NBA court,” Wembanyama said, per AP.
“This is really going to be a first for me. I’m curious to know how it’s going to go. I know it’s going to go well, but I’m still curious.
“Out of all the prospects I’ve heard about in our class, I think he’s my favourite one. I think he’s the most reliable that I’ve seen. He’s really a great player. If I was never born, I think he would deserve the first spot.”
Most of the attention on Wedneday though will be on Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 unicorn who Spears said may be a “one-in-a-lifetime player”.
“There’s going to be anywhere between 120 and 150 scouts coming to Vegas to see Victor play on Tuesday and Thursday and also to go practice on Wednesday,” Spears said.
“Teams were told they could only have as many as three scouts at the game, which is a lot. So that shows how excited NBA scouts are for what this special, freakish, maybe once-in-a-lifetime player is and then also they get to see Scoot Henderson of G League Ignite, the projected No. 2 pick, who is sensational. Keep an eye on him.
“You will see the future and both these kids are special.”
Ramona Shelburne, meanwhile, said the comparison for Wembanyama that she “keeps hearing” around the league is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokoumpo.
“It’s not just the body type, it’s also the game,” she added.
Watch Scoot Henderson of Ignite and Victor Wembanyama of Mets 92 go head-to-head LIVE with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
History made! 36ers take down Suns | 01:25
It is not just members of the media though that are high on Wembanyama, who is listed as a centre but capable of playing all over the floor.
“He’s one of those type of players, honestly, where you say like there’ll never be like another Shaq or there’ll never be another that,” Ignite coach Jason Hart said.
“He’s that. You’ll never see another one of those. The scouting report on him is tough. I’m honoured that I’m getting to play him at 18, because at 24, he’s going to be something different.”
Metropolitans 92 coach Vincent Collet, meanwhile, said Wembanyama’s size and skills are both “amazing” and that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the 18-year-old.
“He still needs to learn the game,” Collet said.
“He’s very young. We will try to give him this experience. That’s the deal we have together, him and me. We want to give him the experience before he gets to the league. It’s most important to get him ready for what will follow next year.”
If you are looking for the best draft expert to listen to, it is ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and he wrote that Wembanyama’s “combination of length, fluidity, skill, timing and feel for the game is unprecedented in my 20 years of NBA draft scouting evaluation”.
“He blocks and dunks everything, can step out and shoot 3s, and is an excellent ball handler and passer as well,’ Givony added.
“Every play he makes oozes talent, and the 18-year-old will only continue to improve as his frame fills out.”
Wembanyama is expected to inspire an all-out NBA ‘Tankathon’, with Givony listing at least five teams who appear to be leading contenders for the No. 1 pick next season.
“Two big games in front of what’s expected to be every decision-maker in the NBA will go a long way in cementing him as the eventual No. 1 pick in the draft next June,” he wrote.
“It could very well accelerate the teardown process of his many suitors among rebuilding teams, for which the main candidates appear to be the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder.”
