Victory of Victor Wembanyama in NBA Draft 2023 Just The Start, Will He Keep Going High
Victory of Victor Wembanyama in NBA Draft 2023 Just The Start, Will He Keep Going High – read more …
San Antonio, congrats for drafting Victor Wembanyama, widely considered to be the best and most eagerly awaited player ever to enter the NBA draft.
I won’t go as far as Woj in calling him “maybe the greatest prospect in the history of team sports,” but I agree that he has all the makings of a legendary player in basketball.
However, in 2023-24, when should fantasy players pick Wemby? He’s getting more attention than any player since LeBron James in 2003, and with good reason. But who exactly is Victor Wembanyama before I get into my first ideas on where Wemby should be picked in fantasy?
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and NBA Champion Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks the 19-year-old Frenchman is a HUGE issue for the NBA. After discussing Wemby’s stats with a pal, I came to the conclusion that he is essentially a “create-a-player” in NBA 2K.
When I think of this young man, I see a combination of Kevin Durant’s jump shot, Anthony Davis’s defensive potential, and Giannis’s work ethic. He now has the greatest wingspan of any active player in the league and is the tallest.
That’s the equivalent of an unfair cyborg player in a basketball fantasy league. And as early as the upcoming season, he will cause chaos in the world of fantasy basketball.
He has the stature of a center but operates more like a forward in today’s game. Not only is he tall and nimble, but he can also handle the ball like a guard, post up well, shoot from long range, and finish through contact.
He just finished his final season in France’s highest professional basketball league (known as the LNB Pro A or Betclic Élite), where he had averages of 21.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 three-pointers made, 0.7 steals, 3.0 blocks, and 2.6 turnovers.
His shooting percentages were 47.2%, 28.4%, and 81.6%, respectively. As an added bonus, he holds the record for youngest LNB MVP.
He’s visually appealing, but I worry about Wemby in a couple early-game areas. It will take some time to get used to the NBA’s toughness in Year 1. This picture shows him getting beaten up at the job.
I don’t think he’ll get much time at center against more traditional bigs, but he’ll need to bulk up if he wants to have an impact around the basket. Even if he’s being picked on, his mobility will allow him to take advantage of any mismatches that arise. However, would his effectiveness remain the same as he bulks up?
Kevin Durant is a great player to be compared to, but neither Kristaps Porzingis nor Dirk Nowitzki, two other tall shooters in the NBA, shot better than 43% from the field in their first seasons. It’s another modification that will mature with practice.
Even though he hit 47% from the field in the LNB Pro A, he’ll likely see a drop in production when he makes the jump to the NBA. Over the course of the last season, he attempted over five 3-pointers per game, which is encouraging, but his 28% success rate is cause for concern.
But we must keep in mind that he is still only 19, and he will inevitably face a rookie wall.
Given the French phenom’s fame and popularity, which team should choose him? Data provided by Basketball Monster shows the historical first-overall choices and their final per-game worth in 9-cat leagues.
LeBron James, 2003: 47
Derrick Rose, 2008, 125 points
Blake Griffin, 2009: 83 points
John Wall -100 in 2010
Kyrie Irving, age 38 in 2011
In 2012, Anthony Davis turned 25.
A. Wiggins, Class of 2014, -131
Karl-Anthony Towns, Class of 2015, 12
Simmons, Ben, 2016, 51
Deandre Ayton, 33 years old in 2018
Zion Williamson, Class of 2019: 192
119 Anthony Edwards in 2020
Cade Cunningham, Class of 2021: 106
Paolo Banchero (2022) 211
Although I left out many other players who didn’t have stellar first seasons, Karl-Anthony Towns is the only first-overall choice in the previous 20 years to finish in the top 12 in per-game value.
The landing site, scenario, and function within the system all affect a player’s performance after being the No. 1 choice, so he or she should be prepared for a lot of pressure and expectation.
Wemby has the build, skill set, and output (in a short period of time) to warrant being picked in the first three rounds of fantasy leagues in the upcoming season (’23-24).
In terms of first-year performance, I have him ranked behind KAT and AD but above Ayton. His potential improvement in blocked shots should more than offset any efficiency loss he may have.
The highly-touted French prospect may be had in the first two rounds, but you’ll have to ride the hype train to get him. Wemby’s future in the NBA should thrill fans because of San Antonio’s track record of successfully fostering both homegrown and foreign talent.
The Spurs don’t have any game-changing players right now, so they’re an even nicer fantasy landing spot for Wemby. He ought to be a first-day starter and a high draft pick in fantasy leagues.
