After coming off their worst season in the Gregg Popovich coaching era, the San Antonio Spurs hit the jackpot on Tuesday night by winning the NBA Draft Lottery, potentially allowing the Spurs to draft 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama, a 19-year-old player from France.
In a league increasingly defined by long-range shooting and freakish talents, Wembanyama could be a generational talent with athleticism not seen in big men, including the Spurs Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Wembanyama averages more than 20 points per game in the French leagues. One NBA writer calls him the most talented player in years, eclipsing the effusive praise on Lebron James and others.
“The basketball gods once again smiled upon San Antonio by giving the team the third chance to draft a franchise-altering big man with the No. 1 overall pick, after David Robinson and Tim Duncan,” wrote SB Nation’s Jesus Gomez. “It’s safe to say that unless something shocking happens, the French phenom will be their selection. Now what’s left to figure out is what adding Wembanyama could mean for the future of the franchise.”
The Spurs were 22-60 in 2023 and have essentially missed the playoffs the last four seasons — they were eliminated in play-in games twice.
