The first pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Wembanyama’s hard decision
Fate sometimes works out well. When the San Antonio Spurs snapped up the first pick in the 2023 draft, the stars aligned perfectly for Victor Wembanyama. His big smile, which followed the lottery ceremony from a distance, spoke volumes… After several months of waiting in anguish, the French giant saw his name called by the Spurs in the first position of the draft.
It’s an appointment eagerly awaited by punters who have chosen the best betting agent. And though it is indeed a dream come true, this good news comes with its own set of demands, as the Frenchman has to renounce to another. Let’s check.
The draft set a new audience record
There was little suspense regarding the first pick of the NBA draft on Friday, June 23rd. Unsurprisingly, Victor Wembanyama was chosen first by San Antonio, becoming the first French number one in the history of the North American championship. Even so, the “Wemby” phenomenon attracted a record audience.
This 2023 draft was quite simply the most-watched in NBA history across all channels in the USA. The first round averaged 4,928,000 viewers on ESPN and ABC, a 24% increase compared to last year’s figures. There was even a peak of over 6 million viewers, according to data shared by the giant sports channel. These figures do not include streaming audiences. All of this confirms the hype surrounding the former Metropolitans 92 player’s arrival in the United States.
Moved to tears, a source of pride for France
Although no one doubted that he would be selected by the club with five NBA championship titles, Gregg Popovich’s new pupil was nevertheless moved to tears when he answered ESPN’s questions, moments after his selection. Accompanied by his little brother Oscar and big sister Eve, he didn’t hold back his emotion. In fact, despite the total absence of surprises, Victor Wembanyama, successor to Tim Duncan and David Robinson, respectively number 1 draft pick in 1997 and 1987 in San Antonio, was overwhelmed by his feelings.
Until then, the highest Frenchman drafted was Killian Hayes, taken seventh overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2020. Record broken. By way of comparison, Tony Parker was 28th in 2001. Rudy Gobert, 27th in 2013. In fact, there were three Bleus in the Top 10, including Joakim Noah, 9th in 2007. It’s up to Victor Wembanyama to live up to expectations.
And it won’t be easy, given that he is heralded as a generational talent, the kind of player who can change the history of a franchise, if not the entire NBA. However, the new legend-in-the-making has declared that he will continue to wear the colors of France, but it certainly won’t be for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
No FIBA World Cup with Les Bleus for Wembanyama
Amid the excitement of his arrival at the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama is temporarily calling time on the French national team. The Spurs’ new strong winger has already decided not to join the French team ahead of the World Cup in Indonesia and the Philippines, from August 25 to September 10.
The NBA player, who missed the last Eurobasket due to injury, had regularly expressed his “desire” to join the French team this summer. After consulting the people closest to him and the medical staff who follow him on a daily basis, he decided not to be present with Les Bleus. The reason for this decision is to protect and build up his body, which has been severely tested during a long season with Boulogne-Levallois (62 matches, an average of 32 minutes in the Championship). For him, taking part in the World Cup, including the coming season and the Olympics, would represent a load of 170 matches over 24 months. He then announced his choice to several members of the French squad and his coach.
Wemby describes his decision as “difficult”, but “irrevocable”. However, this decision not to take part in the FIBA World Cup will have no impact on the new Texan darling’s presence at the Paris Games in 2024, for the time being. For now, the course is set on the NBA, where he wants to shine. You too can get ahead of the game and open a betting account with a broker to bet on his success.