Oct 4, 2022; Henderson, NV, USA; Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives the ball against NBA G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller (11) during the third quarter at The Dollar Loan Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
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Victor Wembanyama has definitely proven he’s the No. 1 player in France.

But is the 7-3 forward really worthy of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft?

NBA fans debated that hot topic yet again Saturday after the multi-talented Wembanyama (seen above in October) put up another incredible game for his French team, Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A. On Saturday against SLUC Nancy Basket, he scored 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had three blocks and two steals.

Taking a look at that highlight reel from Saturday’s game helps explain why Wembanyama is widely seen as the consensus No. 1 pick in the next draft. NBA teams seem sold. LeBron James praised the French phenom earlier this year, saying, “No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor.”

One NBA GM told ESPN earlier this season that NBA teams will be tanking to improve their lottery odds at landing Wembanyama.

Yet many fans are still not convinced he is the legitimate No. 1 pick.

“Bol Bol is doing that in the NBA, not vs French plumbers,” tweeted one fan.

“He’s gonna be such a let down in the NBA,” tweeted another fan.

Still, Wembanyama had his defenders who predict NBA greatness from him.

“How can people see greatness in KD, but refuse to see it in Victor Wembanyama?” read one tweet. “Yall doubters are headed for a rough 10-15 years of hating on him.”

[NBA on Twitter; photo from Lucas Peltier/USA Today Sports]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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