The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Antonio Spurs </a>got a unique talent with that first-overall pick. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanyama</a> has taken the NBA world by the horns, swatting shots into the stands and then putting defenders on skates on the other end of the floor.



His defensive impact has been particularly remarkable. He can hunt players in the perimeter or alter everything around the rim, which is why he’s leading the league in steals and blocks by a significant margin.



With that in mind, and after further review, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/draymond-green" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Draymond Green</a> had no choice but to change his mind about him, admitting that he should, indeed, be the Defensive Player of the Year.



<h2>Draymond Green Says Victor Wembanyama Is The Defensive Player Of The Year</h2>



“I lied, Wemby should be the Defensive Player of the Year because he’s that amazing defensively,” Green said on his podcast. “The way he impacts the game defensively, whether it’s on the ball or off the ball, it’s a problem. When you drive to the hole and guys maybe have a layup and turn the other way, that’s a blocked shot in some sense. I don’t know what lab he was created in, but I need to create me a son in that lab because the dude is unbelievable.”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240404_BUS_116689_Victor-Wembanyama-1024x576_e8aa5701.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Victor Wembanyama" class="wp-image-94785" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Victor-Wembanyama-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Victor-Wembanyama-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Victor-Wembanyama-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Victor-Wembanyama-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Victor-Wembanyama.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Victor Wembanyama before a game with the San Antonio Spurs.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>He Changed His Mind</h2>



Notably, just a couple of weeks ago, Green had stated that as great as Wembanyama was defensively, his team’s lack of success hurt his chances of winning the award:



“He’ll have these numbers and he’ll have opportunities to win Defensive Player of the Years,” Green said. “I personally don’t think that is this year. Even if Rudy Gobert wasn’t having the year that he’s having and their team wasn’t having the season that they’re having, I still don’t think you can give that award to somebody who’s on the 24th-best defense in the league.”






<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/nba/draymond-green-changes-his-mind-about-victor-wembanyama-with-a-hilarious-quote"></div>


The craziest part about Wembanyama is that this is the absolute worst he’s ever going to be. We’re talking about, potentially, the greatest defensive player this game has ever seen, at least numbers-wise.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="660ee47d7a4c8e960998e52f" data-title="Is Wembanyama the DPOY?" data-options="2"></div>

Draymond Green changes his mind about Victor Wembanyama

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Draymond Green admits he lied about Victor Wembanyama

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miniaturas

Love him or hate him, not even his biggest detractor can deny that<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/draymond-green" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Draymond Green</a> is one of the best and most impactful defenders in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history. At his peak, he can guard one through five and be a difference-maker.



More than that, Green has an elite basketball IQ. He can see right through an offense or a defense and has proven to be a master when it comes to the Xs and Os.



That’s why the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Golden State Warriors </a>star is a voice to be heard when he talks about other players, and the recently tipped his hat to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Antonio Spurs</a> rookie, V<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ictor Wembanyama.</a>



<h2>Draymond Green Is Happy He Won’t Have To Deal With Victor Wembanyama For Much Longer</h2>



Green gave the reigning No. 1 pick the ultimate compliment, pretty much stating that he’s glad he won’t have to deal with him for much longer, and wishing the rest of the league good luck against him:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240401_BUS_115887_victor-wembanyama-2-1024x572_91c77b66.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-26436" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Victor Wembanyama</figcaption></figure>



“He’s a very, very, very, very, very special talent. I’m happy I got the opportunity to play against him now because they’ll have to deal with him a lot later, and I won’t be in the league no more, so that’s good for me,” Green said.



<h2>Wembanyama Proved Green Wrong</h2>



Notably, that’s not how he felt about him earlier in his career. In his appearance on Paul George’s Podcast-P in the offseason, Green didn’t seem to be too fazed by the Frenchman:



“You not just dribbling through me like the Harlem Globetrotters, I’m sorry”, Green said. “With a guy like that, you gotta do your work early. I‘m crowding him from the time he starts running down the court. When they get the rebound and they start coming I’m crowding because I can’t let him get to a space where he’s comfortable. If you do that against talents like that, ain’t anything you can do to stop that. So, for me, I’m all the way pressed up into him.”


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It’s pretty safe to say that Green has changed his mind on Wembanyama, and while some fans might be bummed out to see that he doesn’t have much left in the tank, at least he gave the No. 1 pick his stamp of approval before walking away.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="660accb77a4c8e960998e1e7" data-title="Will Wembanyama be the best player in the league?" data-options="3"></div>

Draymond Green has the most bizarre compliment for Victor Wembanyama

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The<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> San Antonio Spurs </a>landed a true generational talent in<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Victor Wembanyama. Th</a>e first-overall pick has taken the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> by storm and has proven to be as good as advertised.



When he’s on the floor, the Spurs have the sixth-best defensive rating in the league. Notably, it plummets to dead last when he sits. He’s also the league leader in blocks per game.



That’s why he’s spent most of the season at the top or near the top of the Defensive Player of the Year rankings. However, that wouldn’t be fair, according to former winner and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a> star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/draymond-green" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Draymond Green</a>.



<h2>Rudy Gobert Is The DPOY, Says Draymond Green</h2>



In the latest edition of his podcast, Green gave the nod to Rudy Gobert over Wembanyama, which is kind of surprising if you consider they have a bit of a history.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240307_BUS_109771_Draymond-Green-3-1024x576_682e4797.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Draymond Green" class="wp-image-92933" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Draymond-Green-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Draymond-Green-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Draymond-Green-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Draymond-Green-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/12/Draymond-Green-3.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.</figcaption></figure>



Even so, Green believes that Wembanyama’s time will come, and he thinks he can win multiple DPOY awards in his career. It just won’t be this season, as the Spurs have the 24th defense in the league:



“He’ll have these numbers and he’ll have opportunities to win Defensive Player of the Years,” Green said of Wembanyama. “I personally don’t think that is this year. Even if Rudy Gobert wasn’t having the year that he’s having and their team wasn’t having the season that they’re having, I still don’t think you can give that award to somebody who’s on the 24th-best defense in the league.”


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That’s a fair assessment. Wembanyama will have plenty of chances to win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, and, hopefully, even some NBA Championships. For now, he’ll just have to settle for the Rookie of the Year award, and the Spurs will have to do a better job of surrounding him with good players in the future.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="65ea0afcc04ef6a96d55cfac" data-title="Is Wembanyama the DPOY?" data-options="2"></div>

Draymond Green snubs Victor Wembanyama in DPOY selection

NBA: Draymond Green snubs Victor Wembanyama in DPOY selectionDraymond Green explains why Victor Wembanyama isn't the Defensive Player of the Year - Bolavip US

Draymond Green says Victor Wembanyama isn't the NBA's DPOY

Draymond Green explains why Victor Wembanyama isn't the Defensive Player of the Year

We have never seen a prospect like <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanyama.</a> He’s arguably the most hyped prospect in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> history, and he couldn’t have chosen a better landing spot than the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Antonio Spurs.</a>



You know Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan will have him under their wings. They’ll protect him, spoon-feed him, and allow him to develop into the two-way phenom everybody thinks he can be, assuming he can stay healthy.



Wembanyama has been the most impressive rookie in the league thus far, leading his class in points and rebounds per game, and all players in blocks per game (3.0). 



However, that hasn’t translated into winning basketball, and knowing how hard it might be to shake off losing habits, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers </a>star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joel-embiid">Joel Embiid </a>shared some knowledge with him.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231228_BUS_94817_Victor-Wembanyama-1024x576_21da079c.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Victor Wembanyama Spurs" class="wp-image-83884" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Victor-Wembanyama-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Victor-Wembanyama-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Victor-Wembanyama-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Victor-Wembanyama-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/Victor-Wembanyama.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Embiid Says Wembanyama Needs To Figure Himself Out</h2>



The reigning MVP believes the most important thing for Wembanyama will be to figure out what kind of player he wants to be, whether he’s going to be a shooting guard in a big man’s body or a bruiser:



“I think, first of all, he has to figure out where he wants to play, whether he wants to be a guard or a big or whatever,” Embiid said. “It’s not necessarily whether he wants to be a guard or a big; it’s what he wants to become. Do you want to become KD, or do you want to become me? Not KD, or like a version of those guys — you want to combine everything.”



Embiid admits Wembanyama’s game still needs a ton of polishing. However, he doesn’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing because he’s just a rookie learning the ropes of the game:



“Right now, I just feel like everything kind of feels a little forced, in the way that he’s playing,” Embiid said. “Which is not bad. Because the only way to get better is to play through it and learn. That’s the only way. You make a lot of mistakes, and you learn.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231228_BUS_94817_Joel-Embiid-3-1024x576_793f3464.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="" class="wp-image-67783" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Joel-Embiid-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Joel-Embiid-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Joel-Embiid-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Joel-Embiid-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Joel-Embiid-3.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Joel Embiid</figcaption></figure>



<h2>He Has To Learn From His Mistakes</h2>



Embiid also likes the fact that he’s getting a long leash on his own team. That way he’ll be able to learn from his mistakes and keep getting a little better with every single game:



“The one thing that I’m happy about is they’re allowing him to make those mistakes, and learn from it,” continued Embiid. “But I just think there’s a good and bad in that. The good of it is you learn through your mistakes. But then again, the bad of it is, you know, it just feels a little forced. Like, some of the shots. He can make it easy on himself.” 



At the end of the day, we don’t know what Wembanyama could look like as a finished product simply because we have never seen a player like him. But judging by the early returns and his unicorn-like skill set, it’s easy to understand why so many scouts thought he could become the greatest player in NBA history.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="658dcd56355a857559928bdf" data-title="Will Wemby be the GOAT?" data-options="2"></div>

Victor Wembanyama needs to find himself, says Joel Embiid

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Victor Wembanyama gets advice from Joel Embiid to find his game

Joel Embiid has the ultimate advice for Victor Wembanyama

Long before he made it to the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> NBA</a>, scouts from all over the world were already raving about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanyama.</a> He couldn’t have asked for a better place to land and develop his talent than the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> San Antonio Spurs,</a> a team used to having elite big men and foreign players.



Gregg Popovich had already found plenty of success with David Robinson and Tim Duncan, and the expectation is that he does the same with his new first-overall pick.



However, Wembanyama is a player like we had never seen. Others like Kristaps Porzingis and, to a lesser degree, Aleksej Pokusevski and Bol Bol have similar body types and skills, but no one is as good as Wembanyama.



That’s why he doesn’t seem to be much of a fan of the ‘Unicorn’ nickname. That was given to Porzingis and several players before him, and he’s not like any other player in NBA history.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231109_BUS_83962_victor-wembanyama-2-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-26436" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victor-wembanyama-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Victor Wembanyama</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Wembanyama Doesn’t Like To Be Called A Unicorn</h2>



“That nickname’s been used over and over, so I’m not really a big fan of it,” Wembanyama told reporters Wednesday ahead of his debut at the Madison Square Garden. “Just like LeBron said, everybody’s been a unicorn. There’s just one alien, right?”



He’s talking about LeBron James’ quote on him not being an unicorn but an alien. Even one of the greatest players of all time was in awe of his combination of size and skill before he set foot on an NBA court:



“We’re labeling like this unicorn thing—everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years,” James said before the NBA Draft. “But he’s more like an alien—no one has seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor.”



Back then, Wembanyama was humbled by James’ words. He also claimed that he’s striving to be just that: a one-of-a-kind player who cannot be compared to anybody else:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20231109_BUS_83962_victorwembanyama-1024x572.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="" class="wp-image-26406" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victorwembanyama-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victorwembanyama-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victorwembanyama-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/victorwembanyama.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></figure>



“First of all, I’m really glad he said that because I didn’t like to be called a unicorn,” Wembanyama said. “I like it because it’s just something not from this world. I like being called an alien, yeah. It’s really what I’m working to be—something unique and original.”



<h2>He’s Gonna Grow Through His Mistakes</h2>



Wembanyama has had some great performances to start his career. But just like what happens with every rookie, there are going to be ups and downs during the first couple of years:



“He’s a 19-year-old rookie who just learned about the NBA. Of course, it’s a learning experience. We’re not putting him in situations until we know where he’s most comfortable and where he reacts the best,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I just figured out recently he likes one block more than the other block, and it’s the opposite of what you would think. So we need to observe him for a while and see where he naturally performs the best.”






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The reigning No. 1 pick has the potential to be the best player on Earth a couple of years from now. Barring injury, he’s going to be must-watch television and one of the faces of the league for the next decade or so.


<div class="wp_fsn_poll" id="654d1ab5f2b571abd7e47d67" data-title="Will Wembanyama become a superstar?" data-options="2"></div>

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Victor Wembanyama admits he doesn't like his new nickname - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves ultimately decided to re-sign with the Lakers, a significant move for a team that reached the Western Conference Finals largely thanks to his contributions. During the 2023 playoffs, he played a key role alongside <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">LeBron James</a> with an average of 16.9 points.



Despite his commitment to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Lakers</a>, Reaves considered another option as a restricted free agent during the offseason. In an episode of The Lowe Post podcast, he mentioned contemplating the possibility of joining the Spurs to play alongside potential generational talent <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a>.


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#20230921#BUS#66347"></div>


The Lakers’ strong inclination to match any offer Reaves received deterred other teams from pursuing him aggressively, he told Zach Lowe. Meanwhile, the player clarified that his preference was to remain in Los Angeles regardless of other offers.



<h2>Reaves Details his Offseason Signing with the Lakers</h2>



“You know, it definitely creeps into your mind, obviously, when there’s, you know, a little bit of talks back and forth about, you know, something possibly coming to light. But I didn’t think there was any way that the Lakers didn’t match what, you know, whatever was offered. They pretty much made it clear that they were gonna match whatever,” Reaves noted.



Reaves’ performances earned him a call-up to play for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup. Despite the team’s quarterfinal exit, this experience solidified the fact that he’s more than just a one-season standout. Albeit there may have been thoughts about playing alongside the first overall pick, he chose to remain in his current team.



Reaves provided more insights into his consideration: “You think about it a little bit, but at the end of the day, I wanted to be in L.A. You know you hear things, and obviously with Wembanyama, you know so much upside with him. Your mind kind of just wonders into that basketball world what that would be like.”



<h2>How Much Does Austin Reaves Make?</h2>



Austin Reaves secured a four-year, $53.8 million contract with the Lakers in the offseason.

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Reaves Considered Another Team Before Staying in LA - Bolavip US

Austin Reaves Considered Another Team Before Staying with LeBron James at the Lakers

Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has officially announced his intention to represent the French national team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. While his career with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> has generated significant hype, Wembanyama has already set his plan on a greater mission for next year.



“Succeeding in the Olympics would be a great story. And there will be no goal other than gold. Of course, I will be present at the Olympics,” Wembanyama stated in a recent interview with L’Equipe. Despite making his fantastic debut with France last November, he skipped the FIBA World Cup. Wembanyama in consultation with his advisors, medical team, and members of the NT leadership.


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The French national team has secured an automatic spot in the 2024 Olympics as the host country, a fortunate development given their lackluster performance in the recent competition. His role with the Spurs still creates some suspense considering his uncommon profile, but his talent provides a bright future for him.



<h2>Victor Wembanyama Comments on the FIBA World Cup</h2>



The FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023 was an intriguing tournament that left many surprising results, such as the United Stated being eliminated in the quarterfinals by the champions Germany. However, an even bigger disappointment was the French team. Albeit arriving as a championship contender, they were out in the first round with a 1-2 record in three matchups.



Reflecting on France’s performance, Wembanyama expressed: “I watched the FIBA World Cup, and the result was very disappointing. But I am not worried. I have no judgment to make; I was not on the team, and it is in the hands of top-level players. I feel that this does not alter the opportunity to do something big in Paris next year.”



Arriving in the tournament with a considerable number of NBA players didn’t equate to on-court success for France. Their defeats in the hands of Canada by 30 points and Latvia even without Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup marked the need of a new approach. Wembanyama looks to be ready for the challenge.



<h2>How Old Is Victor Wembanyama?</h2>



Victor Wembanyama is 19 years old.

It\&#039;s not Victor Wembanyama: Paul George reveals his favorite to win ROTY

Wembanyama Makes Decision on Playing at the Olympics - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> made the obvious choice and selected <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a> with the first overall pick in the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Draft. Paul George, however, does not see him as favorite to win Rookie of the Year in 2024.



In a recent episode of his Podcast P, the Los Angeles Clippers star has shown praise for the Spurs prospect. It makes sense, since his college performances suggest we have a generational talent before our eyes.



However, when it comes to the ROTY conversation, George believes Chet Holmgren leads the race. The second overall pick in 2022 missed last season due to injury, but now looks ready to prove his worth.



<h2>Paul George believes Chet Holmgren, not Victor Wembanyama will win ROTY</h2>



“It’s a lot of good talent,” George said on a recent episode of Podcast P. “I mean it’s going to come down to who’s gonna play more. I’m going to go with Chet. I think he is gonna play a ton. They’re gonna be a winning team.



“The way they play, it’s gonna be fun to watch. So I think he’s gonna get a lot of coverage. He plays both ends, he blocks shots, he’s a little bit more polished, you know, further along, I think, than Wemby is.



“Wemby’s gonna have a little learning curve. I know Chet didn’t play much due to the injury his rookie year, but being in the league, seeing the game up close for a year is gonna give him that much more of a head start. I think Chet’s going to be the Rookie of the Year.”



<h2>Who was the last ROTY winner?</h2>



Paolo Banchero is the last player to win Rookie of the Year Award, receiving the accolade in the 2022-23 NBA season.


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<h2>How old is Victor Wembanyama?</h2>



Born on January 4, 2004 in Nanterre, France, Victor Wembanyama is entering the NBA with 19 years of age.

It's not Wembanyama: Paul George surprisingly reveals his favorite to win ROTY

It's not Wembanyama: Paul George reveals his favorite to win ROTY - Bolavip US

It's not Victor Wembanyama: Paul George reveals his favorite to win ROTY

Long before he even declared for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>Draft, scouts were already raving about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanyama</a>, going as far as to call him the best prospect ever, even ahead of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James.</a>



Wembanyama has a unique body and skill set, and there’s no denying that he could end up being the next big thing in the game. But he has yet to make his professional debut.



That’s why Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady wants people to have more realistic expectations for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs’</a> rookie, citing that all the hype could be a disservice because American youngsters will go at him.



<h2>Tracy McGrady Predicts Early Struggles For Wembanyama</h2>



“Y’all talking about the greatest player of all time and this and that like– c’mon man. We gotta chill out with that. We don’t know what this kid is going to be,” T-Mac told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. “I do know that he’s going to be well prepared, he’s going to get the best advice that he possibly could get from anybody because he’s surrounded by greatness — Greg Popovich, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and so in that sense he’s going to be prepared for anything that he’s about to endure but, let it play out man.”



“We don’t know how great this kid is going to be. We just don’t know,” he continued. “This is the NBA bro! He is going to be going up against some REAL dogs out here that are looking at that and is going to take offense to that, you know what I’m sayin’? By him coming over from France and you think that he’s going to be the top dog? It’s going to be some guys over here on this soil that’s going to challenge that so, let’s let this play out. It’s too much.”


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Truth be told, it’s hard to envision Wembanyama being a force right out of the gate. He’s an elite talent and could end up being one of the GOATs, but the Spurs will be wise to take things slowly with him.

Tracy McGrady explains why Victor Wembanyama could struggle

Tracy McGrady explains why Victor Wembanyama could struggle - Bolavip US

The lead up to the 2023 NBA Draft didn’t have any suspense as to who was going to be the first pick. All the hype was aimed at the Lottery, because <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a> was destined to be the top choice in a potentially league-changing rookie selection.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> were the lucky team who landed the Frenchman, with another big move coming after it in the form of Gregg Popovich’s contract extension. There will be growing pains for the player considering the Spurs finished with the worst record, but the young star has a high ceiling.


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Wembanyama presents a prototype that has never been seen in the league. The versatile sensation has a full arsenal of tools to be a dangerous matchup for everybody even though he is reportedly 7’5”.



<h2>Watch: Victor Wembanyama Receives his NBA 2K24 Rating</h2>



Something that is very popular for basketball fans is playing NBA 2K. This year’s edition is about to be released, but some ratings has been published already. One of them was the highest rated rookie ever in the game, an award that went to the Spurs’ player.



Victor Wembanyama holds an 84 overall rating in NBA 2K24, a number that puts him over the previous record posted by Zion Williamson. The New Orleans Pelicans talented forward received an 81 following his draft, so Wemby shattered that figure.



Wembanyama was also excited to receive the honor. With his usual low-profile he said: “That’s nice. That’s all right”. In the official account of NBA2K they posted the clip where the new star receives his value, with the Frenchman confident he can reach the 90s later this season.



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Wemby reacts to his first ever rating in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA2K24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA2K24</a> 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/Ronnie2K?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ronnie2K</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2KRatings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2KRatings</a> <a href="https://t.co/h8u1oE14cI">pic.twitter.com/h8u1oE14cI</a>— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1689667986913980417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Spurs reportedly eyeing trade for disgruntled veteran to pair with Victor Wembanyama

NBA Rumors: Spurs could pair Victor Wembanyama with an All-Star

Wembanyama: Highest Graded Rookie Ever in NBA 2K24 - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Portland Trail Blazers </a>would be better off moving <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard.</a> That way, they could give the keys to the offense to Scoot Henderson, who was recently taken third overall in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Draft.



Henderson has turned a lot of heads since his days in high school, and he looks poised to be one of the next stars in the league. That’s why he needs as many touches as he can handle.



Moreover, the former G-League standout is determined to prove his value from the jump, and he recently claimed that he’s going to beat <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanyama </a>and everybody else for Rookie of the Year.



<h2>Scoot Henderson Says He’ll Win Rookie Of The Year</h2>



“I will win Rookie of the Year,” said Henderson. “That’s just a mindset of a manifestation of that I kind of drew. Never doubted myself, you know, making sure I’m always playing good, make sure I’m telling myself ‘I’m gonna have a great rookie season.&apos;”



“I’m not saying I want to have a great rookie season, I’m gonna have a great rookie season. I’m gonna have a great career. I will have a great career and making sure that’s always in just past tense because it happened,” Hendderson added.


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If Lillard’s gone, then he should be the clear-cut favorite to take the award home. Even so, we could still be looking at a ROY race for the ages, also featuring Chet Holmgren, Brandon Miller, and Wembanyama.

Scoot Henderson puts Victor Wembanyama on notice with latest promise - Bolavip US

Scoot Henderson puts Victor Wembanyama on notice with latest promise

Things haven’t been nice for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> in recent years, but now they finally have reasons for optimism thanks to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a>, who is entering the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> as one of the most exciting prospects in a long time.



At 19, the Frenchman is already expected to become the face of a franchise that has been missing the glory days. Back in the day, the Spurs were one of the strongest teams in the league, but that hasn’t been the case lately.



While Wembanyama is poised to take San Antonio back to the top, he’ll probably need some help, especially at the beginning. Therefore, the Spurs have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for James Harden.



<h2>Rumor: Spurs could join the list of James Harden’s suitors</h2>



“Harden would not only pose a threat to opposing defenses with his scoring, but he’d allow Wembanyama to breathe more on the floor with less defensive attention,” Matt Guzman of Sports Illustrated wrote.



“Harden has played for three teams in three years, and both team changes after he left Houston involved the now popularizing ‘NBA Superstar’ drama’. Harden wanted out and forced the hand of the team he was on, regardless of the fallout.



“If San Antonio were to make a move to bring him on, it could end up being another rental destination for the 14-year veteran. If the Spurs aren’t put off by that, they might be inclined to welcome a Texas return for Harden.”


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The Beard submitted a trade request from the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, after only a year and a half with the team. But the Spurs may not care about his constant changes recently, since they could use a player of his experience and caliber to help Wembanyama make his first steps.

NBA Rumors: Spurs could pair Victor Wembanyama with an All-Star - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> made a franchise-changing decision by drafting <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a> with the first pick. Recognized as a player of immense potential, Wembanyama is considered the cornerstone for the Spurs’ upcoming years.



However, the team acknowledges that significant growth is mandatory to regain their recent glory. Head coach Gregg Popovich extended his contract to make sure the young Frenchman develops like Tim Duncan did in this same position.


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As the Spurs embark on a new chapter, they are fully aware of the importance of cultivating a cohesive and well-balanced team, with Wembanyama at its core. The organization aims to build a formidable force that can compete at the highest level, so they are now targeting a veteran to make this process quicker.



<h2>Evan Fournier reportedly linked to the Spurs</h2>



With Popovich’s renowned coaching acumen includes transforming Duncan from a promising project to an all-time great in the history of basketball. He knows very well what it takes to develop Wembanyama in the best possible way, with the addition of a seasoned veteran as a move they might be looking for.



Multiple pieces are needed to improve a roster that finished with the worst record in the league. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/evan-fournier">Evan Fournier</a> is the player that the Spurs might be interested in acquiring, as reported by Ian Begley of SNY. This is a move that could make a lot of sense considering his tense relationship with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-knicks">New York Knicks</a>.



Fournier is set to make 18.9 million next season, but he would also be abord of the idea of playing for San Antonio. “It’s not the Spurs of 2014 anymore but playing for Popovich, learning from him, it would be a pleasure and an honor, for sure.“Being with Victor, looking at the Olympics, that would be great”, Fournier said in an interview with Yann Ohnona of L’Equipe about joining for the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama makes worrisome statement about NBA media

NBA: Blazers\&#039; Scoot Henderson talks Damian Lillard, Victor Wembanyama

Spurs reportedly eyeing trade for disgruntled veteran to pair with Victor Wembanyama - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/scoot-henderson">Scoot Henderson</a> was the 3rd overall pick in the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA </a>Draft, which was unexpected for him since his dream was to be the number one pick. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama">Victor Wembanyama</a> was ultimately chosen first overall. Even though Henderson is the future of the Blazers, they still have unfinished business with Damian Lillard.



Things could take an unexpected turn with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Lillard’s</a> situation. If the Blazers fail to trade him to another team, it could directly affect Henderson’s life in the franchise and create unnecessary stress as he goes through the adjustment process.


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On the other hand, Henderson has a one-on-one battle with Wembanyama, as they both want to prove that they are the best picks from the recent draft. However, Scoot is relaxed so far, as all the attention is on Wemby.



<h2>What did Scoot Henderson say about Damian Lillard and Victor Wembanyama?</h2>



In a recent interview published in The Ringer, Scoot Henderson answered a series of questions where Kevin O’Connor asked him about the Blazers situation with Damian Lillard to which he referred: “…Professional sports is a business at the end of the day. I’m just going about it day by day, and just like y’all are hearing it from ear to ear, post to post. I haven’t really been on social media to really see what’s going on, but I’m here with the team at summer league, and my main focus is, especially when I’m out, to cheer my team.”



O’Connor pointed out to Henderson that if Damian Lillard leaves Portland it would mean that he would have to take over the reins of the franchise during his first rookie year, Scoot replied: “Exactly. And I’m with that. If he leaves, I’m going to just embrace that. I’m going to embrace being the point guard for the team. And that comes with practice. I don’t have my spot guaranteed; I know that. My goal is to get better every day at practice and get better game by game.”



Another key question was about Wembanyama and how he got the dream first pick, to which Scoot said: “Every day, every game. Definitely. It’s a lot of pressure being that guy and being just that high of a pick and being that kind of a talent. Not a lot of players have that height and that skill set. So, you’re going to have a target on your back.”

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NBA: Blazers' Scoot Henderson talks Damian Lillard, Victor Wembanyama - Bolavip US

NBA: Blazers' Scoot Henderson talks Damian Lillard, Victor Wembanyama

Just last week, everybody — even in non–<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> circles — was talking about <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/victor-wembanyama" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victor Wembanayama</a>. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Antonio Spurs</a> rookie was set to make his debut in the Summer League after going first overall in the draft.



Wembanyama made countless public appearances, addressing the media, shooting videos and whatnot. But it wasn’t his basketball-related activities that made him viral.



Wemby made the rounds after his security guard hit pop star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/britney-spears" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Britney Spears</a> in the face. The days went by and she still hasn’t gotten an apology, so she took to social media to call him out.



<h2>Britney Spears Calls Victor Wembanyama Out</h2>



“I wanna share with you guys an incident that happened in Vegas that a lot of people are talking about,” said Britney.



“I heard on the news this radio station talking smack and talking s**t that’s why I’m addressing it.&nbsp;I didn’t appreciate the people saying I deserved to be hit because no woman ever deserves to be hit,” added Spears.



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Britney Spears speaks on the Victor Wembanyama situation <a href="https://t.co/JEVifDkBpX">pic.twitter.com/JEVifDkBpX</a>— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1679089897536118787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Truth be told, the footage shows that Wemby had absolutely nothing to do with this. But even if that were the case, a little empathy and solidarity wouldn’t hurt the seven-footer.

Victor Wembanyama