San Antonio Spurs fans will get their first glimpse of Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s No.1 overall draft pick, on the court in July.
The 7-foot-3-inch center (with his shoes off) will begin working out with the Spurs this week, then join summer league play in Las Vegas on July 7.
Spurs rookies and free agents will be playing two games in Sacramento early next week. The French prodigy, nicknamed “Wemby,” will practice but not play in California.
The 19-year-old will face the Charlotte Hornets and No.2 overall pick Brandon Miller on July 7.
The Portland Trail Blazers and No.3 pick Brandon Miller from the G League Ignite have been scheduled on July 9.
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich was cautious about Wembanyama’s playing time in the summer league. The rookie just finished an entire season in the French League.
“(We) want Victor to be Victor,” Popovich said at a press conference, introducing Wemby to the media and San Antonio last week. “We are going to watch him and see what happens. I learned that from Manu. You can’t make players be what you think they should be.”
Wembanyama said: “I’m ready to learn, man, I’m ready to learn,” according to the New York Post.
Wembanyama told the French newspaper L’Equipe this week that he would play in this summer’s FIBA World Cup.
“It would not be realistic in terms of development and not prudent in terms of health,” Wembanyama told L’Equipe. “I hope people will understand. It’s frustrating for me, too. The France team is still central for me. I want to win as many titles as possible with the team. But I think it’s a necessary sacrifice.”
There have been questions about Wembanyama’s height. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported the future superstar is 7-foot-5 with his shoes on.
Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News reported that Wembanyama is 7-3 1/2 with his shoes off.
“I am 7-foot-3 bare feet,” he told ESPN. “Actually, I have never measured myself with shoes. But it’s [height] gotta be like 7-foot-4 or 7-foot-5, I guess.”
