Victor Wembanyama had another great performance for the Boulogne Levallois Metropolitans, dropping 36 points and 11 rebound. There is a time and a place for it.
On Thursday, Victor Wembanyama's teammates pulled him aside and showed him a video of the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 talent from France who has impressed spectators and NBA executives alike in his first trip to America this week, said he still has more work to do.
After leading his Metropolitans 92 squad to a 112-106 win over G League Ignite at Dollar Loan Center, he said "it's obviously an honor to see such great people talking about me, but it really doesn't change anything." I was like, 'That's cool' No more. I have to keep my focus. It's the thing. I have not done anything yet.
With the projected No. 2 pick in next summer's draft, Scoot Henderson, out with a knee injury, Wembanyama was the main event. Rudy Gobert, a French basketball star and Wembanyama's good friend, watched the game from the sideline.
Some NBA reps in attendance said they'd never seen a player of that size like Wembanyama.
He scored 37 points and went 7-for-11 from the 3-point line in a 122-115 loss to G League Ignite. Six people sat in the front row for that game.
The hype about Wembanyama is true.
James scored 23 points in the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game in Las Vegas. He's like an alien for the last couple of years. I have never seen anyone taller than him, but as graceful as he is on the floor.
Is that correct? His ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot step-back jumpers out of the post, step-back 3s, catch-and- shoot 3s, block shots, he's a generational talent.
Wembanyama said he should not get caught up in the hype about his potential.
Wembanyama did not play in an NBA game. I have to stay focused because I didn't get drafted. Staying consistent and getting better every day will be difficult.
O'Neal called his father to ask for help stopping Wembanyama, who scored eight points in his debut.
"He said the tallest person he ever played against was either Manute Bol or Houston," Shareef O' Neal said. There is no player like him. He is the only player that can move like that. My father told me that I needed to be aggressive. Try to get into him and get into his face. I attempted to do that. He only said that. He said he couldn't help me on that one because he didn't know anyone who could shoot like that.
A buzz that has changed his profile in the United States will lead Wembanyama to return to France. The trip exceeded Wembanyama's expectations. It made him a famous person.
What do you think of the American game? He said that it was really good. I don't think it could have been better. We might have won on Tuesday. That was a once-in-a- lifetime experience. I would like to thank all of the organizations for allowing us to come here.
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