Credit: Twitter
French basketball star Victor Wembanyama sat down to a dinner thrown by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich alongside the Spurs legends, including Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson, and Sean Elliott, just 24 hours after San Antonio selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The former Metropolitans 92 center spoke and showered praise on the dinner with the Spurs legends in a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
The youngster reportedly had several interesting conversations with the legends and he claimed that it was a great learning experience for him. It must have been a cool moment for Wembanyama to interact with these legends in such an intimate environment.
The 7-foot-3 prodigy also posted a pic alongside the four Spurs superstars on Twitter with the caption, "Couldn’t ask for better role models 🖤"
In a press conference Wembanyama appreciated the stars and said, "In probably a couple hours, I learned more about the NBA than I learned my whole life before, you know? It’s so comforting to see that these people who are so important to the city of San Antonio and to the franchise are such kind people, and generous."
Wembanyama continued by stating that Duncan had informed him that when Robinson and Sean Elliot welcomed him as the No. 1 pick in 1997, they had done the same for him in San Antonio. With the Spurs, Duncan went on to win five NBA titles, including two with Robinson.
Watch the video here:
In his first season, Wembanyama won't have the luxury of playing alongside another Spurs legend. He'll be a part of a team that was assembled last year with the intention of tanking. In San Antonio, there isn't a single NBA All-Star to be seen. Instead, he will lead a group of young players that includes Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and other members of the 2022–23 All–Rookie Second Team.
Wembanyama, who is the most anticipated NBA debut since LeBron James in 2003, is the only first-round selection for the Spurs, joining Robinson and Duncan, and he faces a challenging task. They are two of the best big guys to ever play in the league and many NBA champions. The French basketball star is viewed as a future star who will carry on their legacy.
