The Victor Wembanyama era officially begins Friday when the San Antonio Spurs take on the Charlotte Hornets (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) on Day 1 of the NBA 2K24 Summer League. Every minute the 19-year-old French phenom is on the floor will be treated as a preview into a new era for the Spurs and the NBA.
The first overall pick in this year's draft is facing the type of expectations that were once reserved for LeBron James in 2003. Wembanyama's performance in summer league will be the first tangible results of those expectations against NBA competition.
For Wembanyama, trying to make a good first impression in his summer league debut is just one of many big moments over the past few months. He has gone from watching the Spurs win the first overall pick in the draft lottery, to leading Metropolitans 92 to the LNB Pro A finals, to walking across the Barclays Center stage first on draft night. Now, in Las Vegas, he will get to contend against even more promising young NBA talent.
ESPN insiders Kevin Pelton, Andrew Lopez and Jonathan Givony break down what makes Wembanyama special on the court, the early weeks of Wembanyama-mania and what to expect from him in his summer league debut.
What to watch for in Wembanyama's summer league debut
Wembanyama had a historic season in France as he was the first teenager in modern European basketball history to post a usage rate over 30%. Compare that with Luka Doncic (27%) and Nikola Jokic (20%) in their draft-eligible seasons, and you realize the type of offensive role he shouldered at center for Metropolitans 92. That doesn't even account for the defensive impact he made on a team that made the French league finals.
Wembanyama accounted for 25% of his team's total points and rebounds, something no NBA player has done since Kevin Garnett in 2004, which speaks volumes for his durability, playing 62 games without missing a single contest.
Used most frequently in the post and as a pick-and-roll finisher, we saw different facets to Wembanyama's game in the G League Ignite scrimmages in Las Vegas in October. He benefited from the NBA 3-point line, hitting 9-for-18 attempts from beyond the arc in two games and demonstrating incredible confidence and shot-making versatility pulling up off the dribble and running on the move.
Despite some notable highlights, his effectiveness from the perimeter faltered as the season moved on in France. He struggled badly in the second half of the season, with his mechanics wavering, and finished the year shooting 27% from 3, but 82% from the free throw line -- an encouraging sign for his future, especially considering the caliber of shot-making we've seen in large doses.
Despite his extraordinary skill level, versatility and productivity, it's Wembanyama's defense that should make the most immediate impact with San Antonio. He has tremendous mobility covering ground on the perimeter and getting back to make plays at the rim with his 8-foot wingspan, showing exceptional instincts as a shot-blocker. He has room to grow as his 227-pound frame continues to evolve, as he will get pushed around at times by stronger players in the post and on the defensive glass. -- Jonathan Givony
What have the past few weeks been like for the Spurs rookie?
As soon as Wembanyama heard his name called on draft night by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, it has been a whirlwind of events.
Wembanyama said he did about two hours of media that night in Brooklyn and then was whisked away to San Antonio the next day. However, a flight delay caused his camp to sit an extra two hours before finally making its way to Texas.
That Friday night, Wembanyama, his family and some of the Spurs' brain trust, including general manager Brian Wright and coach Gregg Popovich, had dinner with some Spurs legends -- Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson and Sean Elliott.
Wembanyama said he learned more about the NBA in those two hours than he did throughout his entire life.
Wembanyama and fellow Spurs rookie Sidy Cissoko were introduced to Spurs faithful at a special ceremony on the River Walk on Saturday before a news conference at the AT&T Center.
It took a few more days of getting acclimated to life in the United States, but on June 29, Wembanyama had his first official practice with the Spurs as the team geared up for summer league.
Being able to get on the basketball court with his future teammates was a relief for the French phenom.
"Unfortunately, I had a lot to do off the court but I'm glad that's over so I can focus on basketball," Wembanyama said at practice on June 30.
When the rest of Wembanyama's teammates headed to Sacramento to participate in the California Classic, Wembanyama stayed behind and worked on his game. The plan was for him to join the team in Vegas before the start of the NBA 2K24 Summer League.
Wembanyama said it would have been fun to play the Los Angeles Lakers at the California Classic and while he wants to play as many games as possible, he knows sacrifices have to be made.
He has already given up the chance to play for France in the FIBA World Cup in August because he's trying to get ready for the 82-game NBA season. In Vegas, he'll also have a limit.
"I'm going to play at least one or two games," he said. -- Andrew Lopez
Can he live up to the hype?
The last time there was this kind of hype about a draft pick's debut in summer league, there was an earthquake in Las Vegas -- literally. That happened not long after 2019 No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson had 11 points in nine minutes in his debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, shortened by a bruised left knee that ended his summer action.
We've already seen Wembanyama play in the Las Vegas area. Last October, he made the trip with his Metropolitans 92 teammates to play a pair of exhibitions against G League Ignite and eventual No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson at their home arena in nearby Henderson.
During his first showcase in front of many U.S.-based NBA executives, Wembanyama exceeded the hype despite the potential for jet lag on the lengthy trip. He had 37 points and five blocks in the first game, knocking down seven 3-pointers in 11 attempts. Two days later, Wembanyama put up 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks.
It's worth remembering those performances came in the middle of the French season, meaning Wembanyama had already established his go-to role on offense and chemistry with his teammates. That won't be the case in summer league, where the Spurs also lack the pass-first point guard ideal for setting up Wembanyama. Blake Wesley, one of San Antonio's three first-round picks from 2022, has averaged 6.5 APG while running the show so far in the California Classic.
The guard-centric style of summer play has limited notable big men before. Back in 2007, No. 1 pick Greg Oden had 13 points and nine fouls in his lone game in Las Vegas. (Players are allowed 10 fouls in summer play rather than the usual six.) More recently, Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 12.8 PPG on 40% shooting in five summer league games.
As a result, expectations for eye-popping offensive stat lines like Wembanyama posted against G League Ignite are unrealistic. Still, what separates Wembanyama from past centers drafted No. 1 is his ability to create his own offense off the bounce like the guards who usually dominate summer play. It will be fun to see how well that translates in a first taste against NBA competition. -- Kevin Pelton