NBA: San Antonio Spurs win Draft lottery 2023, poised to pick Victor Wembanyama
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Wembanyama is now set to follow in the footsteps of French basketball legend Tony Parker, who won four NBA championships with San Antonio between 2003 and 2014.
Tuesday's lottery results also mean Wembanyama is set to begin his NBA career under the tutelage of revered Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a giant of the NBA who has guided San Antonio to five NBA titles.
"I can't really describe it, my heart's beating," Wembanyama told ESPN in an interview from Paris on Tuesday shortly after learning the likely identity of his new team.
"I've got everyone I love around me, it's a really special moment that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life."
Wembanyama added that he intends to make a fast start to his NBA career -- telling ESPN he wants to vie for championships rapidly.
"I'm a team player, I'm going to make everything to win as many games as I can. I'm trying to win a (championship) ring ASAP so be ready," Wembanyama said.
Peter J. Holt, chairman of Spurs Sports and Entertainment, reacted with delight after learning of the team's lottery win.
"I might faint," Holt said. "I'm so excited. The city of San Antonio, our fans, man we have so many people who love the Spurs. We're pumped."
The 7ft 2in (2.21m) Metropolitans 92 players is seen by many as a transformational talent, a once-in-a-generation player regarded as the most sought-after No.1 draft pick since LeBron James entered the league in 2003.
James himself has been among Wembanyama's legion of admirers, describing him as less a "unicorn" and "more like an alien."
"No one has ever seen someone as tall as he is and as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor," James said. "He's for sure a generational talent."
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Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 1:26 am