San Antonio Spurs Take No. 1 Pick, Favorite to Land Victor Wembanyama

By Jeff Stinger • May 17, 2023

The last time San Antonio won the draft lottery was in 1997 when they used the No. 1 overall pick to grab franchise keystone and NBA legend Tim Duncan. The Silver and Black banked on a 14.0% chance to procure the top pick. Since the Draft Lottery format introduction in 1985, San Antonio documents the fewest total lottery picks in the NBA of just seven. Over two and a half decades since their last jackpot, the Spurs won this year’s NBA Draft Lottery and will have the first overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft on June 22.

This is the third time in franchise history that the Spurs hold the top overall pick ticket. The previous two picks ended up being Hall of Fame big men David Robinson in 1987 followed by Tim Duncan in 1997. Both players help the Spurs commence their dominant years. Since the two top picks joined the franchise, the franchise recorded a 22-year Playoff streak from 1998-2019.

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the NBA. We break down the biggest draft prospect of 2023 and what he means to the San Antonio Spurs franchise.

Who is Victor Wembanyama?

The long of the short is Victor Wembanyama resembles no other player in the league right now. A 2K-created player is the only comparison that comes close to him. The seven-foot-four-inch 19-year-old drew the basketball world with his incredible highlights in the French pro league. It was easy to assume that he would become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

It wasn’t until a pair of pre-season series between his team, LNB Pro A side Metropolitan 92, and the G League Ignite in Las Vegas, that he had a proper introduction to the top-tier basketball league. Since then, no one can stop talking about his finesse, shooting, and rim protection.

The big man averaged 36.5 points, 7.5 boards, two assists, a steal, and 4.5 blocks across the two overseas games, helping the French unit bounce back from their earlier loss. Victor was a cut above the rest including another top draft prospect Scoot Henderson, who had been projected to be a part of the top-five in the 2023 NBA Draft.

A Spurs Legend in the Making

The San Antonio Spurs may have lost 60 games in the 2022-23 NBA season, but they secured the Victor Wmbanyama sweepstakes on Tuesday night in Chicago. They were one of three teams banking on a 14% chance of landing the top lottery pick and will surely pursue the 19-year-old French big man.

Although the franchise is not known for its lottery luck, the narrative could change for them. San Antonio landed superstars with the No. 1 overall choice, selecting David Robinson first in 1987 followed by Tim Duncan a decade later. Wembanyama is a certified star that packs professional experience. He has what it takes to be a Hall of Fame player as a promising basketball dynasty since the 2003 No. 1 overall pick, LeBron James.

Managing partner of the Spurs, Peter J. Holt, said in an interview, “I might faint, I’m so excited”. He added, “The city of San Antonio, our fans, we just have so many people that love the Spurs. We’re pumped.”

The Heir to Tim Duncan’s Greatness

Wembanyama’s trajectory with the Spurs is already reminiscent of Tim Duncan. The Hall of Fame forward left a blueprint for him to follow once he wears the Black and Silver jersey.

Since San Antonio drafted Duncan with the top pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, the soft-spoken player from the Virgin Islands went on to become the greatest player in franchise history. He won five NBA championships, teaming up with all-time greats like David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard over his 19-year career in the NBA.

Furthermore, Duncan unlocked his potential under the wing of head coach Gregg Popovich. The 75-year-old legendary coach looks to mentor Victor Wembanyama before his imminent retirement. The French star can also use the help of Parker and Boris Diaw–both French and played for coach Pop.

Wembanyama slices into an already young San Antonio Spurs roster. He will share the ball with Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, and Tre Jones. That’s a solid core for the Spurs as they take on the next few steps of the rebuild.

Ultimately, all eyes are on Victor. There’s going to be immense pressure on top of him. It will be interesting to see if he can play heir to Tim Duncan and lead the franchise to the postseason since he wants the fastest route to championship glory.

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