Wembanyama is pictured in a San Antonio Spurs uniform for first time
Victor Wembanyama is pictured in a San Antonio Spurs uniform for the first time after 7-foot-4 superstar was drafted No 1 in the 2023 NBA Draft
- Victor Wembanyama was drafted No 1 overall by the Spurs in the 2023 Draft
- He’s in San Antonio where he met fans, held press conference and pulled on strip
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Victor Wembanyama has been officially unveiled as a member of the San Antonio Spurs.
Images of Wembanyama in a San Antonio jersey – with his chosen jersey number 1 – have been revealed.
The French star was picked first overall by the Spurs at Thursday night’s NBA Draft ceremony in Brooklyn, New York.
But when Wembanyama arrived in the Lone Star State, he was greeted by throngs of Spurs fans – excited to get a glimpse of their new star.
On Saturday, Wembanyama greeted fans at San Antonio’s famous River Walk where he was interviewed.
Victor Wembanyama, the NBA draft’s top pick, has been officially introduced with the Spurs
Wembanyama was revealed and greeted by a throng of jubilant Spurs fans
An unveiling ceremony for the French star took place on San Antonio’s famous River Walk
‘I’ve got a lot to do,’ Wembanyama said. ‘But it’s all right. It’s OK. It’s all going to fit in.’
He’s excited, and rightly so. He put on a Spurs uniform on Saturday for the first time and will play in one for the first time sometime in early July in either Sacramento or Las Vegas; San Antonio plays in both of those summer leagues.
He offered high-fives to hundreds of Spurs employees who showed up at the arena on Saturday to welcome him, smiling the whole way.
‘These are exciting times,’ Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said.
They come with the biggest expectations. The morning party on the River Walk took place at the spot where the Spurs’ championship celebrations usually are centered.
And the news conference that followed at the arena came with Wembanyama seated on a stage that just happened to be at the same end of the court as San Antonio’s five NBA championship banners.
‘To Victor, I wanted to say to you directly, we’re excited to grow with you, support you, challenge you, especially Coach Pop – there’ll be a lot of challenging days – on your journey through life and basketball,’ Spurs general manager Brian Wright said as he sat to Wembanyama’s left.
‘Your talent is obvious, but as we got to know you, the maturity, the approach, the character really showed us how special of a young man you are.’
The French phenom was taken first overall by San Antonio at the draft Thursday night
Wembanyama has been seen as the top prospect in this year’s draft class for months
His arrival in San Antonio comes as the five-time championship franchise is transitioning
Fans have been anticipating Wembanyama’s arrival for weeks after the Spurs won the lottery
Former Spurs first overall pick David Robinson was also on hand for the ceremony
Fans hope that Wembanyama will jolt the Spurs’ rebuild and bring another title home
It was part of a whirlwind first 20 hours or so in San Antonio for Wembanyama, and had dinner with Popovich and some former players that night. Wembanyama said he learned more about the NBA in those two hours than he had learned in the last few years.
‘Honestly, that was one of the best dinners of my life,’ Wembanyama said. ‘And not because of the food. The food was good. But the people was crazy.’
Wembanyama’s arrival comes at a time where the Spurs have begun to rebuild after consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs.
Fans hope that Wembanyama will be a jolt to the rebuild under coach Gregg Popovich that the team sorely needs.
The Spurs have won five NBA titles – most recently in 2014, when they beat the Miami Heat in five games.
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