The San Antonio Spurs emerged as the winner of the Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes on Tuesday, or at least having a better chance than a dozen or so teams at landing the 19-year-old French phenomenon.
Once the model of consistent success in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nearly 20 years, the Spurs were awarded the first overall pick in next month’s draft after completing one of the worst seasons in their 50-year existence.
It’ll be the third time in franchise history in which San Antonio holds the No. 1 pick.
Dial-up internet and a full tank of gas that didn’t dent the wallet were commonplace the last time the Spurs were in a similar position.
After stumbling to a 20-62 finish in the 1996-1997 season, the ball club hired Gregg Popovich as head coach – a position he still holds – and took Wake Forest University forward/center Tim Duncan first, setting the course for an impressive run that produced five NBA titles.
Nearly a decade before that, the Spurs picked U.S. Naval Academy center David Robinson.
Heading into the NBA Draft Lottery, the Spurs, along with division and intrastate rival Houston and the Detroit Pistons, each had a 14% shot at being a step away from securing Wembanyama, the purported top prospect.
The Rockets fell out of the top three to No. 4 while the Pistons, who held the first pick of the draft two years ago, will select No. 2, most likely G League star Scoot Henderson.
"It's going to be unbelievable," Spurs owner Peter J. Holt said, ESPN reported. "Our future was already bright. Wow, it's going to be through the moon."
Barring any major changes and developments, San Antonio simply has a clear path to a player many experts assert is the best prospect since LeBron James.
ESPN reported that the 7-foot-5 Wembanyama isn’t only a dominant force in the paint, but can do damage with a long-distance shot.
The teen star was at a party in his native Paris when he watched the draft lottery.