The San Antonio Spurs confirmed the least protected secret in sports when they chose French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama with the number one overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday in New York.
Wembanyama, 19, is considered the most coveted draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003.
"This is accomplishing something that I have been dreaming of my whole life," Wembanyama said on ESPN's broadcast.
"Hearing that sentence from (NBAcommissioner) Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much that I have to cry, man."
Listed at 7-foot-4, Wembanyama is expected to be an immediate difference-maker in the NBA. He has strong floor play, likes to shoot from outside and is effective in the interior.
Wembanyama averaged 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 2.5 assists in 44 games this season for the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92.
The Spurs have won five NBA titles under coach Gregg Popovich and have previously hit the number one overall draft pick jackpot twice with the selections of future Hall of Famers David Robinson (1987) and Tim Duncan (1997).
"We're thrilled that we were able to bring Victor on board," Popovich said at a press conference.
"He's obviously a heck of a talent, a very mature young man. But just like with every draft pick, whether it's the first pick or the 27th pick, or the 38th pick, we have a responsibility to each and every one to try to create an environment where they can reach the best success possible for them.
"We're going to get him on the court, and we're going to see him play, and we'll go from there."
Wembanyama wants to join Robinson and Duncan as championship winners.
"It's tough to win in this league," Wembanyama said. "My goal is to try and learn as much as possible because I want to win that ring."
Alabama forward Brandon Miller went number two overall to the Charlotte Hornets, and G League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson went third to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Thompson twins went back-to-back to round out the top five selections. Amen Thompson went to the Houston Rockets at number and Ausar Thompson went fifth to the Detroit Pistons.
The Overtime Elite products are the first brothers to be selected in the first round of the same draft since Markieff Morris (13th to the Phoenix Suns) and Marcus Morris (14th to the Rockets) in 2011. They are also just the second set of brothers to be selected in the top five, joining Lonzo Ball (number two to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017) and younger brother LaMelo (number three to the Hornets in 2020).
Charlotte, meanwhile, was torn between choosing Miller or Henderson. The Hornets ultimately went with Miller, who is a better fit with point guard LaMelo Ball.
"I think I kind of fill in a place for him," Miller said of Ball. "He's a great vet now and he has the most experience. I know he will be the big brother for me away from home."
Miller was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year during his one college season. He averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Henderson played two seasons in the G League. He averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season.
He is the second-highest drafted player out of the G League. Jalen Green was selected second overall by the Rockets in 2021.
