23 June 2023 , 10:39
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Victor Wembanyama has already been in conversation with his new San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, after the pair shared a phonecall moments after his No. 1 draft pick.
Wembanyama has been the name on everybody's lips heading into this year's NBA draft, and to the surprise of nobody he was the first name called by commissioner Adam Silver. The lucky franchise signing on the French prodigy were the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the lottery to be awarded the first pick.
After impressing in his native country of France, there are huge expectations on the 19-year-old's shoulders ahead of his debut season in basketball's most prestigious and he has been widely regarded as the brightest prospect to enter the draft since LeBron James in 2003.
The man who will be in charge of coaching Wembanyama is Popovich, and the legendary 74-year-old was quick to give his new man a call after the pick. In a video uploaded by the Spurs' Twitter account, the 7-foot-4-inch star was seen being handed a phone with his coach's name on it.
Of course he answered, and it seems the teenager was impressed with Popovich's French skills as the pair briefly conversed in his native language. Following his No. 1 pick Wembanyama was seen breaking down after coming to terms with the reality that unfolded at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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The French star went on to reveal his move to the NBA was a life-long dream. "Just accomplishing something that I've been dreaming of my whole life," Wembanyama commented. "Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver. I got to cry man.
"It's a tough league tough to win. Many players have tried to win for years and decades and my goal is to learn as quick as possible and win that ring." His sentiments at Thursday's draft echoed comments he had previously revealed about his NBA's goal back in April.
Victor Wembanyama has signed for the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)He said: "I realised pretty young I wanted to play in the NBA but it becomes a reality more every day. I'm so lucky to have this dream within the reach of my hand. I've been working more than ever on my body with my personal trainer Guillaume [Alquier]. I'm ready to go over all sorts of obstacles.
"So far it's worked pretty well. I haven't missed a game yet. I've been there for my guys every game. There are so many games in an NBA season. It's hard to play all 82 games, some players are built a certain way. Others got to rest. My goal is to play the most games I can, and help my team as much as I can."