Victor Wembanyama is set to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and that means he will join the San Antonio Spurs to start his career in the world’s best basketball league.
Some have reservations about how Victor Wembanyama will adapt to the NBA, but others think he will be just fine. Shaquille O’Neal recently explained why the current era of big men will make it easier for Wembanyama to acclimatize, taking a shot at reigning MVP Joel Embiid in the process.
“If this was our era and [people were] banging, he’d be, he’d be, you know, chicken noodle soup,” Shaq continued. “Like, I’m watching how these guys play now, you know, especially like, you know, Joel Embiid. He’s 6-11, he’s not posting up. He’s shooting jumpers, and then you’ve got the nerve to say, you got the nerve to say, ‘Me and James [Harden] can’t do it by ourselves’?
“Yeah, cause get your big a** down in the paint. If you get your big a** down in the paint, you can do it by yourself. But that’s not how people play anymore, so this kid will be fine, and I wish him well.”
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That is a blunt take from Shaquille O’Neal, he didn’t sugarcoat his feelings there. Joel Embiid called on his teammates to do better following the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff exit, and it seems to have rubbed the Big Diesel the wrong way. While Victor Wembanyama may adapt well to the NBA, he will have problems when he goes up against the reigning MVP, no matter what Shaq says.
Shaquille O’Neal Also Explained Why He No Longer Doubts Victor Wembanyama
No person can say for sure how any prospect will perform in the NBA, but Wembanyama has been hyped so much for a reason. Despite initial skepticism, O’Neal explained in the same interview why he no longer doubts the young Frenchman.
“He’s a pick-and-pop guy. He can shoot pretty good. He’s like a seven-foot-four Kevin Durant, so I think he can acclimate very, very quickly. And he’s with the master. Like, having a kid like that go to ‘The System?’ That’s what I call the Spurs, ‘The System.’ Having a kid like that go to ‘The System,’ I think people better watch out.”
There are concerns over Wembanyama’s health, but some experts think they are overblown. The only thing left now is for him to get drafted and start playing because current NBA big men will be waiting to try and prove why the young star isn’t all that.
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