“I just don’t believe it,” Charles Barkley will not praise Victor Wembanyama until he proves his worth in the USA
Charles Barkley says he will not be convinced by Victor Wembanyama until he steps foot on an NBA court.
Follow Us
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama is the projected #1 draft pick for 2023 but Charles Barkley is not convinced yet. “I can’t sit here now just because he is killing people over in the Czech Republic that he is going to come over here and dominate. I just don’t believe it“, said Barkley. Wembanyama currently plays in the LNB Pro A league in France where he has been on a dominant run. His frame of 7 feet 5 inches, with an 8-foot wingspan, has made him a no-brainer for the #1 pick.
Charles Barkley has always been critical of foreign players in the past. He was one of the many pundits who doubted Luka Doncic before he was drafted. Wembanyama is averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds this season for the Metropolitans in France. However, Barkley does have a point as it does take time for foreign athletes to get used to the NBA.
Foreign players have a mixed track record in the NBA but off late they have been quite brilliant. The league is run by foreign players now with the last 4 MVPs of the league being foreigners in Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Wembanyama will be hoping that he can emulate foreign legends of the past and cement his legacy in this league. He is believed to be the most hyped NBA player in the draft since LeBron James, so best believe the whole world will be watching.
Victor Wembanyama will be hoping to join a list of foreign NBA greats
The NBA does not have a shortage of foreign legends and Victor Wembanyama has the potential to be another one. Hakeem Olajuwon was the first foreign-born NBA player to win the league MVP back in 1994. Since then the league has seen a plethora of foreign players as role players and NBA champions too. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were a part of the famous San Antonio Spurs dynasty and won 4 rings together. French-born Tony Parker also won Finals MVP in 2007.
In terms of 7 footers, Wembanyama will look to emulate someone like Dirk Nowitzki who has the most points by a foreign player in NBA history. Dirk was a lifelong Dallas Maverick and won a league MVP and a championship over there. Dirk however has his foreign protégé already at Dallas in Luka Doncic. Wembanyama would have looked up to such players while being inspired to be a hooper himself.
Victor Wembanyama is an exciting draft prospect for sure but he is entering a stacked league full of young talent. The NBA is in a phase of new talent right now with the likes of Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai- Gilgeous Alexander, and many more players. Youngsters are dominating the stat sheets and with many of them being foreign players. Charles Barkley might be right to feel that Wembanyama has a point to prove, however, the lanky Frenchman himself will fully be aware of the challenge ahead of him.
In case you missed it:
- WATCH: Russell Westbrook flaunts his ‘exuberant’ skills and scores his first basket for the Clippers
Do follow us on Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Anuj Shrikanth Iyer
(290 Articles Published)