Miami Heat React To Facing Phenom Victor Wembanyama For Second Time
It doesn't matter that Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra admits he is unable to pronounce his name correctly.
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA. And the rest of the league knows it. His talents were on full displays in the Spurs' loss to the Heat Wednesday at Kaseya Center.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
"Wemby, I can't say his name correctly," Spoelstra said. "That guy is crazy, how talented and how big he is."
Wembanyama is the frontrunner to win Rookie of the Year. At 20, he is averaging 20.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a league-high 3.1 blocks. Although he didn't make the All-Star game, he is considered the NBA's best prospect since LeBron James in 2003.
James, too, did not make the All-Star game as a rookie. Both are viewed as generational talents.
"He's going to be great in this league," Adebayo said. "He has the right coach [Gregg Popovich] around him. He has the right mindset. He wants to win. You can see it in the way he plays. He passes the ball. He does the little things. He's 7-4 doing stuff like that. I think he'll be great in this league."
Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.
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