Inside The Spurs

Victor Wembanyama Reacts After Spurs Land No. 1 Pick

While Victor Wembanyama's monstrous height and length is obviously hard to miss, so was the big smile on his face when cameras caught his reaction to seeing the San Antonio Spurs win Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery.

Zach Dimmitt

Victor Wembanyama Reacts After Spurs Land No. 1 Pick
Victor Wembanyama Reacts After Spurs Land No. 1 Pick /
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Playing it like a true professional, Victor Wembanyama - the consensus top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft - has said that he's happy regardless of where he ends up when he's inevitably selected No. 1 overall next month.

But while Wembanyama's monstrous height and length is obviously hard to miss, so was the big smile on his face when cameras caught his reaction to seeing the San Antonio Spurs land the No. 1 pick in the draft via Tuesday's lottery.

Take a look:

Wembanyama gave the cameras what felt like a genuine double fist-pump while also putting his head down in joyful disbelief. He's either breathing a sigh relief knowing where he's likely headed or is maybe unintentionally showing that the Spurs were at the top of his wish list.

But he tweeted out a simple reaction a bit later that potentially confirms he's happy with San Antonio being his inevitable destination.

"Today was a good day," Wembanyama said.

Though Wembanyama isn't officially a Spur, it's clear he has supreme confidence at potentially leading the franchise to its sixth championship.

"A team player, I'm gonna do everything to win as many games as I can," he told ESPN's Brian Windhorst on Tuesday (Wednesday morning in France). "I'm trying to win a ring ASAP, so be ready."

Considering how San Antonio's previous two No. 1 overall picks panned out, it's hard to blame him for having such lofty goals for himself ahead of his rookie season.

The Spurs will be picking at No. 1 for the third time in franchise history this June, marking the first time doing so since SA took Tim Duncan with the top selection in 1997. The Spurs had already struck gold a decade earlier, picking future MVP and Hall of Famer David Robinson at No. 1 overall before pairing Duncan with him.

Considering the two legendary big men that helped etch the Spurs into NBA lore, Wembanyama certainly has some lofty expectations on his shoulders once he officially arrives to the Alamo City. But with his confidence already through the roof and some visible happiness with the lottery odds, he seems ready to meet these expectations head-on.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

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