Why Nic Batum knew a 14-year-old Victor Wembanyama was 'the next one' and their deep French connections
![NBA mock draft 2023: Updated projection with Victor Wembanyama to surprise team in lottery sim - SBNation.com NBA mock draft 2023: Updated projection with Victor Wembanyama to surprise team in lottery sim - SBNation.com](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SwwO4_d__0GJU82iawH5NqBgz0g=/0x0:2000x1233/1200x800/filters:focal(808x0:1128x320)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71878310/mockdrafteditorial_1.0.png)
NBA mock draft 2023: Updated projection with Victor Wembanyama to surprise team in lottery sim - SBNation.com
![2023 NBA Draft: 242 players declare for draft led by French star Victor Wembanyama, Gonzaga's Drew Timme - CBSSports.com 2023 NBA Draft: 242 players declare for draft led by French star Victor Wembanyama, Gonzaga's Drew Timme - CBSSports.com](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2023/04/26/28fb03e7-4ec1-4424-b35f-d0dc0a9a2b2f/thumbnail/1200x675/341eb9d88f8a4f7e0ab3f2baa0937403/victor-wembanyama-nba-draft-getty.jpg)
2023 NBA Draft: 242 players declare for draft led by French star Victor Wembanyama, Gonzaga's Drew Timme - CBSSports.com
![Nicolas Batum on Sixers' Joel Embiid potentially joining French national team: 'Would you say no to the MVP?' - Liberty Ballers Nicolas Batum on Sixers' Joel Embiid potentially joining French national team: 'Would you say no to the MVP?' - Liberty Ballers](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72595564/1246318690.0.jpg)
Nicolas Batum on Sixers' Joel Embiid potentially joining French national team: 'Would you say no to the MVP?' - Liberty Ballers
![Victor Wembanyama height: How likely No. 1 draft pick compares to tallest NBA players in 2023 | Sporting News Victor Wembanyama height: How likely No. 1 draft pick compares to tallest NBA players in 2023 | Sporting News](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile_2x/s3/2023-05/nba-plain--e0264b4e-e518-4191-9d9e-002b02c0b91a.png?h=920929c4&itok=0_-jZP4f)
Victor Wembanyama height: How likely No. 1 draft pick compares to tallest NBA players in 2023 | Sporting News
![NBA Draft: Meet 7-foot-2 Victor Wembanyama, the French prospect who could be the No. 1 pick in 2023 - CBSSports.com NBA Draft: Meet 7-foot-2 Victor Wembanyama, the French prospect who could be the No. 1 pick in 2023 - CBSSports.com](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2021/11/09/5e92315d-4ac8-4334-81c2-84c82ba3acc5/thumbnail/1200x675/5a3348c6e3034829b77edf10baaed905/victor-wembanyama-1.jpg)
NBA Draft: Meet 7-foot-2 Victor Wembanyama, the French prospect who could be the No. 1 pick in 2023 - CBSSports.com
![Touted French prospect Victor Wembanyama wants to forge own path in NBA - 'My goal is to be like something you've never seen' - ESPN Touted French prospect Victor Wembanyama wants to forge own path in NBA - 'My goal is to be like something you've never seen' - ESPN](https://a.espncdn.com/photo/2022/1004/r1070729_1296x729_16-9.jpg)
Touted French prospect Victor Wembanyama wants to forge own path in NBA - 'My goal is to be like something you've never seen' - ESPN
![2023 NBA draft lottery: 'French phenom' Victor Wembanyama to learn his NBA destination | NBA News | Sky Sports 2023 NBA draft lottery: 'French phenom' Victor Wembanyama to learn his NBA destination | NBA News | Sky Sports](https://e0.365dm.com/23/05/1600x900/skysports-victor-wembanyama_6156978.jpg?20230516123808)
2023 NBA draft lottery: 'French phenom' Victor Wembanyama to learn his NBA destination | NBA News | Sky Sports
![Victor Wembanyama: My Goal at 2024 Olympics 'Is to Beat Team USA in the Final' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report Victor Wembanyama: My Goal at 2024 Olympics 'Is to Beat Team USA in the Final' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report](https://media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/c_fill,g_faces,w_1600,h_1600,q_95/v1684936826/yts3jinxhy9frhsfqhzx.jpg)
Victor Wembanyama: My Goal at 2024 Olympics 'Is to Beat Team USA in the Final' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
![NBA Draft: Jeremy Sochan represents Great Britain in 2022 class, leads list of international lottery hopefuls | NBA News | Sky Sports NBA Draft: Jeremy Sochan represents Great Britain in 2022 class, leads list of international lottery hopefuls | NBA News | Sky Sports](https://e0.365dm.com/22/06/2048x1152/skysports-jeremy-sochan-nba-draft_5811600.jpg)
NBA Draft: Jeremy Sochan represents Great Britain in 2022 class, leads list of international lottery hopefuls | NBA News | Sky Sports
![Victor Wembanyama Struggles in Game 1 Loss of 2023 French League Finals Before Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report Victor Wembanyama Struggles in Game 1 Loss of 2023 French League Finals Before Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report](https://media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/c_fill,g_faces,w_1600,h_1600,q_95/v1686491651/obutg7ndnykxjqdtxv6q.jpg)
Victor Wembanyama Struggles in Game 1 Loss of 2023 French League Finals Before Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
![NBA All-Star: How the Dream Team's impact in Barcelona sparked European boom | NBA News | Sky Sports NBA All-Star: How the Dream Team's impact in Barcelona sparked European boom | NBA News | Sky Sports](https://e0.365dm.com/21/03/1600x900/skysports-nba-dream-team-team-usa_5295016.jpg?20210306151220)
NBA All-Star: How the Dream Team's impact in Barcelona sparked European boom | NBA News | Sky Sports
![Video: Victor Wembanyama Bounces 1st Pitch at Yankees Game Ahead of 2023 NBA Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report Video: Victor Wembanyama Bounces 1st Pitch at Yankees Game Ahead of 2023 NBA Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report](https://media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/c_fill,g_faces,w_3800,h_2000,q_95/v1687302862/ljm5nyajwafh58uqvheb.jpg)
Video: Victor Wembanyama Bounces 1st Pitch at Yankees Game Ahead of 2023 NBA Draft | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report
![Who is Victor Wembanyama? Why French center is the likely No. 1 pick in 2023 NBA Draft | Sporting News Who is Victor Wembanyama? Why French center is the likely No. 1 pick in 2023 NBA Draft | Sporting News](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile_2x/s3/2022-06/wembanyama-ftr.jpeg?itok=eJGnfzYi)