EXPLAINED: Why are Teams Such as San Antonio Spurs Ready to Tank For 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Victor Wembanyama?

Even though the NBA offseason is still in its early stages, there has already been enough to indicate that the clubs vying for the first overall choice in the 2023 NBA Draft will face intense competition. 18-year-old French prodigy Victor Wembanyama is projected to go first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Despite being 7 feet 2 inches tall, Victor moves more like a guard or wing than a typical big. We learn about a new generational potential every few years. Someone who, if acquired by your favorite club, may actually alter the direction of the organization.

Victor Wembanyama
Credits: ESPN

Because of this, tanking has existed and will continue to exist forever. The NBA can try its hardest to eliminate it by lowering lottery odds, but it won’t change a thing. Even after the NBA made those percentage modifications, a lot of clubs still chose to go out of the playoff race.

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Victor Wembanyama is the reason teams are tanking

You’ve probably already seen the highlights, but let’s take a look at a little film that appeared on my timeline this morning. It essentially explains why 4-6 teams will probably purposefully tank this season in an effort to increase their chances of winning the Wembanyama lottery.

He doesn’t move like a 7’3 basketball unicorn; he moves more like a 6’6 wing. The level of competitiveness or anything else that may be said to undermine what we are viewing doesn’t really concern me. At that size, such movement is abnormal. It’s very terrible to believe that this is the worst he’ll ever be. I’m not sure that front offices will watch that clip and then instantly alter their preparations for the 2022–23 campaign. Wembanyama is said to as a generational potential for a reason.

This is meant to serve as a gauge for where his potential lies rather than to imply that he will be as excellent as Durant. He has no ceiling and the chance to become the NBA’s next big worldwide star.

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