By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Never in the past, a European prospect – not even Luka Doncic – has taken the NBA by storm in the year building up to his draft.
But Victor Wembanyama is different and destined to be one of the all-time greats, a true heir to giants like Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain, mentored by the current generation of French NBA stars. Rudy Gobert talked, among other things, about his protege at NBA.COM.
What has it been like mentoring Victor Wembanyama?
It’s been great. I’ve known Victor since he was 13 years old. He’s a great kid. He’s very wise. Obviously, he has all the tools. But what makes him special is his mindset and his spirit. He’s passionate about the game. He wants to be great, and he knows what it takes to be great. He’s putting all of that together and working really hard to get to that level. It’s been really cool to watch him grow.
When did you realize he would be a special player?
The first time I watched him play. We all knew he would be special. But the real question was how far and how special? These last few days, we can all agree that he’s going to be something unique. As soon as I got to speak with him and understand his mindset, I knew he would be great. He has all of the tools, but mentality is the most important tool. He has that.
What was it like standing side-by-side with him in Las Vegas last week, standing next to someone taller than you?
It doesn’t happen a lot (smiles). It was great. I’m used to being the one looking from up above. It’s unusual for me, but it happens. I’ve seen Boban [Marjanović] and Tacko [Fall] a few times. It makes me feel like a normal person.