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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joshua Lees

Victor Wembanyama's first words after NBA Draft Lottery decides wonderkid's future

Victor Wembanyama has his eyes on the biggest prize of all, after the 19-year-old spoke for the first time t the NBA Draft Lottery decided his fate.

Wembanyama proved to be the hottest topic heading into Tuesday's Lottery, with the Frenchman tipped for a big NBA future. The teenager will begin his career in Texas after the San Antonio Spurs were given first pick. They will almost certainly select Wembanyama on June 22 with the youngster considered one of the best NBA prospects of all-time.

It remains to be seen if the youngster from France will live up to the hype during his maiden campaign next season, but if the early predictions are anything to go by, he could well become an NBA great.

The Parisian has earned plenty of plaudits in recent weeks, with claims he is the greatest prospect in NBA Draft history and unlike anything ever seen before. Amid the hype you would forgive the teenager for feeling a little overwhelmed, but this is not the case for Wembanyama who himself is predicting big things on the NBA court.

Targeting a championship ring he told ESPN: "[I’m] A team player, I’m going to do everything to win as many games as I can and I’m trying to win a ring ASAP so be ready. I’m going to try bring my talents here, I love Texas, I’ve been there before.

"I’m really happy and I really can’t wait to meet the fans and hopefully the team I’m going to join.”

Labelling becoming the lottery's first pick a 'special moment', he added: "I can’t really describe it my heart’s beating I’ve got everyone I love, everyone I know around me.

"It’s really special moment I’m going to remember for the rest of my life."

What are you expecting from Victor Wembanyama? Let us know in the comments section below.

Victor Wembanyama has been backed to become an NBA great (Joly Victor/ABACA/REX/Shutterstock)

One man who was also over the moon with the result was San Antonio Spurs chief Peter Holt, who told ESPN: "I might faint," when securing the services of the 19-year-old star.

Lauding 7ft 4in Wembanyama, Holt went on: "We’re labelling like this unicorn thing... everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years But he’s more like an alien. Nobody has seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor.”

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