Who is Victor Wembanyama? Here's everything you need to know

It’s time.The Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes is about to have a winner.

TheNBAdraft lottery is Tuesday nightin Chicago and 14 teamswill hope that the ping-pong balls will bounce their way, givingthem the No. 1 pick this year and the chance to draftWembanyama.

The Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and San AntonioSpursall have the best chance of winning the lottery andgetting the No. 1 pick — 14%, or about 7-1 odds.

Here is alook at what all the fuss is about:

WHO IS VICTORWEMBANYAMA?

He’s one ofthe most talked-about players in the world right now, for good andobvious reasons. He is a 7-foot-3, 19-year-old phenom who iswrapping up his third professional season in France and is about tostart his NBA career.

LeBron Jamescalls Wembanyama “an alien,” and says that with the utmost ofrespect. Wembanyama has the height of a center, the shooting touchof a wing and the passing ability of a point guard. His wingspan isnearly 8 feet and he can nearly grab the rim — 10 feet in the air —without even jumping.

WHATWEMBANYAMA’S BACKGROUND?

His parentsare both tall and both very athletic. His father, Felix Wembanyama,is about 6-foot-5 and was a high jumper. His mother, Elodie deFautereau; is about 6-foot-3 and was a basketball standout. Theyhave tried to keep life very normal for a son who just happens tohave worldwide fame already. And Wembanyama has tried to be anormal kid; he likes video games, art, reading and soccer.

WHAT HAPPENSTUESDAY?

The winner of the draft lotterygets the chance to makethe No. 1 pick in next month’s draft. So, while Wembanyama won’t“officially” be a member of that team yet, it’ll be a foregoneconclusion that — barring some sort of incredible trade — he’ll beselected by that franchise in June and could be with his new clubfor summer league games in early July.

HOW WILL HEFIT IN THE NBA?

There is alearning curve for everybody, even No. 1 draft picks. And it’s arite of passage for all rookies, especially highly touted ones, toget challenged by established NBA players — few of them are taller,but many are stronger and more experienced. He will have some roughmoments, for certain.Buthe will make any team better,maybe much better, rightaway.

WHERE HAS HEPLAYED?

He became afull-time pro in the 2020-21 season with the French club Nanterre.He has been on three teams in his three seasons in the Frenchleague, his year with Nanterre followed by a season with thepowerhouse club ASVEL — owned by San Antonio Spurs great TonyParker — and this season with Boulogne-Levallois. His current teamwraps up its regular season on Tuesday (which is why he won’t be atthe draft lottery) and is about to open the playoffs.