LAS VEGAS — It's uncommon to see the projected Nos. 1 and 2 picks in the NBA Draft face off after high school or AAU before they reach the NBA stage.
With all the different pathways to the league these days, there have only been five such instances over the last two decades. And in a year where one of the top prospects is playing professionally overseas in France and the other is competing in the G League for the Ignite development program, this is the least likely matchup we've ever seen.
But with Scoot Henderson's Ignite set to host Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 in a pair of showcase exhibition games in Las Vegas this week, we'll have the opportunity to watch two exceptional players put their talents on display in front of countless NBA scouts, executives and talent evaluators.
With feet on the ground in Vegas, I was able to attend the open practice for the Ignite and Metropolitans 92 ahead of the two games. There was no shortage of NBA personnel in the building, with brass from Thunder general manager Sam Presti to Jazz assistant general manager David Fizdale, to scouts for the Rockets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks and more looking to get their eyes on the top two players in the 2023 NBA Draft class.
MORE: Thunder, Jazz among top contenders in Wembanyama NBA Draft sweepstakes
Like most, I had never seen Wembanyama in person, as the French 18-year-old has played his entire career in his native country to this point. Everything I had seen was through a screen, watching the unicorn-like prospect defy all conventional wisdom as to how a 7-footer is supposed to play the game of basketball.
My first impression of seeing Wembanyama in real life couldn't have been more fitting. As the projected No. 1 pick got off the team bus and walked into the Las Vegas Basketball Center for practice and media availability, he couldn't even walk through the door frame without ducking.
After he bowed his head underneath the entrance to the gym, Wembanyama stood upright, looking as tall and long as you'd imagine 7-foot-4 with an 8-foot wingspan would appear (and trust me, seeing that height in person is even taller than you'd think). He carried himself with a calm, cool and collected demeanor, unphased by the commotion of media tracking his every move on camera.
Earlier in the day, Ignite head coach Jason Hart did as great of a job putting Wembanyama into perspective than anyone could.
"He’s one of those types of players where you say like, 'there’ll never be like another Shaq' or 'there’ll never be another that," coach Hart said. “He’s that. You’ll never see another one of those. The scouting report on him is tough. ... I’m honored that I’m getting to play him at 18, because at 24, he’s going to be something different.”
When Wembanyama settled in for media availability, he claimed to enjoy the attention surrounding the matchup between him and Henderson because it shows how passionate the United States is about basketball and the NBA.
And even though Wembanyama is the projected top pick, he admitted he was impressed with what he's seen from Henderson, the projected No. 2 pick.
"Out of all the prospects I’ve heard about in our class, I think he’s my favorite one. I think he’s the most reliable that I’ve seen. He’s really a great player," Wembanyama said.
If I was never born, I think he would deserve the first spot.
Victor Wembanyama thinks Scoot Henderson would be the no. 1 pick...with one caveat 😂 pic.twitter.com/vYXw04MNGS
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) October 3, 2022
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Following his presser, the media got a chance to watch Wembanyama practice with Mets 92 for a half hour or so as the 7-footer went through a series of shooting drills, full-court 3-on-3s and some conditioning drills.
His jumper looked smooth...
...and his footwork was pretty quick and coordinated, too.
This was just a small glimpse at the not-so-small prospect, who will make his debut on national television in the United States on Tuesday, Oct. 4 when the Ignite hosts Metropolitans 92 at the Dollar Loan Center in Las Vegas at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
