Spurs GM won’t say they’re drafting Victor Wembanyama 😉 | NBA on ESPN

San Antonio Spurs GM Brian Wright speaks with Bobby Marks, Cory Alexander, LaPhonso Ellis and John Schriffen at the 2023 NBA Draft Combine about winning the draft lottery and the ability to select Victor Wembanyama with the top pick. Wright won’t say the Spurs are selecting the French phenom, but does discuss the team’s new training facility.
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[@blablablaa14]

For those who might not know, the Spurs are not allowed to say who they will draft or they will be in big big trouble. You're not supposed to reveal your plan to the public even if you're first (for example the Cavs couldn't say they would draft Lebron). That's why the GM can't say anything specific to Victor

[@jasenoah5112]

Ty I was a bit concerned

[@SwisherHoops]

I knew it W WEMBYYY

[@chazvriseno9510]

I mean this is more of a unwritten rule than anything . David griffin came out and said he’d be drafting Zion the day they won the lottery

[@yourlordandsaviouryeesusbe2998]

Please explain why they will be in "big big trouble", genius

[@blablablaa14]

@@yourlordandsaviouryeesusbe2998 A unique combination of defense and offense, alongside the greatest coach in the league and the most successful NBA organization since 2000?

[@SIMSANITYY]

The world will learn about Devin Vassell this year

[@coolkidd9820]

Fr

[@amondaniel5330]

I agree with you Devin is the futur Vers very talented kid 🔥

[@unanimousdecision6107]

same with KJ, Tre, and Sochan too. as a diehard Cavs fan I've always liked the Spurs and am stoked too see them on the rise again.

[@kristianpomida8259]

We hoopin

[@chen-pangchang5154]

Vassell was hooping until injuries last season. He's one of the two untouchable pieces along with Sochan right now. (obviously also Wemby)

[@saad1008]

Glad Spurs got him I couldn't imagine Wemby going to Charlotte

[@ShadowX2406]

Charlotte would make for a better situation for Miller. They need to turn the page on Hayward. Plus Bridges is serving the suspension from his actions from last year once the season kicks off later in the year.

[@Gordon0]

I can ☹️

[@nevertakethejab9389]

spurs knew he was gonna be a spurs for least couple years lol scripted

[@HurricaneBliss]

Wemby with melo 😮 sounds like a scary site to me 🤷

[@tubenachos]

Charlotte is where careers go to die

[@norvinzor]

The Spurs are the WORLDS TEAM

[@malcolmn.5222]

No they aren't

[@diamantecarter8625]

@@malcolmn.5222 they are

[@redman6790]

More like the NBA’s team. If Adam (and David previously) could create an ideal league it would be 29 Spurs teams and 1 Lakers.

[@joefrankenstein5553]

@@redman6790 the Celtics would have to be in there

[@aybudd1903]

They big here in Australia

[@BIG_TOE]

I'm not saying we drafting Wemby. I'm just sayin'.

[@Mr.Strickland-21]

Your emoji face is too funny 🤣🤣💯😎🤙 SPURS4LIFE baby!!!!

[@WyWid]

“We”? Are you on the team?

[@jasiahperez9547]

@@WyWid your dam right “WE” are part of the team !!!!

[@WyWid]

@@jasiahperez9547 stop meat riding. Not a single person of the spurs know or care who you are🤣🤣🤝

[@ryu-ken]

Watch they go scoot or miller and everyone goes crazy 😂

[@balltalkdeep]

very early prediction: Victor Wembanyama will live up to the hype now that SA got the first pick. Under a nurturing first-class Spurs organization with a top-tier coach and retired HOFs (looking at you Duncan) who will help his development, he will thrive.

[@Dan-id9qs]

This is cringe. If wish him all the best, but this is cringe

[@BreadstickJesse]

​@@Dan-id9qs ok dan

[@amarm6245]

@@Dan-id9qs fr😭

[@balltalkdeep]

@@Dan-id9qs sure Dan

[@balltalkdeep]

@Young Philosopher hmu in a few yrs

[@anthonytrevino3191]

Brian Wright architected the derozan, white, an dejounte deals. If it’s not rigged he is directly responsible for getting Wemby as he picked the best time to bottom out

[@redman6790]

When did RC Buford step down? Is he completely gone or is he like Pat Riley behind the scenes type right now

[@jayrodriguez1526]

​@@redman6790 In 2019 RC Buford was promoted to CEO of the Spurs.

[@PSL09]

@@redman6790 buford is like in charge of the spurs business as a whole vs basketball ops only now

[@bruhmoment09]

@@redman6790 Buford is the CEO of the Spurs rn

[@anthonytrevino3191]

@@redman6790 if I’m not mistaken on 2019 he became ceo for spurs sports and ent. Which also manages G league team, San Antonio soccer team. In addition to spurs. He was GM for long time so prob just wanted do something new

[@Gmoney-yo2ly]

They need to keep building after the 1st pick this draft is very good. Also prioritize free agency while wemby is on a rookie deal like a young NFL QB

[@JeffBird86]

I would do that after wemby’s rookie season. They have a solid crew as it is.

[@mashii1]

and they have a pick hoard if they need to make a trade. imo if they can be bad for one more year, they can draft a potential #2 star to complement wemby

[@Gmoney-yo2ly]

@@mashii1 that's true but they wont be #2 bad I think they own the raptors pick next year so theyll be ok no need to be sam hankie

[@danv77]

They need to throw money at Austin Reaves, he would be a good fit with Wemby

[@rmv02]

@@Gmoney-yo2ly thing is the process would have worked if the league didnt push Hankie out and place Colangelo´s son there. Was he abusing it? sure but he was following the rules, blame the game not the player. Now 76ers have a aging superstar and have multiple top picks become busts

[@Chrisinlgy]

"not sure who we'll draft" Charlotte Hornets fans: you mean there is chance? 😮😮 🤣🤣🤣

[@Gmoney-yo2ly]

Charlotte is not worthy 😂

[@AlexR0w]

Toxic lmao :))

[@nathansheldahl]

Yeah suuure. The whole Spurs front office could get super drunk the night before the draft and forget to draft wemby. 😝😉

[@imatroll8392]

Lmao..

[@MrSportsfanatic14]

No there’s NO CHANCE 😂😂😂

[@2legitkong536]

Wemby and Pop on the same team is a dream made in heaven

[@markcortez4714]

Thats why Spurs won 5 championships cause they are the most silent and secretive organization in the NBA.. We want trophies not drama 💯💯💯

[@ajgreene5677]

Oh brother

[@madisonmunajj6100]

Tony Parker had a lot of drama my boy.

[@Superbad22]

Yep them and Miami are world class

[@dansheffield4021]

​@@madisonmunajj6100 yeah........ as a Spurs fan ill never be a Parker fan 1st of all because of what he did to Brent, 2nd because he's just.... I dont know.... whatever the French word for douche is...

[@dionbomers1312]

josh primo

[@essj3334]

Victor will have a great career at Spurs and as a fan of that team I'm so happy.

[@chrissilman8495]

Can't, not won't. It's a league rule. But we know. We know.

[@natekong3596]

Adam Silver had team executives signed the clause to not disclose who they will pick until draft day.

[@clabpr79]

I like this kind of interviews with real GMs, not like a lot of KZbinrs making videos with rumors and non sense.

[@fsuisala]

“…embodies all the hardwork that all the staff put into everything that happened that night” = Tanking😂😂😂Well played Spurs👏👏👏Also, this is a good fit for Wenbamyama I must say!

[@MrRufusRToyota]

Being a terrible team, and then getting lucky. That’s some serious hard work!

[@jabmd2nd]

Wenbanyama or wembanyama how do you spell his name?

[@dionbomers1312]

so did the staff do their job this season as staff or not?😅 tanking or not staffs job always is the same

[@manueleliseo4273]

He can't say it folks...it's a league role, for those asking

[@spursyankeesfan1306]

oh really? I didnt know. Thanks for mentioning

[@cynoflads]

@@spursyankeesfan1306 It came into place after 03 when the Cavs told everyone they're getting Leborn while at the lottery lmao.

[@rolandmiller5456]

NO team can say who they are going to draft: that's an NBA rule. In fact the league sent a memo to all the teams saying don't say who you going to draft

[@bartbluemusic]

Brian Wright seems like a cool guy.

[@damienluca-hw1lt]

Spurs on top

[@chocoboleg]

With the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft the San Antonio Spurs select: Scoot Henderson.

[@213Catlover]

Imagine 💀

[@LOADDABOWL]

That would be so crazy 😂😂

[@zelsego23]

nah i would feel bad for wemby because he would have to go to charlotte

[@KacciVAL]

​@@zelsego23every Spurs fan wants WEMBY SO

[@imatroll8392]

Keep dreaming of Wemby aint gonna happen 😂😂😂 he was born to be a spurs .. lets go Spurs!

[@ciskoh_]

I needa catch a game next season happy I’m only 1 hr away. Love my spurs

[@Emma-dh1lx]

Austin?

[@ciskoh_]

@@Emma-dh1lx yes

[@requiemforameme1]

That’s the most yes sounding No since Nardwuar interviewed Tyler. 😂

[@josepht5331]

Most years I understand not being able to say at this point who u are drafting but when someone like this comes around I think we should just be real. “We drafting Wemby and we are excited about it.” Like nobody knows 🙄

[@rolandmiller5456]

Go tell the NBA office that. They're the ones who put up the rules saying that nobody no team can tell who they're going to.

[@johndurrer7869]

First thing they should do is try to move up to around 25 and draft Coulibaly. He is already playing with Wemby and he has all star potential

[@rolandmiller5456]

Yeah that's a good idea I think they should the rumor is he might be available to the Spurs if he drops down in the 30s.

[@baconbits3731]

3:10 Wow this is interesting. Wesley and Branham are the top candidates I think will join Wemby in the summer league.

[@aaronl9564]

Spurs summer league gonna go crazy with sochan, branham,welsey and potentially 😉 wemby

[@alexcastvix8823]

Wemby will be at the WC, no summer league for him

[@iThinkSteveisZooted]

Spurs actually looking like a very fun, young team! I love their core.

[@UncannyMarvelous]

He doesn't have to say. Their reaction to winning the 1st pick told it all.

[@Apk715]

How is it fix when the spurs have not got the number 1 pick since 1997 (26 years ago) but It wouldn't of been fixed if your team got the number 1 pick, like the pure hate and assumptions on this pick is crazy, now some (not all) people stating wemby going to get hurt or he going to be a bust cause the spurs drafting him is Wilddddddd.........

[@Yellinlotto]

They are 💯

[@dxbgaming4813]

We are just talking about draft lottery, but now feels like Wemby is the first pick already.

[@joeyd4306]

Always have a good way of saying a bunch of words that mean absolutely nothing

[@CLANtheSPURSfan]

I cover a lot of Spurs content. Js

[@LiveAndLaughs]

I’m not saying it’s Wemby… but it’s Wemby.

[@dariusjohnson6013]

As the San Antonio Spurs fan since I was like 5 years old and I am 27 now if he does not take that boy I am starting a petition to make him lose his job😂😂😂

[@apollo24zz]

Finally can confirm they won’t draft anyone but Wemby. Now can stop all those Imagine they draft someone else reply’s.

[@blackphoenix5902]

Yeah thats an Adam Silver rule.....The winner of the lottery not announce who they are picking early. The Spurs are just following the rules.

[@AndGuo]

like pop said when they had 1997 first pick, you guys can had make the pick, it was that easy.

[@huntersmall4313]

Huh?

[@wilsonnguyen9481]

@@huntersmall4313pretty sure u guys means us the general public since its a consensus unanimous pick

[@hardwaredynasty]

Who's the dude on the left that was in his 3rd year with the Spurs when Duncan was drafted and played summer league with Duncan and Monty Williams? I'm on my phone and can't tell, and I don't believe it was mentioned. Willy Anderson?

[@mbabyfaceq2106]

Corey Alexander, Spurs drafted him in 1995, 29th pick out of Virginia .

[@hardwaredynasty]

@@mbabyfaceq2106 Ah, I see. Thanks!

[@jeremylu2628]

NBA sent out memo u cannot give it out who u are drafting. Lolz

[@ao6764]

NBA asked the winning team to not say who they would draft with the number one pick

[@rolandmiller5456]

Wasn't just them. That rule apply to every team in the lottery.

[@TehZNCify]

Is it really against NBA rules to say who you’re drafting early? Why is that a problem?

[@willie5286]

The nba made it a priority to not give away who teams are drafting just cause it takes away from the magic of the draft

[@TehZNCify]

@@willie5286 “Magic” meaning media stirred up drama lol

[@baibureh8816]

​@@willie5286 if they wanted magic they would do the draft lottery on the day of the draft.

[@hometuringan8779]

​@@baibureh8816 Not really, there's more TV ratings to be had with a separate lottery. More talking points for the pundits, ie mock drafts, etc. It's all part of the media machinery

[@dionbomers1312]

@@baibureh8816 not a good idea, some team are willing to trade up or down in the draft for assets and such. Having the lottery and draft on the same day takes that away from teams

[@nabi5864]

He’s not allowed to say it

[@feelsgoodman420]

So this is the guy whose been punking the raptors with these trade deals

[@yamatouzumaki]

The NBA want Wemby to be in good organization that teaches him dicipline, unlike Ja. One in a million gene Wemby has good guidance is he needed to be successful in the league.

[@cadensmith7067]

The Spurs are going to give him his best chance at being great. Every other team in the team in the lottery besides the Magic cannot develop a center like him properlu

[@vintagepimpage6049]

Lol bro ... stop fronting Victor already has team gear shipped from the front offices

[@isaacsmith3901]

What’s Victor play style/closes player comparison…. Ofc Ive heard all the hype but haven’t watch him play….. Is he really going to be as good as people are saying in the NBA?

[@xjayzayumu7054]

Defense is already solid... Scoring still needs to improve when it comes to efficiency

[@rolandmiller5456]

Let's just say he's got a pretty unusual skill set for a kid of his size.. I have seen a couple comparisons to KD in the way he can shoot from outside but the kids 7' 3" - 7'5" somewhere around there

[@Bliu2th]

Not even going to lie, i thought the GM was Poppivich himself LOL

[@88ntil]

They’ll go with scoot

[@Titova-prababa]

Scoot to Spurs 👀

[@RayanRameh]

The staff hard work of tanking …

[@cervantestimo1]

It truly worked 😂

[@nevertakethejab9389]

@@cervantestimo1 scripted and planned years ago wake up

[@sidgar1]

Right. Because neither the Rockets nor the Pistons were "tanking", they were just legitimately bad, right?

[@cinnabar546]

What if the Spurs pull an Orlando Magic Penny Hardaway move on draft day.

[@saz19s8]

He’s obviously not gonna reveal to the public who they’re drafting

[@causticabuser2466]

Imagine them picking up Scoot lol

[@dionbomers1312]

fastest way to get fired

[@MysteriousTimes]

Pop for President

[@pedrodepakas1651]

Spurs got very lucky its not rigged. Spurs fan here 😂

[@rommeldc4787]

why they laughing suspiciously

[@nyteowl8069]

It would be hilarious if the spurs pass on him

[@jingusus]

I wonder what wines popovoch was drinking after finding out about wemby

[@ahfei6847]

Well, he ain't wearing a "marinière" for nothing

[@jamstarent21]

Tre Jones Keldon and now Victor smh Spurs built until 2030 with all that youth and talent

[@dirtybirdxx]

As a spurs fan we should trade the number 1 pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the great john collins. 😮

[@MartyAguirre]

shut up

[@sidgar1]

You are hereby excommunicated from the City of San Antonio and banished to Houston for your blasphemy!

[@dirtybirdxx]

@sidgar1 lmao I'm really a Hawks fan bro...that'll be a great move for the spurs

[@mEtil5656]

Suddenly everyone knows the spurs players names lol

[@jonathanreed4941]

Idk, that team could use a pg.

[@fiddy-lr1sl]

Since LeBron went 1st. With injuries apart of the conversation, there's been like 3 decent 1st picks in 2 decades

[@anthonylaflare-du3jy]

Drose :(

[@RASTAGOOB]

AD maybe Ant?

[@keyshawnbess572]

2004. Dwight Howard. Hall of famer. 2005. Andrew Bogut. Disappointment but not a bust. 2006. The Italian guy can’t pronounce his name. Bust. 2007. Greg Oden. What could have been. 2008. Derrick Rose. What could have been. 2009. Blake griffin. Good career. 2010. John wall. Good career. Would have taken Paul George at #1 in Retrospect though. 2011. Kyrie Irving. Hall of famer. 2012. Anthony Davis. Hall of famer. 2013. Anthony Bennett. Bust. 2014. Andrew Wiggins. Disappointment. 2015. Karl Anthony towns. Good career but Hasn’t totally lived up though expected more. 2016. Ben Simmons. Disappointment so far. Could maybe turn it around but unlikely. 2017. Markell Fultz. A bust right now unless he turns it around in Orlando which the odds are against him. 2018. Deandre Ayton. Good but not worthy of #1 pick. 2019. Zion Williamson. Shown Flashes but overall a little disappointing so far. Still has time to turn it around. 2020. Anthony Edwards. Living up to it so far he’s been great. 2021. Cade Cunningham. To early to judge. 2022. Palo Banchero. Too early to judge. One great rookie season can he keep it up?

[@daundisputedtake7238]

Hard work that went into it. It’s a lottery the only hard work is your team sucked so bad you got top tier offs

[@dionbomers1312]

players still played and staff still did their job, counts as hard work

[@borisabilana6836]

Them spurs just trolling the losers 😂

[@Chuckyfinster92]

He tryna put less skress on the man

[@PattyTheBaddy]

Spurs trade up like Texans and draft 1 & 2

[@slide_drexler]

If The Spurs drafted that guy from Navy and had to wait 2 years for him to play you bet your a*s theyll draft Wembenyama in a heartbeat.😂

[@aleddunn7207]

I just cant help but hear "we tried really hard to loose"

[@davidavila2082]

WE BACK BABYYYYY

[@6r3ys0n]

I hate to say but I would be worried about drafting Wemby with the first pick due to health issues with players with that height and high usage percentage. It's just not the same thing as say a LeBron James prospect who is a sure thing, 6'9, right and left handed, extremely explosive and athletic with an NBA ready body. Passing the ball like magic johnson in high school. This is a 7 foot 5 wing who isn't going to just sit under the rim. There's reason to be excited for Spurs fans but it could go south quickly.

[@OfficialGFXEsports]

Health is always a concern, but what better franchise to land with that will help keep him healthy to the best of their ability. He won’t play all 82 games this year guaranteed. San Antonio Spurs are world class when it comes to health and training, they also have a new 550 million state of the art training facility that has a focus on health

[@6r3ys0n]

@@OfficialGFXEsports Because Popovich is not a good person to coach new school type players. He talks absolutely crazy and is extremely harsh on his guys. Kawhi left and quit on the Spurs because he got sick of it. I would agree with you that it's the best place for him if somebody else entirely was coaching him. You don't know what kind of mental toughness this kid will have.

[@dionbomers1312]

@@6r3ys0n Pop is actually quite a good coach for younger players lol. And even though theres worries about health, the ceiling and potential is too high for spurs too not pick Wemby at 1

[@champ1440]

What's understood doesn't have to be said

[@kohsmoger1567]

Brother dude should be fired if he doesn’t take Victor and spurs fans should go to his house with pitchforks

[@gogigaga1677]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@RandomShowerThoughts]

Lmao if he doesn’t draft victor he’s insane

[@jeremylu2628]

He cannot said it due to NBA restrictions. Lolz

[@Lilmacmcmo]

He's taking Vic

[@johnnymoreno5065]

​@@jeremylu2628 what's the restriction? I don't recall that ever lol

[@ARushin80]

It's fixed smh

[@cavsfan2340]

I mean what if he pulls a Chet and tears his acl before draft night. It doesn't do anything to commit to in now so just wait til the day his smart. I know Chet's happened after draft just sayin tho

[@vannq7785]

Still take Wembanyama

[@rolandmiller5456]

They would have drafted Chet in Oklahoma City regardless of injury. It was either him or Paplo and Orlando got Paolo

[@jasonvegan5761]

Pass on Wemby, I dare you!!!

[@michaelyzaguirre629]

Keep on daring, there's no one listening in San Antonio not even one.

[@michaelyzaguirre629]

Keep on daring, there's no one listening in San Antonio not even one.

[@sketched9069]

People acting like this will transcend the spurs. I have yet to see a superstar free agent to sign with the spurs 😂. They still have a long way to go.

[@rolandmiller5456]

It will transcend the Spurs. But it's going to take time.

[@dionbomers1312]

well they won a championship that way too🤷‍♂

[@jasonclementcentro1870]

Lamelo Ball with Victor Wembanyama wouldve been fire

[@michaelmoore9518]

Thank u it would have been must see tv

[@SindikaNS_Maluma]

It would’ve been different NBA should’ve made it happen

[@marcheezy.]

Adam Silver and the NBA are idiotic about not declaring who a team wants to draft #1 overall. Let them speak. Even when it's not obvious like the last couple years teams can use players' names as a smokescreen to throw franchises off.

[@rol7300]

Watch them not select him lol

[@rolandmiller5456]

Ok.

[@sidgar1]

They will guaranteed. There is no question.

[@teddyhart2913]

Why cant he say theyre drafting him? Everyone knows

[@sidgar1]

Stupid rule by the NBA so they can hold "mystique" about the actual draft ahead of the lottery.

[@dionbomers1312]

@@sidgar1 it just seems stupid this year becuase the #1 pick is so obvious lol

[@zelloguy]

What hard work? All y'all had to do was lose...

[@cinnabar546]

what if they don't draft Wemby

[@jimcrack3776]

There trading it for giannas

[@thiccpotato1147]

Spurs strategically tanked lmao 😂 sixers take notes

[@sidgar1]

They lost key players to injury and traded their best player for draft picks. What did you expect, them to make the playoffs? GTFO

[@dionbomers1312]

@@sidgar1 angry for no reason lol

[@aamirc]

Hard work ... tanking and playing the lottery?

[@PWCDN]

Bet him he'll pick Victor for a million dollars.

[@damienluca-hw1lt]

Let’s go

[@Koudey]

I’m worried about his body. Realistically, will it hold up?

[@rolandmiller5456]

It should why? Face it with the nutrition and the dying and the medical advances all the other stuff that's out there there's no reason he shouldn't be able to hold up. There's no indication from anyone that he's had any issues unlike Sam Bowie or Greg Oden who came in the league with known issues.

[@Koudey]

@@rolandmiller5456 Yeah, tell that to other seven-footers or players of likewise twig body types. Now that I think about it, those big ol’ women in San Antonio might help him out with some dinners

[@mmmcertified9877]

Bro Quit playing 🤣

[@frankietorres5442]

There’s something about Wright that just cringes me. Like I can see them not drafting Wemby cause of him.

[@sidgar1]

He is just being secretive because of the NBA rules about not announcing your pick ahead of time. He is 100% taking Wemby, everyone in the Spurs organization knows they are taking him.

[@frankietorres5442]

@@sidgar1 I pray lol

[@samuelboye4483]

Oh please! The way this bot is being hyped, i hope he dropping 40 first game against Giannis!

[@ohokayofficial]

Actually this is a catch and bait.. VW will not be on the spurs. Just wait until the draft, and keep your eyes on Magic and Hornets. Lamelo Ball + VW

[@dionbomers1312]

spurs are for sure picking wemby though

[@dinewalton]

99% drafting Wembanyama, 1% will be based on the medical.

[@rolandmiller5456]

You can bet they already have the medicals

[@dinewalton]

@@rolandmiller5456 Ya just like with Chet Holmgren..... LOL

[@melvino.mercado5795]

WHAT IF VICTOR IN KAI SOTTO IN ONE TEAM IN SPURS THIS TEAM WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE KAI IS THE CENTER AND VICTOR IS THE GUARD THIS 2 COMBO WILL BE SUPER DEADLY..😮

[@jrmay1690]

Spurs pop should take a look at this roko prkacin