Who’s On Board the Victor Wembanyama Hype Train? 🚂🤩| First Take

[@vraelatao2264]

Just love how JJ stood up for wemby when Stephen A started his usual thing. It shows how much he genuinely believes Victor will perform and how convinced he was after meeting Victor.

[@sensei_...]

Just watching espn(first take) to see jj redick destroy sas

[@tomislav3954]

I love the fact that Mad Dog likes to mention the old school players, keeping their name alive... Even though i dont agree with all the takes, i respect that he recognizes greatness

[@Prismer6]

Exactly. It's especially valuable for younger fans bc they get to hear about who the OGs were

[@rankobarensic]

Love Mad Dog..proper New Yorker🙏🙏🙏

[@dwightyawg7781]

I may disagree with him a lot but I like that he’s not the same as everyone else

[@watchful-i]

I LOVE how JJ runs circles around Stephen A. JJ is so knowledgeable.

[@jjbird21]

Facts

[@usmcmikeco0651]

he doesn't but ok

[@davidsayimright57]

Lies. Get the knee pads

[@hobowithagun24]

@@davidsayimright57He will have to borrow yours

[@GDUniverse]

🤦🏾‍♂️

[@FlyWithMe_666]

The reason for Steven A not getting excited is that Wemby ≠ 🇺🇸

[@BG.994]

Remember what he said about Ohtani 🤔

[@Mixamaka]

And what he said about Porzingis... and what he said about nigerian players.. The list goes on and on. If you're not american he doesn't care.

[@bo0gi3]

was like this about Luka

[@GH-cd6oq]

Facts

[@dwane972]

I wouldn't have said it better!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@thogvii934]

bro got through the malika interview without capping, wemby boutta be the 🐐‼️‼️

[@TheAmazingHow]

SAS clearly doesn't research any topic before speaking on it

[@zoradelaney9412]

JJ Redick came with FACTS, in dealing with the Americentrism displayed by Stephen A. Smith and Mad Dog Russo. And I say that as an American. Wemby is playing against GROWN MEN, men who've played in the NBA, in France and that's poo-pooed?

[@nanox4]

Xenophobia on live TV

[@nellyville69]

1 thing about wemby is he not afraid of hard work especially a player at that size that's very discipline and motivated 😮.

[@PeskeyStrider2]

Am sure if Wembanyama was from the US Stephen A would be more excited about him.

[@uy6324]

for sure xD

[@bo0gi3]

how he was for Zion. & Paolo

[@nanox4]

​@@bo0gi3exactly lol

[@beazy3364]

​@cameronwalker9128 he wasn't excited about Paolo I don't remember one segment about that kid.

[@queyoung6597]

More specifically if he was from the U.S. and was a guard.

[@RadiantandDire]

SASs hatred of international players continues if we clip all his takes you'll see it. Its like a prejudice

[@Anthony-nd6vk]

Exactly, every time

[@quintonchapman1776]

It doesn't matter if the player is black if it's not a black American Stephen A doesn't care 🤦🏾‍♂️🙄

[@noblevenom2858]

He talks with this disappointment in his tone when he talks about international players, he knows they’re good but he is upset to admit it

[@herralexugo]

he's already made a fool of himself with Doncic but he still wants more, pathetic man

[@Gwaniegwan]

@@oneskillpoint4669I agree with SAS as well. because of the route he chose it’s not that hype. ppl think when u r telling the truth it’s hating. Victor hype is just like lamelo when he went number 2. It’s nothing like compared to bron or even Zion

[@dominiquithompson7529]

Jj Reddick be sneek dissing everybody 🤣🤣🤣

[@cryinlaughemoji]

THAT XENOPHOBIA HITTING coming from Stephen A and Mad Dog lol

[@mcoats9229]

Steven A. Is full of ishhhh 😂😂 weeks ago he was so happy and ready to see this young brotha do his thang now that he’s here all of a sudden he’s not that excited now cuz he’s 7’5” dunking 😂😂

[@Jamal-bb8lx]

I can remember Zion having major hype, I could remember the media calling it the Zion sweepstakes

[@gainesj1]

Wemby could be trash.... you never know. Too many "sweepstakes" players to name who turned out to be gar-bahge...

[@CGEEZY12]

Stephen A. gets shown up on a debate and he immediately starts his next sentence saying, “I’m not questioning him…. I get all that.” Lol

[@GDUniverse]

@@hv8546They live in the US. ESPN doesn’t give money to talk show hosts to go to Europe and see him play. So no they can’t truly see him play, like they can here. Plus watching games that happen in EU/ French league is so hard.

[@JadenGregg-su9no]

It Is 4 Replies.

[@ilySaint26]

5:40 JJ definitely got that from Jimmy highroller 😂😂😂

[@dwightyawg7781]

💀 Jimmy should replace Screamin’ A.

[@geebster.]

I agree that Lebron had bigger hype. People were watching his games in HS on TV. But the difference is hype. Potential wise Wembanyama is up there.

[@benjipaname846]

With Wemby US pple watch French pro basketball games in live, and fly to Paris to watch him… that’s sound more crazy to me !

[@geebster.]

@@benjipaname846 iono man I remember the Lebron times and even with the media being bigger now it absolutely felt different. It was a cultural moment with him on the covers of magazines, being the next/chosen one, etc. Largely because he was American and American media hype is what we are discussing.

[@lennybeason1110]

@@geebster.LeBron is an American! Wembanyama’s hype is as big as anybody in history! He’s not from here but we’ve been hearing about this dude for 3 years! For SAS to be hating is hilarious talking about he’s not excited and he’s tired of the fawning but he was fawning over Lebron! 😂

[@MazyGFella]

@@benjipaname846 rich people you idiot i hope u know 99 percent fans of nba/basketball arent rich

[@MazyGFella]

@@lennybeason1110 lebron is not american hes a african who was stolen by fat lazy pigs who stole a land and renamed it dipshit

[@David-mu8hn]

First Stephen A was slendering Giannis at any occasion, he is forced now to not talk bad bout him. Then it was Jokic, then it was Luka and now is Victor..

[@kmc10314]

SAS logic on European player is just ridiculous at this point. Ayton, Young all played in college while Luka played in the pro-league in Europe. Who is better? I don't know why some old heads think going to college in the U.S is necessarily better than playing in pro, esp Europe in basketball.

[@ouicertes9764]

Americans also need to learn about the different leagues in europe to accurately judge skill levels from international players. Each country has a national pro league that competes for national championship, then you have competition at european level, the best 1 or two team per country compete in the EuroLeague (20 teams). Not all european team, even if pro, is on the same level, and some national leagues have a way better level than others. There's no draft, no salary cap, so the best players are signed in euroleague teams, like most ex NBA players there. With Wemby it's impossible to know how he compares to other players, because he refused to play for a euroleague team in a better competition, prefering to developp, and get starting minutes and better stats in a national league team. You can be pro from 16 and get paid, but there isn't a unique "pro league in europe". The euroleague teams are where the money, best coaches and best players are.

[@kuruptzZz]

He is humble yet confident. Works hard. He is a perfect fit for the spurs! They will maximize his talents. Let's not forget that kawhi started out as a 3&D spot up man

[@blablablaa14]

My favorite thing about JJ is how he reminds Mad Dog he is so so ancient at every opportunity he gets "What was coverage like? No social media? 3 TV channels? Lets move on"

[@rickmason6157]

This kid is special.Doesnt matter if he was from Peru or Korea.Stephen A need to take off the blinders.

[@toxicmustardwasabi]

to be fair, lebron was getting "Magic X MJ" back in 2003, which unbelievable as it was at the time, actually ended up happening. No one has said "more athletic Kareem" for Wemby though, which would pretty much be the GOAT.

[@jfromthed6030]

Hakeem was a number 1 pick and won a finals mvp

[@skii7602]

yea they completely missed that

[@kmsseason]

Wasn't a lottery when he was drafted.

[@manamongstboyz8956]

That was before the lottery was a thing in the NBA. The guys that Mad Dog mentioned also did that, but was before the lottery.

[@kam_12_]

@@skii7602the lottery was introduced in 1985 when they gave the knicks patrick ewing

[@FrederickJohnson-be5qi]

Agt Knoxville TN Finalist Frederick Johnson Jr salute Victor Webanyama #1

[@adeniyioduguwa4040]

Mad man Stephen A Smith.

[@arthurwright255]

I can see great things coming from this draft class. Wemby, Scoot, and the Thompson twins should all become great players. I'm a little hesitant about Brandon Miller.

[@jameslopez488]

He might be the best one!! Watch more film buddy.

[@richatlarge462]

There is sure to be one player who, in a few years, will be an NBA star and everyone will be wondering why he wasn't picked until the second round. Just don't know who yet.

[@AlanGonzalez-ev6ur]

i mean amen thompson is projected quite a bit higher than ausur tho

[@alexcastvix8823]

7:58 Someone told him that the NBA bought the broadcasting rights for Mets92 games, so watching Wemby full games in the US was as simple as watching NCAA

[@aga3341]

Steven A only could be this excited if Emby was American as we all know.

[@jimas9775]

I’m noticing that a lot of people are not accepting the fact that international players are now the best in the nba… Luka, joker, Giannis, and now here comes Wemba. Times are changing…make room for the new era!

[@Oridginale24]

Don’t forget about Embiid, SGA, & Jamal Murray.

[@Alex-tw8nb]

There not but keep d riding

[@jimas9775]

@@Alex-tw8nb sure are-also they are not getting into boatloads of trouble…

[@kwonbond4215]

What other player getting into trouble other than ja? Like u sound slow.. best players in the nba still American.. Steph bron kd

[@jimas9775]

@@kwonbond4215 no way--LeBron old, kawaii can’t keep healthy, AD got served by Joker, Tatum chokes, I’ll give you Steph-but not ahead of Joker or Luka or Giannis. Steph is horrible when he goes on his shooting slumps 🤦‍♂️

[@jillie723]

JJ is more knowledgeble than the other guy. 👍👍🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@williamkordsmeier3640]

If Wemby were going to the Knicks or Lakers SAS would be singing a different tune

[@emssasukeisunderrated7946]

The thing is as a prospect, he's one of the generational prospects that we've seen where they say even his floor is all-star and ceiling is a HoF, all-time great. The last prospect to even get that from scouts was Anthony Davis (Wiggins, Zion, Embiid, Luka for example had high ceilings & comps but there floor wasn't close to being that high) This kid is among the all-time surefire prospects with Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Olajuwon, Jordan, Robinson, Shaq, Duncan, LeBron, KD (& Oden although Oden got injured to his fairness) and AD but even compared to them, only Kareem & LeBron I think had this hype before stepping on a court (of course the others all showed immediate impact like Jordan dropping 28, Magic going 42-15-7, Duncan & Shaq being all-nba, etc.)

[@Unc_Talks]

After that JJ interview I'm 100% sold on Wemby.. as a person first. The kid is pretty cool...

[@Kuma_9910]

JJ forgot Hakeem Olajuwon for the 1 overall picks who won a championship + finals mvp smh

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

if Wemby was going to the Knicks, SAS would be losing his mind about how great he was.

[@kingdwight9796]

JJ and Mag Dog Debates are hilarious!😂😂😂

[@ShadomanG]

Shaq & LeBron will forever be the two GREATEST prospects of ALL Time

[@tesfayelemma9734]

I’m so happy for the American fans to get to see his talent other than the Vegas game.

[@yannikarmas2695]

The European hate is real 😂😂

[@Mptreeby]

The maturity comes from playing with men in a pro league. Good mentors in France and good competition against you to help you mature. Look at the Europeans who have recently entered the league Doncic Jokic Porzingis came in the league ready to go.

[@charlesjohnson536]

ALL THE GENERATIONAL PROSPECTS IN NBA 🏀 HISTORY(WILT CHAMBERLAIN .. KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR .. MAGIC .. SHAQ .. LEBRON) .. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING .. VICTOR WEMBANYAMA 👀 ..

[@theokingshango]

what on earth did you mean by that literal mess?

[@kwonbond4215]

He means that everybody started off hot.. it didn’t take a year or two for them to blossom.. I swear white people slow asf

[@richatlarge462]

Every time I see a story about him he loses an inch. This time it's 7'3" but last time it was 7'4" and before that 7'5". Maybe he'll be down to 7'2" by October, and not that much taller than whomever is guarding him.

[@richatlarge462]

@@mbayadji 😅

[@ahmadjohnson9518]

He’s a future league & finals Mvp, rookie of the year and nba champion.

[@kabirshabazz3887]

Mad dog just be saying anything

[@dannynhl9441]

For me as a teen in the 90's Shaq was the guy. I'm a Knicks fan but it was all Shaq hype leading up to him playing. Not saying he was bigger than anyone else just stating I was 12 when Shaq came in. Breaking backboards and all that. Actually then it became Penny, Webber and Iverson for me....after that it started to die out hype wise I guess just due to going into college.

[@NiqquanEganare]

Basketball was started in Canada but developed & modernized here in the USA but is now dominated by overseas players! Receipt - the last 5 MVP's are overseas players! This doesn't sit well with many "Nationalist", thus, the willfull doubt & dampening of the Wemby Mania, sweeping the USA & across The World! Bron is my favorite all time player - who showered Wemby with praised - but Wemby has gotten the most media coverage & hype ever, as a prospect, due in part to Social Media & ESPN live streaming of his games from France.

[@mufasa2009]

How is it dominated by foreign players when the US wins every Olympics and nearly all the draft picks every year are Americans Nearly all the All stars are Americans The best defensive players are Americans The leagues leading scorer is American

[@mufasa2009]

The last 5 finals Mvps have been 3 Americans and 2 Foreigners The defensive players of the years have been Americans When the US loses in the Olympics maybe we can entertain this conversation

[@NiqquanEganare]

@@mufasa2009 Clearly I'm referring to the NBA & not the Olympics as I did mention the last 5 MVP"s! MVP is the most coveted individual award in the NBA!

[@mufasa2009]

@@NiqquanEganare No it's not I guarantee if you ask anyone they will want a Championship over an MVP. MVP means valuable to his team. Steve Nash won back to back MVP, Karl Malone, David Robinson etc but they weren't the best players. A huge percentage of players counted as international are Americans born abroad like Kyrie whose counted as international or the Canadian players who for all intensive purposes are Americans many have family in the US. Ben Simmons quite a bit of the players counted as international are half American. The center position for the past few years we've seen players with an international background. But as far as skill positions like guard and wing forward that's completely utterly dominated by Americans. Why? Speed, agility, explosiveness, coordination, fast twitch Then skill ball handling, footwork etc Steph Curry is an example of this. Steph Curry completely changed the game of basketball. LeBron James is another example, Kevin Durant etc. Jokic is not a good defender The best international player is Giannis by far and even he has his limitations. Statitistically American players are simply better. Sorry facts are facts. Also Soccer is the primary sport in other countries. Also other countries simply don't have the abundandance of athletes like the US. Plus the NCAA collegiate system, AAU etc. But keep living your dream and fantasy

[@mufasa2009]

@@NiqquanEganare So the NBA draft is currently going on as we speak nearly all Americans drafted

[@anthonyrodriguez6789]

ESPN always have to get ready to put up them 60’s and 70’s highlights with Mad Dog there lol

[@dominicdevers8776]

Nothing new seen this before with Kirstap Porzingis. He was suppose to be this UNICORN like this guy. KD and Wam are the same physical skinny size except WAM is 6-7 inches taller. WAM built like a 7'5" Snoop Dog.

[@jacklane7489]

Exactly. When are the media and the organizations going to be held accountable for their terrible draft projections.

[@johnnygreen9614]

People forget Shaq, and that was during the time of great centers,we saw him shatter a backboard with amad rashad, and came in no1. and didn't disappoint.

[@4dawyn]

I hope the spurs get some decent PF to pair with wemby just to take some pressure off him down low, im afraid he'll get injured if they overuse him in the paint

[@benjipaname846]

Wemby need to play PF, not C

[@4dawyn]

@@benjipaname846 im referring to a big in general regardless of what position wemby plays. Spurs need to get another decent big to take some pressure off wemby down low. If they put all the workload on wemby's plate he will get injured for sure

[@RealRJ03]

To be fair to wemby, you cant compare him to Bron because he had his high school games on ESPN. Crazy hype! Im sure Wemby will be great though.

[@memphis-uy9sy]

People forgetting him and chet holgram are both going to be rookies next year

[@patrickreddick1468]

Victor wembanyama will help my Spurs win more 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@Pyros462]

SAS was really reading the newspaper durin wemby’s interview clip😂

[@WrestlingIsReal649]

Sas hates international player 😂😂😂

[@Alex-tw8nb]

No just not d riding like yall

[@giffondhall9214]

The media is going destroy this kid before he steps foot on the court

[@LukaTheDon77]

Stephen A is the same guy that said “I don’t care about that white boy from Europe, the Suns better not mess this up, they need to draft Ayton!” 80% tv personality 20% analyst

[@richardcoreno]

Crown Vic👑🏀

[@olumideadeyemi4600]

JJ Redick, you failed to mention Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon. He was a No. 1 pick and also won finals MVP twice. ✨

[@lyrics9830]

Another reason SAS hates European or outside of the US players 😂😂. Dude will never show love love to them.

[@Jaycinque]

I can respect Stephen A for his consistent international hate

[@Alex-tw8nb]

Would you rather usa hate???

[@babyfacerob6082]

Mad dog my ninja 🤣 best guest next ta perk

[@GH-cd6oq]

Im American and these clowns have to realize how global the NBA is now. Quit overhyping American talent then hating on legit International talent. Its so annoying

[@rickmason6157]

Mad Dogg sound like Grandpa.

[@wondaluis5180]

The wembanyama is coming

[@blablablaa14]

I love how Wemby makes JJ look like a small child in that photo

[@tigerhoods7927]

Media setting this kid up for failure, just let him grown into his own. These dudes gonna be the same ones flip flopping if he doesn’t live up to the hype

[@TyBeTroLLing]

It's well known that foreign players usually don't fold and have thicker skin being that they play with grownmenat age 14 and up

[@Alex-tw8nb]

​@@TyBeTroLLingthats the international d riding

[@andrewcalvert]

I agree with Stephen A. about the excessive “fawning” but he looks legit. Time will only tell, but those European and other International leagues ain’t no joke.

[@Jakiirod]

Next year's Team World lineup is gonna be lit: Murry, Doncic, Wemby, Giannis, Jokic and Embiid off the bench.

[@mufasa2009]

Team world? Why can't each country have a team?

[@rudycastillo1286]

I noticed a lot of people low key mad or sum that spurs won 1st pick and getting wembanyama

[@OweNoManAnything]

Stephen A when Wemby start going in. “We all were on the edge of our seats awaiting this kid to play”

[@TarakRamChowdhary]

SAS be hating on foreign players, common man he is the greatest prospect ever! U just can’t admit it

[@nanox4]

Xenophobia on live TV... Sad

[@kalix975]

not even close, this dude overrated asf

[@Jamal-bb8lx]

What about Zion?

[@markm5607]

France got dunked by Vince Carter in 2000, so they took it personally.

[@latarashamcneil9101]

Thank you for making this video. I am absolutely a baseball fan, but I like all sports in general. However, I do follow the NBA during playoff time. And now the draft is tomorrow. No doubt a team will pick up Wembanyama. Excited to see him play next season.

[@IIGoldenII]

Anyone else just fast forward every time mad dog opens his mouth?

[@misterpunch4]

Is he 7'5 or 7'3? I hear all different heights for this kid, his true height is more difficult to get than KD's.

[@MatthewFilms123]

they do the same in usa now and they list gobert at 7ft2… i’ve seen them next to each other, wemby is a good 3 inches taller

[@benjipaname846]

7’5 with shoes on

[@Anthonydu01630]

7’3 without shoes, so he will be listed at 7’5 in the NBA because they measure with shoes

[@enriquemaradiaga5342]

The disrespect on Hakeem Olajuwon consider not being on the list of first pick and not winning a finals MVP

[@BlakeWard-mo1vu]

I hope and pray that this young brother is everything that ja and Zion are not.

[@soda8736]

He want get into to any off the court issue, I can one International player who had any off the court issues. As long as he doesn't get too influenced

[@raymendez3403]

So basically ESPN asks their basketball expert Stephen A. Smith "Is Wembanyama the most excited you've been to see a rookie play" and his answer is "No, because I haven't seen him play". Then why is he even in the panel to begin with, if he doesn't know anything about the subject invite someone else that could do the job, not clueless people.

[@stef8709]

I hope jxmyhighroller is on JJ Redicks payroll for how much he cites him.

[@mikeymike7738]

I’m from Philly and I would try to trade embid for him

[@lukagremory6618]

He is way to thin for my liking. But having duncan as mentor will help him become great

[@ziplockbaggies8707]

Get on the train, and ride it!

[@yanicknwosu7581]

SAS always hass something negative to say about Wemby

[@tarquanpearman3994]

He said decades boy u aint got but 1 decade 😂

[@Christopher._M]

Hahaha he might have 2 more and maybe even 3 but I won't give him anymore than that

[@michkanm]

Europe RULES NBA. That is Steven A's PROBLEM.

[@mdhh7859]

Andrew Wiggins has a ring and was number #1 pick 💯💯💯

[@coincoincoin31]

What JJ meant: only 3 players has a ring won with the team that drafted them.

[@benjipaname846]

Put not the final MVP !

[@ballinforjesus3645]

Stephen A. Acting like Jordan was on his GOAT radar in 1984. Stephen A. Was probaly hyping Clyde drexler as the GOAT 😂

[@lawsonwilfrid3312]

Thanks to jj redick to improve the discuss, I don't know the others two guys, OMG they think to understand basket ball.... but after 3 years of wembanayama in nba, I am ecxited to listen their tremoundous comment... Pfff

[@JoseCalderon04]

some are just hurt that the big thing this year is yet ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL PLAYER. Dudes are taking over your league.

[@mufasa2009]

There only a few international players that's worth anything

[@JoseCalderon04]

@@mufasa2009 Those few you mention are the ones winning and getting all the attention on and off the court. deal with it.

[@mufasa2009]

@@JoseCalderon04 No they are not American players get the most views, highest ratings and sell the most merchandise. Giannis and Embiid are the only marketable international players. Jokic, Luka no. Boring boring boring

[@kowaikokoro]

most hyped prospect since KD no cap fr fr, tall with lanky arms got an jumper can dribble yeah wemby is him 2.0

[@holycross6617]

If Wembanyama is from 🇺🇸 SAS: “My brother, my man, my homes, best no1 draft ever existence!!!”

[@Alex-tw8nb]

International players get too much credit he hasn't even played 1 game yet

[@SereneBliss]

Stephen A once in a while has a bone headed take almost like he is possessed by the ghost of Skip Bayless. This is one of them.

[@thoyo]

Seems like the whole world's eyes are trained on Wembanyama right now and he's cool as a cucumber. I need that kinda poise 😎

[@unphazd5137]

Stephen A hates him some foreigners

[@JR-qk8kl]

“I haven’t seen home play” how can you say that about the most hyped prospect since LBJ? 😂

[@stanleyho2302]

I'm not on board until I see it. Zion, Wiggins, Chet were all hyped but easily derailed by injury.

[@delosreyesgino]

It would be better if the cameras didn't cross the 180 rule. You could setup over the shoulder shots between the 2 debaters as well. It's a bit confusing for the 2 angles looking like SAS and JJ were talking to the camera in front of all of them instead of each other. If JJ is looking left, he should be looking left all the time. Don't break screen direction.