NEW YORK – After over five weeks since San Antonio landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the organization, its fans and members around the league have been counting down to the day when the Spurs’ purposeful losing would pay off.

That day is today.

Though it seemed already a foregone conclusion for over a month, the 7-foot-5 Frenchman is officially the third player the Spurs have taken with the top overall pick and the first French player to be selected first overall.

“I dreamed of this so much,” an emotional Wembanayma said on ESPN after hearing his name called by the leagues’ commissioner. “I got to cry.”

The Le Chesnay, France native played with French-club Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A French League during the 2022-23 season where he averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. Wembanyama won the MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Scoring Champion, Blocked Shots Champion and was named to the All-LNB First Team.

Still only 19 years old, Wembanyama began his professional career at age 15 with Nanterre 92 in the Euro Cup League from 2019-21. 

Wembanyama and the rest of the Spurs draft class will be at the AT&T Center on Saturday, June 24, for the introductory press conference.