With dozens of NBA stars, executives and reportedly round 200 scouts all in attendance Tuesday to observe 7-foot-4 super-prospect Victor Wembanyama face off in opposition to Scoot Henderson — each of whom at the moment are the transparent best two prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft magnificence — truth one way or the other exceeded even the much-hyped expectancies.
Henderson’s G League Ignite crew were given the 122-115 win over Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 crew in an exhibition sport in in Henderson, Nevada, however the ultimate rating did not a lot topic. All eyes have been in reality on what the 2 major sights would do, and let me inform ya: all eyes needed to be completely inspired with what they have been handled to throughout the Dollar Loan Center Arena.
The hilarity of highlights began early in the sport with Wembanyama, who has a reported 8-foot wingspan, notching two blocks inside the first short while of play. The first was once a staple of what makes him this kind of deadly middle: he merely drops right down to assist and will quilt such a lot area across the paint.
His moment, a swat after shedding in protection off a display, was once extra of the similar, as he once more highlighted how a lot area he can quilt and what kind of his lengths impacts shooters.
As was once the case all evening, Henderson matched Wembanyama’s power in a fantastic blow-for-blow battle that changed into a shootout. Henderson went proper at his counterpart early, too, first attacking Wembanyama at the perimeter through unfurling a stepback from 3-point vary.
Later in the sport, Henderson attacked Wembanyama at once in the paint and once more were given the simpler of him. (Another time in the fourth quarter, it must be famous, (*2*)Wembanyama swatted Scoot’s shot into the following century.)
At the 1/2, Henderson had 18 issues, Wembanyama had 9 issues and a couple of blocks.
Then got here the thrill.
Wembanyama became it up a notch in the 3rd and fourth quarter in spite of coping with chronic foul hassle in what would possibly were his maximum spectacular taking pictures efficiency of his younger occupation. He delivered dagger after dagger from past the arc, completing with seven made triples in a closely-contested loss. He closed with 28 second-half issues to show in 37 at the evening, whilst Henderson in the win had a groovy 28.
Wembanyama fouled out overdue with the sport all however settled. He shot 11-of-20 from the sector and made seven of his 11 3-point makes an attempt at the evening. Henderson, who had a game-high 9 assists, made two of his 3 3-point makes an attempt and completed 11-of-21 from the sector taking pictures.
The G League Ignite and Metropolitans 92 groups will play once more Thursday.
By the numbers
| Wembanyama | Henderson | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 37 | 28 |
| FG | 11-20 | 11-21 |
| 3-FG | 7-11 | 2-3 |
| Rebounds | 4 | 5 |
| Assists | 0 | 9 |
(*1*)