"He's a better baseball player than Michael Jordan" - NBA fans react hilariously to Victor Wembanyama throwing first pitch before Yankees game

Victor Wembanyama is in New York for Thursday's 2023 NBA Draft, where he is expected to be selected first overall. Wembanyama, who has been hyped as a once in a generational talent, was on hand at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday for the New York Yankees matchup with the Seattle Mariners.

The French-born star threw out the ceremonial first pitch, missing the strike zone and the catcher altogether. Fans reacted to the pitch on Twitter.

Check out Victor Wembanyama's first pitch at Yankee Stadium below:

Bleacher Report

@BleacherReport

Wemby throws the first pitch

(via @JomboyMedia)

1507

96

Wemby throws the first pitch 😅

(via @JomboyMedia)
https://t.co/GSGJwU01l0

@Yankees_Heat_ compared his baseball skills to NBA legend Michael Jordan, who famously retired from basketball in between three-peats to try his hand at baseball:

"He’s a better baseball player than Michael Jordan already"

@rockets_enjoyer shared a reaction that may be influenced by how the lottery balls bounced:

"Such a terrible athlete. Thank god he’s not coming to my team"

@vanman_1000 questioned why he wasn't throwing out the first pitch in Texas:

"Wemby throwing out the 1st pitch for the Yankees but he plays for Spurs! The Rangers couldn’t afford him??"

@SugarSmith123 made a Zion Williamson related joke:

"Wemby: Beware of Moriah Mills."

@PlayboiLeb speculated about hitting against a 7'4 pitcher:

"that arm slot would be H**L to hit off of"

@Johnny__Bandini questioned if Wembanyama is deserving of the hype he has received:

"Ever other post is this kid 😂😂 remember when y’all hyped Zion like this wooowee that turned out well"

@Beautyman_12 questioned his status as the draft's top prospect:

"Can you take him 1st overall after this display?"

@donfrom96 questioned Wembanyama's passing skills:

"Welp no outlet passes from him"

@JackWynn912 claimed fellow top prospect Scoot Henderson would have been more successful:

"Scoot would’ve thrown a strike"

Check out the best fan reactions below:

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@Yankees_Heat_

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia He’s a better baseball player than Michael Jordan already

1

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia He’s a better baseball player than Michael Jordan already

Rockets Enjoyer

@rockets_enjoyer

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Such a terrible athlete. Thank god he’s not coming to my team

20

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Such a terrible athlete. Thank god he’s not coming to my team

Van

@vanman_1000

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Wemby throwing out the 1st pitch for the Yankees but he plays for Spurs! The Rangers couldn’t afford him??

9

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Wemby throwing out the 1st pitch for the Yankees but he plays for Spurs! The Rangers couldn’t afford him??

Sugar Smith

@SugarSmith123

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Wemby: Beware of Moriah Mills.

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Wemby: Beware of Moriah Mills.

Leb 🦋

@PlayboiLeb

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia that arm slot would be HELL to hit off of

4

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia that arm slot would be HELL to hit off of

JohnnyBandini

@Johnny__Bandini

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Ever other post is this kid remember when y’all hyped Zion like this wooowee that turned out well

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Ever other post is this kid 😂😂 remember when y’all hyped Zion like this wooowee that turned out well

Beauty Man

@Beautyman_12

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Can you take him 1st overall after this display?

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Can you take him 1st overall after this display?

Juke Landrunner

@donfrom96

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Welp no outlet passes from him

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Welp no outlet passes from him

Jack Wynn

@JackWynn912

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Scoot would’ve thrown a strike

2

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Scoot would’ve thrown a strike

🤷‍♂️

@JoeyDaws06

@BleacherReport @BR_NBA @JomboyMedia Trea Turner would have swung at that 🤣

@BleacherReport @BR_NBA @JomboyMedia Trea Turner would have swung at that 🤣

8 Year Old Fact Tweeter

@UnsealedComic6

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Foreshadowing of his shots in the league.

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Foreshadowing of his shots in the league.

Blasko

@DBlaskovitz

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Who didn’t see this train wreck coming?

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Who didn’t see this train wreck coming?

Justin Lasker

@LittleLask

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Pathetic pitch… I think we all agree that he should fall to the Wizards for that alone

3

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Pathetic pitch… I think we all agree that he should fall to the Wizards for that alone

Mark Peacock 🇾🇪🇮🇪🇺🇸

@Peacockphilly

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Not surprising when the ball looks like this in his hand lol

@BleacherReport @JomboyMedia Not surprising when the ball looks like this in his hand lol https://t.co/z7a1WzKhwI

Can Victor Wembanyama live up to his pre-draft hype?

Victor Wembanyama averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field, 27.5% from three-point range, and 82.8% from the free-throw line for the Metropolitan 92 of the LNB Pro A in France. He was named Pro A MVP, Pro A Best Scorer, Pro A Best Defender, Pro A Best Young Player, and Pro A All-First Team.

Wembanyama has drawn on-court comparisons to Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. He has also drawn comparisons to LeBron James, with some pundits labeling him as the better draft prospect.

While Wembanyama is set to follow in James' footsteps by being selected first overall, he will have a lot of work to live up to the hype in the way that LeBron has. In order to do so, he will not only need to prove that he can thrive against the best talents in the world but also that he can stay healthy, which has been difficult for players his height in the past.

Check out Victor Wembanyama's highlights below:

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