"We're not trying to get Victor … whatever his name is"- Former LA Laker confident in team's rebuild, says they're 0-0 and not panicking
Several NBA teams are expected to tank for Victor Wembanyama this season. Wembanyama has been touted as the best prospect since LeBron James. However, former LA Lakers and current Portland Trail Blazers swingman Josh Hart reckons his team won't be tanking for the French prospect.
The Blazers ended the preseason with a 1-4 record. Their only win was against Israeli team Maccabi Ra'anana. They lost to the LA Clippers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. The loss to the Clippers was a tight one, but the three other losses were blowouts.
Hart is not worried about their preseason performance, though. He's confident about their chances of making the playoffs and not thinking of tanking for Wembanyama.
"We're 0-0," Hart said. "I don't think we're panicking. We're not trying to get Victor. ... Whatever his name is."
Josh Hart: “We’re 0-0. I don’t think we’re panicking. We’re not trying to get Victor … whatever his name is.”
The Portland Trail Blazers decided not to enter a full-scale rebuild in the offseason. They signed Damian Lillard to an extension as well as Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic. They acquired Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons, signed Gary Payton II in free agency and drafted Shaedon Sharpe.
The Blazers also have Josh Hart, Nassir Little and Justise Winslow as holdovers from last season. There will be more pressure on coach Chauncey Billups, but it won't be surprising to see the Blazers tank for Victor Wembanyama. If Portland fails to have a great start to the season, they might as well go for it.
Wembanyama lived up to his hype in two exhibition games against Scoot Henderson and the rest of the G League Ignite Team. The 18-year-old flaunted his insane skills and size in front of thousands in attendance that included scouts, executives, and former and current NBA players.
NBA superstars praise Victor Wembanyama
Several NBA superstars were in awe of Victor Wembanyam. Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo had nothing but praise for the 7' 4" prospect.
Curry called Wembanyama a solid talent and compared him with a 2K create-a-player, while James reckons he's an alien.
"Everybody's been a unicorn over the last few years, but he is more like an alien," James said. "No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor."
LeBron James is asked if he watched Victor Webanyama play last night, and if so, if he could share his thoughts.
The answer:
youtu.be/xk13e1lzLg4 https://t.co/TEsGkv4RQ0
Meanwhile, Durant believes the league could be in trouble when Wembanyama arrives next year. He can't help but smile at the young player's presence. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, gushed about Wembanyama and how he's starting to prepare for his arrival.
"He has the chance to be one of the best, not at his age, not in Europe, but one of the best to ever play this game," Antetokounmpo said. "We have never seen someone like that before. I think it's a good challenge for everybody in the league. ... We gotta get ready for this kid, you know? He's going to be really good."
"He's incredible man... We gotta get ready for this kid, he's going to be really good"
Giannis on watching Victor Wembanyama play in 2021 https://t.co/zNH5hsWzwf