After the expected top pick in next summer’s NBA Draft showed out this week in two exhibition games against the G League Ignite, everyone in the basketball world (the Minnesota Timberwolves included) has been buzzing about Victor Wembanyama.
And for good reason. Wembanyama, a 7’4″ unicorn from France, has the highest upside of any prospect we’ve seen in a very long time. NBA teams are already ecstatic about the possibility of drafting him.
On Tuesday night, he put up a statline of 37 points and four rebounds against the brightest pro prospects in the United States. He also went for five blocks and knocked down seven three-pointers; a feat that’s only been accomplished once in NBA history.
Timberwolves want Wembanyama as much as the next team
It’s safe to say that every team in the league would love to acquire Wembanyama’s services next season. But for teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, it’s hard to envision a scenario where that happens, seeing as he’ll be going to a non-playoff team.
However, there is already a prior connection between Victor Wembanyama and the Timberwolves. Also hailing from France, Rudy Gobert is a friend of the talented phenom. When Wembanyama attended Minnesota’s preseason contest against the Lakers Thursday night, the two posed for a picture after the game.
Oh my god pic.twitter.com/hwc3zfjpEo
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 6, 2022
Gobert is one of the few NBA players with connection to Wembanyama
The photo quickly went viral, with fans astonished at just how small Victor made the 7’1″ three-time Defensive Player of the Year look. Gobert towers over most NBA players, but he appears downright average next to the gigantic Wembanyama.
After knowing the top prospect since he was a child, Gobert’s relationship is one of the few that Wembanyama has in the NBA. This creates an instant connection between him and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While Victor can’t control where he gets drafted, it’s always nice to know he has an ally with the Timberwolves. If there’s ever a way he ends up playing in Minnesota, this friendship could be a big reason why.