Jonathan Givony from ESPN reported on Thursday morning that Victor Wembanyama, the top prospect for the 2023 NBA Draft, has opted out of his contract with ASVEL Villeurbanne and signed a two-year deal with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 from Paris.
Victor Wembanyama, the top prospect in the world outside the NBA and the likely No. 1 pick in 2023, has opted out of his contract with ASVEL and is signing a two-year deal with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, a source told ESPN. NEWS: https://t.co/ZkmbEMki76
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 30, 2022
The 7-foot-3 18-year-old just won the French championship with ASVEL after beating Monaco in a best-of-five series. His new team finished third in the standings and lost in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
In Metropolitans, Wembanyama will be coached by the French national team head coach Vincent Collet. He has coached the team since 2009 with several medals in competitions like the Olympics, FIBA World Cup, and EuroBasket. He has also won titles in the French League and has been named the Coach of the Year in France on five separate occasions.
Previously, Collet coached Nicolas Batum in Le Mans before he entered the NBA Draft in 2008. Wembanyanma’s decision was influenced by Collet’s ability as a player-development coach and his willingness to allow young players to prove themselves on the court.
In the last campaign, Wembanyama played 33 out of 76 total games between the French league and the EuroLeague due to several minor injuries. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 18 minutes per game in the French league.
