Uncertainty and intrigue often surround the No. 1 overall pick heading into a draft. In some years, however, one prospect emerges from the field, and the only uncertainty is whether that player will live up to the massive hype.
Enter Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4, 19-year-old out of France, who is universally projected to go No. 1 overall to the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft after San Antonio won Tuesday’s draft lottery.
The hype for Wembanyama has skyrocketed in recent months, with NBA stars including Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James — who knows a thing or two about extreme pre-draft expectations himself — heaping praise on the game-changing French prospect. Some have even called Wembenyama the best prospect in team sports history.
When Wembanyama hears his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on June 22, he will officially join the ranks of the most heavily anticipated first overall picks of all time across every sport.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at other No. 1 picks throughout history with massive expectations heaped on them and see how they fared.
1. LeBron James
Year: 2003
League: NBA
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
What people were saying: James was already turning heads across the NBA by the middle of his junior season in high…
