19 YEARS OLD, 221 CENTIMETERS AND WITH AN AMAZING PHYSICAL: Victor Wembanyama hasn’t played a single game in the NBA, yet everyone’s eyes are on him. Photo: LOREN ELLIOTT

A French 19-year-old is the player everyone is talking about for the start of the NBA season. Victor Wembanyama can transform not only the San Antonio Spurs, but the entire league.

The superstars have lined up to pay tribute to the two 221 centimeter tall youngster with technique and speed as a guard, excellent shooting skills and sky-high basketball intelligence.

LeBron James calls him “extraterrestrial”, Stephen Curry says he’s like building your own player in a video game, while Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s like a visitor from the future. Experts debate whether he will force opponents to find a new way to play defense.

A dramatic drop in form at several NBA clubs towards the end of last season can be explained by the fact that the teams with the most losses would increase their chances of selecting “Wemby” in the NBA draft. The Spurs drew the winning lot and hope that the young NBA debutant will lead the team to old heights.

– He is something completely different. He changes the dynamic on both ends of the court, said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who has been with the club since 1996 and led it to five NBA titles. In recent years, the team has been among the league’s worst, but now the supporters are eyeing a new era of glory.

Several experts believe that Wembanyama will achieve all-star status already in his first season, at least as a defender, and that he may be able to lift Spurs all the way to the playoffs.

Huge interest

More than 13,000 supporters turned up at Wembanyama’s for Spurs training and the demand for tickets to the games is huge. The best tickets for the season opener are sold for NOK 65,000 on resale websites.

PHENOMENON: The fans go off the hinges for a high five with Victor Wembanyama. Photo: LOREN ELLIOTT

Even after Wembanyama was selected first in the draft, many NBA experts were skeptical of his ability to make an immediate impact. His prowess in the lead-up battles has turned most skeptics into enthusiasts, and the internet is awash with highlights.

Even before his proper NBA debut (against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night Norwegian time), Wembanyama is the most searched player on social media, ahead of all the league’s superstars.

“Victor has the potential to expand our audience and increase the number of people watching basketball, because people want to experience such a unique player,” NBA vice president Mark Tatum said recently.

Among the things people are debating is whether Wembanyama is the greatest talent to debut in the NBA since LeBron James (entering his 21st season), or if he is simply the greatest talent ever.

Rarer than a unicorn

– People keep launching “unicorns”, players who are supposedly unique. I’d rather call him extraterrestrial, because I’ve never seen any human being do the things he does, said LeBron himself after getting to know the French youngster.

GIANT: LeBron James is considered one of the very best basketball players of all time. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez

In addition to his unique combination of size and skill, Wembanyama also has his feet on the ground, even as he soars over opponents and dunks the ball into the basket.

– One of my concerns was how to protect him, but it turns out that he doesn’t need it, says Popovich.

– I thought I could give him fatherly advice on how to deal with the commotion, but early on I found him looking at me strangely, like he was thinking “why is this guy telling me all these things I already know?”

IS HE TAKING THE NBA BY STORM? Victor Wembanyama shoots during a drive-up game against the Golde State Warriors. Photo: Jeff Chiu

The NBA season starts on the night of Wednesday Norwegian time with two games. Defending champion Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of the semifinals this spring, while Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors take on the Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant. Nevertheless, many are most looking forward to Wembanyama’s debut the following day.