Fellow global players Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the three MVP finalists for the second consecutive season.
There was not the slightest surprise at the top of the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night at Barclays Center, as the Spurs added to the league’s ever-increasing international flavor by tabbing ultra-hyped French unicorn Victor Wembanyama with the first-overall pick., and the first who did not play hoops at an American college since Andrea Bargnani of Italy in 2006.
That also is true of four of the five members of the All-NBA first team this season — Antetokounmpo , Embiid , Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander .NBAE via Getty Images“I’m not surprised by the ultra success of so many international players, just like I’m not surprised by the success of American players. We’re on equal footing globally now,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said this week on a conference call.
Wembanyama has played three seasons in France’s highest level of professional basketball, including a loss in the French League finals this year for his club team Metropolitans 92. Victor Wembanyama shoots in action during the playoffs of the Elite basketball match Boulogne-Levallois against Monaco at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.Nikola Jokic celebrates with teammates after the team won the NBA Championship with a victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals.“I think generally international prospects have a little bit more maturity, and again, that’s generally. It’s not true of everyone,” Bilas said.
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