Generational NBA prospect claims to be 'immune' from draft hype

Victor Wembanyama is the most hyped NBA Draft prospect in years, but you would not know it from listening to him talk.

Wembanyama, the expected first overall pick in Thursday’s draft, was asked Wednesday if he thinks some of the hype has gone too far. The French center matter-of-factly responded no, mostly because his own expectations are just as high.

“I don’t let this, all this stuff, get into my head because I got such high expectations for myself that I’m immune to all this stuff. So I really don’t care,” Wembanyama said, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Being “immune” to this level of hype is easier said than done. That noted, he has backed it up so far. Wembanyama does not seem overawed by what is happening to him and he handled his level of celebrity in France with little issue.

The question for Wembanyama is how he and everyone around him will respond if he has a rough stretch early in his NBA career. Still, there is no reason to believe that he won’t develop into a success in time.

Wembanyama is all-but-certain to be picked first by the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. After that, he has said, we will get a glimpse of him this summer, despite some previous reports to the contrary.