Victor Wembanyama to Start NBA Career With Two Huge Rookie Summer League Showdowns

An intriguing slate of games sets the 19-year-old phenom up for a potentially explosive NBA debut.

After months of anticipation and build-up, Victor Wembanyama’s long-awaited debut finally appears to be on the horizon following his selection by the Spurs with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. 

Fans eager to see Wembanyama in action were finally given dates to mark on their calendars on Friday after the NBA released its full summer league schedule. The Spurs will participate in two of the three sessions in Sacramento and Las Vegas, with the third session taking place in Salt Lake City. 

With the slate now official, the 19-year-old phenom could be in for a huge first game with the Spurs set to face the Hornets and 2023 No. 2 pick Brandon Miller on Day 1 of the California Classic on July 3. The Spurs will then face the Lakers on July 5; both games will air on ESPN2.

If the Spurs hold off on his debut, the 7-foot-4 center could end up facing Miller and the Hornets on ESPN when the teams rematch on Day 1 in Vegas on July 7. Wemby and the Spurs are also set for another potential marquee ESPN matchup on July 9 against the Trail Blazers and No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson.

Considering Wembanyama played his last game on June 15, it’s still unclear if he’ll play at the start of summer league, but both sides already appear to be on the same page regarding his availability going forward.

Prior to Thursday’s draft, Wembanyama said he expected to play in summer league “a little bit” following his farewell game in his native France. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich echoed those sentiments on Thursday after the draft.

“We’re talking about what he should be doing moving forward,” Popovich told reporters, per Yahoo Sports. “He will participate in the Summer League. To what degree, we’re not sure yet.”