What a night it was for basketball fans if you decided to stay up and tune into ESPN2 for the showdown between Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson, two of the top future prospects you will be hearing about. G-League Ignite eventually took home the 122-115 victory against Metropolitans 92, as the two stars showed it all and went at it. So we decided to break down each of their games that we saw.
Victor Wembanyama – Metropolitans 92
Wembanyama is simply a player that we have never seen before (for the most part). An 18-year-old prospect that is listed at 7’2 (but could be as tall as 7’4) is not supposed to be doing what he showed on the court. Wembanyama has been a name many have heard of already but also is a new prospect for so many others, as the French prospect is looking to be the potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
And when you watch him in action, you can see how so many NBA scouts’ eyes light up with his potential and what he could ultimately be. Breaking down his game from Tuesday night, Wembanyama started out a little slow but had flashes in his ability to run the floor, move and operate on so many levels, and his ability to use his massive length and size to his advantage. But he caught absolute fire in the second half, showing his full arsenal in his game, and how he can be used/effective in so many ways.
Offensively, you just don’t see a player that is 7’4 or so being able to be so effective from all levels of the court. Whether it was his ability to stretch the floor and be a strong shooter from three, his ability to face up and create with one or two dribbles to rise up over defenders, or his ability to finish around or at the basket, Wembanyama is so skilled at his size, that that description doesn’t even do justice for how special he is. He has a smooth, fluid shot that easily can be knocked down over defenders from outside, but his ability to put the ball on the deck and rise up or create is so intriguing. In all honesty, there isn’t much a defender can do against a player at that size. His confidence level from three is so impressive, as he hit 7 3-pointers in the game, having a smooth high release to his game.
Defensively, you can’t deny how big of a presence he can be in the paint as a shot-blocker. With how well he moves, his incredible wingspan, and his timing, players had to think differently coming into the paint, as he blocked multiple shots as well.
In the end, he finished with 37 points (11-20, 7 (7-11) 3-pointers, 5 blocks, and 4 rebounds. He is smooth, fluid, and at times, it looks effortless on the floor.
All in all, Wembanyama is an absolute cheat code, something you have never seen before, and showed why he could (and should) be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Scoot Henderson – G League Ignite
Henderson is a player that we have watched from time to time over the last few years but even when watching him a few years back, one could see that had something special in his game. Now, it has been a little while since checking in on the guard, and getting a chance to watch him on national TV was an absolute treat.
To sum it up quickly… he showed why he is being talked about as one of the top players in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft and battling out Wembanyama for the top spot. Henderson plays with the utmost confidence and has that tough mentality as a prospect. There isn’t a shot, a move, or a pass that he can’t make, and he showed that time after time. He is an elite scorer on the court, showing that he can knock down shots from outside along the perimeter, and be a threat from three. But he is at his best with the ball in his hands, reading and reacting against the defense, creating his own shot, getting downhill, and finding ways to score around the basket.
Henderson is electric with the ball, showing his burst of speed, his ability to read and react, and showing that he can create with his crafty handles, change of speed, and pace. You add all of that with his explosiveness in the open floor, his ability to initiate and lead the charge as a point guard but also be a huge scoring factor on the floor, his underrated vision and floor sense, and the energy he plays with, Henderson has a lot that you have to like.
There are still areas he will be looking to improve but one can see exactly what he can immediately provide at the next level… how he can fill it up and how big of a playmaker he is on the court. Henderson has so many qualities that NBA teams would love to have and looks like a future star because remember, he is only 18 years old.
Henderson finished with 28 points (11-21), 5 rebounds, and 9 assists in the win.