Victor Webmanyama, just 18 years old, is one of the most talked about basketball players in the world.
The talented Frenchman is the almost certain first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and promises to be a star capable of changing the history of the game. To have a better chance of grabbing him, many franchises have gone the route of tanking, a practice that young Metropolitans criticized.
Tanking is a bad strategy, I find it senseless and unreasonable. I heard that the NBA is thinking about changing the rules but at the moment it doesn’t affect me and I try not to think too much about it.
During a lengthy interview with Le Parisien, Webmanyama also spoke about the expectations surrounding him, approaching the subject with great maturity.
I don’t live like an ordinary 18-year-old boy but I wanted it and I’m ready for it. It’s part of my nature, if I didn’t consider this normal it would mean that I was not mentally adequate to my level of play. Instead I want the two aspects to coincide as much as possible. I would be lying if I said that I ignore everything around me but I make sure that this does not affect the way I am and play. I am well aware of how much hype there is around me but I am sure I have prepared well, I am ready and I live everything calmly, continuing to work to achieve my goals.