Victor Wembanyama Summer League Debut: How to Watch NBA Rookie in His First Spurs Game
The highly anticipated Vegas Summer League is set to kick off on July 7, featuring all 30 NBA teams and a Victor Wembanyama Summer League debut. In one of the most anticipated matchups, his San Antonio Spurs are scheduled to face off against the Charlotte Hornets. It could feature a thrilling showdown between the NBA’s top draft pick and the second overall pick, Brandon Miller. Here are all the details for how to see Wembanyama in action on the court for his first game since the draft.
Spurs’ Wembanyama is ready to play but may be limited
Prior to the 2023 NBA Draft, Wembanyama expressed his intention to participate “to some extent” in the Summer League. However, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich stated that the team is still deliberating on the extent of the 19-year-old prodigy’s involvement in the games held in Vegas.
“We are in discussions regarding his future course of action,” Popovich explained. “He will indeed take part in the Summer League, but the exact extent of his participation is yet to be determined.”
Wembanyama recently revealed that he has decided to forgo playing for France in the FIBA World Cup in order to adequately prepare for his rookie season with the Spurs.
It’s still unknown how many games Wembanyama will play during the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas. Some of the precedence set by previous top picks suggests it will be just a few. Paolo Banchero, the first overall selection in 2022, only featured in two games for the Orlando Magic, yet managed to impress with remarkable averages of 20.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds before being sidelined.
Similarly, Cade Cunningham, the top pick of the NBA’s 2021 draft, participated in three Summer League games for the Detroit Pistons ahead of his rookie season.
Many consider the Spurs rookie a generational talent who could become one of the league’s next great superstars. Fans will be anticipating his arrival on the court on Friday, July 7, against the Charlotte Hornets in Summer League to see his early capabilities.
As of this writing, the Spurs are -6.5 point favorites and -250 on the moneyline at Draftkings. Below are some of the player prop specials available for the No. 1 pick.
Victor Wembanyama Props available 7/7 (via DraftKings):
- Victor Wembanyama 20+ Pts & 4+ Blks (+225)
- Victor Wembanyama 20+ Pts & 10+ Rebs (+275)
- Victor Wembanyama 25+ Pts & 4+ Blks (+600)
- Victor Wembanyama 25+ Pts & 10+ Rebs (+700)
- Victor Wembanyama 20+ Pts (+130)
- Victor Wembanyama 25+ Pts (+425)
- Victor Wembanyama 30+ Pts (+1000)
NBA Summer League 2023 odds favor OKC Thunder
Right now, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds for Summer League games daily. In addition, they’ve listed futures for the potential Summer League winners.
As of this report, it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the way at +700. That’s unsurprising, considering that they have last year’s No. 2 draft pick, Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga. Holmgren was sidelined for what would’ve been his first NBA season due to an injury he suffered in Summer League. Now he’s back and ready to show what he can do.
Just beneath OKC are the Portland Trail Blazers at +1000 who feature the No. 3 pick, Scoot Henderson. The Detroit Pistons are third at +1100 and tied with Wembyama’s Spurs at +1100.
Top 10 teams for 2023 Summer League odds:
- OKC Thunder+700
- POR Trail Blazers+1000
- DET Pistons+1100
- SA Spurs+1100
- IND Pacers+1200
- HOU Rockets+1300
- CHA Hornets+1400
- MEM Grizzlies+1500
- UTA Jazz+1600
- SAC Kings+2000
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
How to watch Victor Wembanyama’s debut in Summer League
Wembanyama joined the NBA following an eventful 2022-23 season with the Metropolitans 92, where he showcased his exceptional skills in 34 regular-season games and 10 playoff matchups. His outstanding performance earned him the Pro A MVP title, as he led the league with 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per contest.
Wembanyama’s first appearance with the Spurs should come at NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas which officially begins Friday, July 7. The Spurs will take on No. 2 pick Brandon Miller and the Hornets.
ESPN will carry the live telecast of the game, starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. There will also be live streaming available for cable and satellite subscribers through WatchESPN and other ESPN apps for mobile devices, streaming devices, smart TVs, and on internet browsers.
Additionally, viewers who want to watch the live stream for free might consider checking into various streaming services online. Some of them may offer a free trial, including SlingTV, Fubo, Hulu, and YouTube TV.
Visit Sports Odds Digest’s NBA page for more of the latest about the league.
