Adam Silver won't be announcing the top picks in the 2023 NBA Draft until late June, but basketball fans will get to watch two of the top prospects in this year's class show off their skills this week.
Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson will soon meet for what should be an exciting pair of exhibition games. Wembanyama, the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick next year, will play for the visiting French club Metropolitans 92, and Henderson, the potential No. 2 pick, will take the floor with his G League Ignite teammates.
"We're committed to helping our Ignite players develop against top talent as they prepare for NBA careers," NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said of the games. "With these preseason games, we're excited to offer a platform to some of the best young prospects from around the world to showcase their talents."
When will the prospects battle it out on the court? Here is everything you need to know about the Wembanyama vs. Henderson matchup.
MORE: Wembanyama headlines way-too-early 2023 NBA Mock Draft
When does Victor Wembanyama play Scoot Henderson?
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 4/Thursday, Oct. 6
- Time: 10 p.m. ET/3 p.m. ET
Wembanyama and Henderson will play against each other in preseason games on Tuesday and Thursday. The games will be held at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev.
What channel is G League Ignite vs. Metropolitans 92 on?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: NBA app
Both games will air on ESPN2, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Fans looking to stream the G League Ignite vs. Metropolitans 92 games can watch them by downloading the new NBA app.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2022-23 NBA season on Sling TV. Stream Sling Orange for $35/month to catch all regular season games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBATV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $46/month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.
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Victor Wembanyama scouting report
The Sporting News' Scott Rafferty explained why Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in nearly every available mock draft:
Offensively, Wembanyama has drawn comparisons to Wizards forward Kristaps Porzingis for his ability to stretch the floor at a high level as a 7-footer. While the numbers aren't there yet, keep in mind that he's only a teenager. Also, he sure looks the part of a shooter. Not only is he capable of spotting up and picking-and-popping, but he can operate off of screens like a wing. ...
Wembanyama does more traditional big man things as well. He's a legitimate lob threat, he's flashed some potential playing out of the post and he's already a big-time rim protector. One more player Wembanyama has been compared to: Jazz star and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year who will go down as one of the most dominant defenders in NBA history. Wembanyama is a massive presence around the basket, and he's agile enough to step out to the perimeter. ...
Put it all together — the size, length, shooting, handle, defensive chops, fluidity — and it's no wonder why people are losing their minds over Wembanyama. The icing on the cake is he won't turn 19 years old until January, so he's only scratching the surface of his potential.
Scoot Henderson scouting report
The Sporting News' Kyle Irving has the breakdown on Henderson:
With solid size, strength and length at 6-2, 195 pounds with a reported 6-9 wingspan, Henderson already looks the part of a combo guard at the NBA level. The first thing you'll notice is his explosiveness as an athlete. He takes no time to accelerate before rising up and attacking the basket with aggression. Henderson is at his best when he gets downhill, using his speed and strong frame to absorb contact, shed off defenders and finish at the rim — which is by far the most impressive aspect of his game. ...
Henderson's pull-up game is deadly — and far more advanced than a typical prospect. Not only does he have a smooth shooting stroke and high release, but he's able to stop on a dime. ...
On the other side of the ball, Henderson still has a ways to go. He has the tools to be a disruptive and physical perimeter defender, but we haven't seen it come to fruition just yet.
