Victor Wembanyama has responded to LeBron James’ praise of him.
James made headlines in October when he said Wembanyama was more like an alien than a unicorn.
“Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years. Well, he’s more like an alien,” LeBron said at the time. “I’ve never seen, no one’s ever seen anyone as tall as he is, but it’s fluid and as graceful as on the floor.”
Now, Wembanyama has explained why James’ praise stuck a chord with him.
“First of all, I’m really glad he said that because I didn’t like to be called a unicorn,” he said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “I like it because it’s just something not from this world. I like being called an alien, yeah. It’s really what I’m working to be—something unique and original.”
Wembanyama’s comments come as he inches closer and closer to joining the NBA ranks.
He is widely expected to be selected first overall at this year’s NBA Draft and is currently averaging 22.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks for top tier French team Metropolitans 92.