Wemby fever is sweeping San Antonio! Spurs fans form a MASSIVE line as they rush to buy the shirt of the No.1 pick with one fan even spotted wearing one in the draft before it even started!
San Antonio Spurs fans wasted no time in welcoming their bright new signing Victor Wembanyama as they immediately made their way to the fan shop to stock up on merchandise.
The 7ft 4in Frenchman who was considered a once-in-a-lifetime prospect was long overdue to be drafted by Spurs after dazzling scouts while playing overseas and it came as no surprise when he was taken with the #1 take.
Immediately after the selection, fans could be seen in a line winding around the corner of the arena to enter the team store.
At the fan shop counter, staff could be seen rummaging through boxes of shirts to sell to the clamoring crowd.
With the choice no doubt, Spurs seemed well equipped to meet demand after having prepared their three different shirts and ready-to-print training t-shirts with his name and the No.1.
San Antonio Spurs fans formed a massive line to buy Victor Wembanyama’s jersey
Unsurprisingly, Wembanyama was drafted first overall by San Antonio in this year’s draft
Some supporters wore custom shirts purchased before the choice was official
Almost surreal images: Many Spurs fans patiently wait their turn to buy a $150 Victor Wembanyama jersey pic.twitter.com/wabORkRsi6
— Theo Quintard (@TheoQuintard) June 23, 2023
However, while most fans had to rush to secure their jerseys after the pick, one fan was apparently so confident in the pick he had prepared before the draft even started.
He was spotted by Mail Sport’s Alex Raskin at the Barclays Center wearing a black Wembanyama Spurs shirt before the evening even began.
After the choice was finally made, official cameras showed the enthusiastic reactions of Spurs fans who had gathered in the stands during the squad watch party.
ESPN analyst Marty Smith was also present at the watch party and displayed a Wembanyama shaved cartoon in his head.
After being selected first overall, Wembanyama shared a few words with ESPN’s Monica McNutt.
“It’s just… accomplishing something that I’ve dreamed of, you know, my whole life,” Wembanyama said.
“Hearing that line from Adam Silver, you know, I dreamed about it so much that, you know, I have to cry, man.”
Some supporters had made signs with Wembanayama’s face on them. One even showed the phenomenon shooting lasers out of his eyes in reference to his “alien” status offered by LeBron.
Wembanyama arrived in New York on Monday ahead of the draft from Brooklyn and has since been on a whirlwind tour of the Big Apple.
A fan was apparently so confident in the pick he prepared before the draft even started
A San Antonio fan proudly holds up his new purchase to celebrate the choice
Back in San Antonio, fans went wild celebrating the pick at the AT&T Center
He was at the New York Yankees on Tuesday night for their game against the Seattle Mariners and threw the first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
Curiously, Wembanyama wasn’t as accurate with a baseball in hand – his throw widened and nearly missed the catcher.
But in Texas, he won’t have as many problems with the Spurs who will now officially focus on building the team around the Frenchman. Wembanyama will be coached by Gregg Popovich.
The team was last in the Western Conference last season, finishing the campaign with a miserable 22-60 record.
