Victor Wembanyama delivered a 37-point performance while Scoot Henderson led his G League Ignite team to victory in a showcase of the projected top two picks in the 2023 NBA draft.
— With Chris Paul and A’ja Wilson watching courtside, French basketball star Victor Wembanyama, the uncanny 7-foot-5 center and projected No. 1 NBA draft pick, put on a show in a 37-point performance Tuesday night at the Dollar Loan Center against the G League Ignite and Scoot Henderson, the projected No. 2 pick.
Henderson scored 28 points and led his team to a 122-115 victory.
At halftime, Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 team, a pro squad from France, was down 71-52 before his second-half burst helped his team take the lead and battle the Ignite down the stretch.
« At some point, it was just about taking over because our team needed players to step up because we were down [21 points], I think, » said Wembanyama, who admitted playing longer quarters for the first time (games in Europe are 40 minutes versus 44 minutes in the NBA and G League) affected his stamina. « Coming back from such a lead, it’s a tough task. … There are times, you got to do what you got to do. »
Henderson finished 11-for-21 and led his team to the win with his own display of impressive shots, drives and dunks, including a 3-pointer and reverse layup over Wembanyama in the first half.
He said he never thought about the game as a matchup between himself and Wembanyama, though.
« It’s just playing basketball on a stage, » he said after the game.
