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As towering San Antonio rookie Victor Wembanyama rapidly moves towards dominating the NBA, scouts are combing the world for a \u201cWemby stopper\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wembanyama\u2019s 224-centimetre frame and 244cm wingspan, combined with his strong shooting and feel for the game, makes him the most hyped rookie in the NBA since LeBron James\u2019 arrival in 2003.<\/p>\n
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NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama shoots a three-point shot over Kevin Durant.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n One commentator on social media tweeted that NBA teams had a maximum of three years to \u201cget right with their maker\u201d before Wembanyama takes over, while Slam Magazine<\/em>\u2019s San Antonio-based writer Shea Serrano described his size and skill as having \u201cno precedent, only amalgamations like if you mixed Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Durant or a fighter jet with a jaguar\u201d.<\/p>\n He is already dunking from preposterous positions and influencing games as his Spurs knocked off Kevin Durant\u2019s Phoenix Suns earlier this week.<\/p>\n With the reality matching the hype, NBA scouts are in Australia and looking at the NBL where two young stars are staking their claims to step up and become an NBA \u201cWemby stopper\u201d.<\/p>\n The scouts are tracking the NBL\u2019s Next Stars players ahead of next year\u2019s NBA draft, and two who are catching the eye are Perth\u2019s 215-centimentre Frenchman Alexandre Sarr and Melbourne United\u2019s 213cm German centre Ariel Hukporti.<\/p>\n Melbourne United centre Ariel Hukporti.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n United coach Dean Vickerman has had scouts from the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz visit in the past week while 40 scouts attended the NBL Blitz pre-season tournament on the Gold Coast last month.<\/p>\n Vickerman hopes Hukporti, who has returned stronger after rupturing his Achilles last season, will be looked at by NBA scouts desperate to fortify their sides against Wembanyama in coming years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys are coming through and everyone is kind of telling us that they are not sleeping on Ariel, they love the progress he is making,\u201d Vickerman said.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep talking to Ariel about how everyone is looking for a \u2018Wemby stopper\u2019 right now, so can he be good enough defensively to go against the future of the game?<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had a bit of fun with him about that. We think that right now he is in calculations for defensive player of the year, he has the best defensive rating in the league, he\u2019s protecting the rim, he\u2019s challenging shots and doing a lot of things right.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is where we want him and if that is the chance to get him to the NBA, being the best defender in this league, then we hope it does.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarr and Hukporti will hit the court at John Cain Arena on Monday night when United host Perth in their annual Melbourne Cup eve game.<\/p>\n Hukporti is athletic and long with a knack for rebounding, shot blocking and strong defence. While he\u2019s not as tall as Wembanyama, his reach, jump and defensive timing has the potential to make things difficult for NBA level players.<\/p>\n Perth big man Alexandre Sarr.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Sarr is projected to go as high as the top five in the NBA draft, and his agility and wing span are close to his fellow Frenchman.<\/p>\n He rocketed into discussions for the first pick in next year\u2019s draft after starring for the Wildcats against the NBA\u2019s G-League Ignite team during pre-season games in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s interesting how this has caught fire, but it speaks volumes for how open this draft is,\u201d Wildcats general manager Danny Mills told this masthead in September.<\/p>\n \u201cIn previous years there has been a group of four or five guys, last year it was just one guy [Wembanyama], but this year, speaking to a lot of NBA teams \u2013 I think it is a wide open draft.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarr\u2019s 226cm wing span, exceptional agility and three-point shooting touch will appeal to any NBA team looking for someone to battle Wembanyama in years to come and also guard smaller players.<\/p>\n Like Wembanyana, Sarr is French but they have taken different basketball paths with Sarr playing at Real Madrid, US development program Overtime Elite, and now Perth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of my best assets on the basketball court,\u201d Sarr said when asked about his agility.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I need to keep it 100, bring the energy, if I don\u2019t, if I just stand there, then I will be a liability. So I always try to keep a high motor and be impactful on defence.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarr, whose brother Olivier plays with Australian star Josh Giddey\u2019s Oklahoma City Thunder, said his brother\u2019s battles to make the NBA had shown him how tough things can be if you don\u2019t become a first-round pick.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from him,\u201d Sarr said. \u201cHe\u2019s been where I want to go to, so I\u2019m following in his footsteps and he\u2019s given me so much advice that I couldn\u2019t name just one thing \u2013 he helps me with everything I do and watch my game and helps break it down for me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely motivation as for me as I\u2019ve seen both sides. I\u2019ve seen what it takes, what it feels like to be undrafted and have to work your way to a roster and that definitely motivates me to work hard and play my hardest every time I\u2019m on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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