Getty Image / Sarah Stier
Heading into this year’s NBA Draft, there was an unbelievable amount of hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama.
In fact, it was very much in the running for the most over-the-top hype we’ve ever seen for a prospect in any sport.
Fans are already expecting Wembanyama to be a star from the second he enters the league and some pundits have debated whether he needs to be an all-time great just to avoid being considered a bust.
While there are plenty of people buying into the Wembanyama hype before he has taken the floor for the first time in the NBA, it has been unclear just how that would translate to actual interest from fans.
Today we got the answer to that question.
According to The Athletic’s Matthew Tynan, tickets for Friday’s Summer League games, which will feature Wembanyama’s debut, are already sold out.
The NBA just announced tickets for Summer League action on Friday are sold out. The Thomas & Mack Center has a capacity of nearly 19,000. Victor Wembanyama is set to have a hell of an intro.
— Matthew Tynan (@Matthew_Tynan) July 5, 2023
It’s easy to see why fans would want to secure themselves a place at Friday’s Summer League action. This could be an event to remember for basketball fans.
Wembanyama’s size and ability to handle the ball have already captivated American basketball fans despite their limited exposure to him.
If he truly turns out to be as great of a player as many are expecting, then this could be something basketball fans in attendance will tell stories about for years.
However, it is definitely unusual for a Summer League game to get this kind of attention, especially when tickets for Friday’s games weren’t cheap.
It’s not clear how much Victor Wembanyama will actually play during his Summer League appearances, but the pressure is already on for him to give fans a show from the second he steps on the floor.