The San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama was first exposed to the Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, hence the first overall picks in the NHL and NBA met each other in Chicago.
Both players have been described as once-in-a-generation talents – with the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama’s freakish height and great scoring ability heralded as much as the speed and skill of the 5-foot-10 Bedard.
The meeting was set between the two top picks in their respective sports’ 2023 drafts while Wembanyama was in Chicago seeing the Bulls.
With Bedard there to offer pointers as well, Wemby tried his hand at puck shooting and a faceoff.
The Blackhawks gave a brief glimpse of what to expect in a sit-down with the two players in a bit of an interview due to air with the NHL.
+3View gallery
Top NBA pick Victor Wembanyama (L) met with top NHL pick Connor Bedard (R)
‘I don’t know much about hockey,’ Wembanyama admitted to Bedard, ‘I read a little bit before coming here.
‘You’re at the start of your career. I had heard of you, like, way before. I just started learning a little bit more, it’s dope. Congrats.’
Bedard told Wembanyama, ‘I’ve been following [you] a lot,’ before asking the Frenchman if he’s ever seen a hockey game before.
‘Full game? No, but I love when people just start fighting. It just looks out of this world.’
Wembanyama then questioned whether fighting occurs constantly, to which the Canadian answered, “probably not now, if you look at like the 1980s and stuff it’s like ten times a game.” Quite insane. Still, I’m not sure; perhaps every other game.
With superb scoring up to this point, the two rookies are leading their class this season.
Wembanyama shot the ball about as well as he shot the puck with Bedard – going 3-for- 8 from the field in the game he participated in on Thursday night against the Bulls.
+3View gallery
The couple scheduled a sit-down conversation for publication at a future date.
In a 114-95 loss to Chicago he logged seven points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Saturday night against the tough Dallas Mavericks marks his next game.
Regarding Bedard, he performs his next game at home against the Montreal Canadiens.