Victor Wembanyama vs Scoot Henderson: Comparing their respective careers so far

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson are the top two projected picks in the 2023 NBA draft. They've had different paths to the top.

Wembanyama played soccer growing up before his mother, a former basketball player, started teaching him basketball when he was five years old. Wembanyama's youth career began with a local team, Entente Le Chesnay Versailles, before he joined Nanterre's youth system as a 10-year-old.

The French center received offers from Barcelona and ASVEL early in his basketball career. However, his parents refused to let him depart Nanterre at the youth level. Victor Wembanyama later played for Barcelona's U-14 team on a loan move.

Wembanyama began playing U-21 basketball for Espoirs Nanterre in the LNB Espoirs, the French U-21 league, in 2019, aged 15. Later that year, he made his professional debut for Nanterre 92 at the EuroCup, becoming the second youngest player to play at that level.

Victor Wembanyama's professional career began with Pro A and EuroLeague's ASVEL in 2021. He played 13 games for the team before opting out of his contract. Wembanyama was a two-time Pro A Young Player of the Year during his stint with Nanterre and ASVEL.

He played 34 league games with the two teams between 2020 and 2022, averaging 8.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest. The 7'4" center now plays for Metropolitans 92, a top-division team in the French League.

Wembanyama played for France's U-16 team in the Euro Championship, winning a silver medal. He also represented the U-19 team in the FIBA World Cup, where the French were once again runners-up.

Meanwhile, Scoot Henderson's career began at the high school level. He played for Carlton J. Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, growing up. Henderson averaged 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game as a junior and led his team to the state title game.

He was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2022 class. Henderson dropped to the 2021 class and backed himself by going pro. He signed with G-League Ignite instead of opting to go to college. Henderson has played 21 games for Ignite, averaging 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson's career paths have been different for obvious reasons. The former is French and has played in Europe throughout his career, while Henderson grew up in America. Due to this, Wembanyama got a taste of pro basketball a couple of years before Henderson.

The two top prospects have demonstrated that they are built for the big leagues and fans are eagerly waiting to see them in action on an NBA court.

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson thrill fans in exhibition games

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson battled it out in two exhibition games on Tuesday (October 4) and Thursday (October 6).

Wembanyama scored a game-high 37 points in the first game, shooting 7-of-11 from 3-point range while racking up five blocks. Meanwhile, Henderson went off for 28 points, nine assists and three steals. Henderson's G-League Ignite emerged as the winners against Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 by a 122-115 margin.

Wembanyama helped his team avenge Tuesday's loss on Thursday with a 36-point outing. The Metropolitans won the tie 112-106, making a comeback in the fourth quarter. Scoot Henderson had to leave the game early after injuring his knee following a collision with Wembanyama.

Their first-ever showdown was watched by basketball fans across the globe, and they delivered in style.

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