Spurs WATCH: Did Victor Wembanyama Shade Rival During NBA Draft Lottery?
All eyes are on Victor Wembanyama with NBA Draft season in full swing.
ESPN had a camera on the likely No. 1 pick live in France to catch Wembanyama's reaction to the lottery results, which awarded the San Antonio Spurs the opportunity to select the French big man in next month's draft.
The draft lottery cut to commercial when it came down to the final four teams ... the Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. Once the Rockets were revealed to have the No. 4 pick, Wembanyama flashed a smile and pumped his fist.
Could Wembanyama have had a strong disdain against being drafted by the Rockets? Potentially. Houston is under new leadership with former Spurs coach Ime Udoka running the ship ... but we cannot say for sure.
In all likelihood, Wembanyama was probably hoping specifically to be drafted by the Spurs, which has a rich history in France with Tony Parker, the president of Metropolitans 92, the team the future No. 1 pick currently plays for.
Regardless of the intent behind the celebration, it caught the ire of Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., who was the No. 3 pick in last year's draft.
Smith, a 6-10 forward with strong defensive upside, will likely have many battles with Wembanyama over the years in the new chapter of the Rockets vs. Spurs rivalry, which appears to have already started before the two even share the court together.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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