Victor Wembanyama #1 of Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 and Scoot Henderson #0 of G League Ignite shake hands after their exhibition game at The Dollar Loan Center on October 04, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. The Ignite defeated the Metropolitans 92 122-115. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—In a highly anticipated showdown between top prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson lived up to the hype.
Wembanyama and Henderson—both 18-year-old sensations—delivered an epic duel in a G League preseason game that saw several NBA scouts and Phoenix Suns stars Devin Booker and Chris Paul in attendance at The Dollar Loan Center in Nevada.
“It was a great experience, a great experience,” Wembanyama said in a story on the NBA website. “I can’t wait to do it again. I know we’ll do it again in two days, and then for the rest of my life.”
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama showed why he’s the consensus number one pick next year with 37 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field including seven triples to lead the Metropolitans 92.
Victor Wembanyama & Scoot Henderson's duel was a MOVIE!
Victor: 37 PTS (11-20 FGM), 7 3PM, 5 BLK
Scoot: 28 PTS, 5 REB, 9 ASTGame 2: Thurs. 3PM ET on ESPN 2 and the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/WIy2EVo02V pic.twitter.com/ljStpTNQt5— NBA (@NBA) October 5, 2022
The French wunderkind also had four rebounds and five blocks, highlighted by a big rejection on a dunk attempt by Henderson late in the game.
Henderson also made an impressive account of himself with 28 points and nine assists while taking the victory for G League Ignite, 122-115.
Wembanyama and Henderson go for an encore when they meet again on Friday.