Victor Wembanyama was already a global basketball icon at a young age. With his height, length, ball handling, and shooting ability, he was considered the best prospect since LeBron James. Many people speculated that he would attract a large number of fans.

"It's very possible that he'll be the face of basketball. Not just NBA basketball, but world basketball," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.

The story, as Buford tells it, goes like this: Claudio Crippa, an international scout for the Spurs, proposed going to see a youth game before checking out Doumbouya. Buford saw Wembanyama play for the first time that day. And the seeds for the Spurs’ new master plan were immediately planted.