Victor Wembanyama on Paris 2024: "It's not an option. I'll be at the Olympics."  

The hottest prospect in men's basketball has made it official: Victor Wembanyama will be playing for France at Paris 2024.

"It's not an option. I'll be at the Olympics," he said on Wednesday (17 May) according to AFP.

"I don't intend to do anything else. For me, the club and the national team are as important as each other so I have no reason not to want to win titles with my national team," added the man who is expected to be the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Wembanyama was speaking to the press after the San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery and granted the all-important first pick, making it almost certain the Frenchman will be joining the Texas-based franchise.

San Antonio's head coach is Gregg Popovich, who also coached Team USA to men's basketball gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021.

"“It would be an honor to be coached by Gregg Popovich. From what I've heard, he's demanding, but I'm sure he's good," Wembanyama told beIN sports. "If I have the chance to be coached by him, it would be with great humility and excitement."

The 19-year-old also spoke with a smile about the likelihood of joining the team where Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and his fellow countryman Tony Parker played.

“Of course [I grew up watching Spurs win titles]", Wembanyama said. "I remember the NBA Finals in 2013, for me the Ray Allen shot was the bad guy shot against Tony Parker. Of course I have memories of this team."

On the parallels with Tony Parker, he added: "[It] doesn't worry me at all and it's an honor to see our names side by side. I know people have expectations, but they don't exceed my expectations of myself so I don't have to worry."