Victor Wembanyama was selected as the number one pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, whose fans celebrated the arrival of the French centre who is considered the most promising basketball player of the last two decades.

At just 19 years old, with a height of 221 centimetres, the Frenchman has attracted all kinds of attention. Not since LeBron James has there been so much expectation in the draft.

Kylian Mbappe was also quick to praise his fellow countryman for the move. It is worth remembering that the two athletes already know each other.

A video went viral last month as the two shared a conversation which showed just how vast the height difference is between the pair.

"French excellence," posted the English-speaking Twitter profile of Ligue 1.

Mbappe wrote a post dedicated to his compatriot after the draft was announced: "WEMBY... The story begins now," he wrote on Twitter.

The Spurs made it official by selecting the French phenom No. 1 overall; the third player in franchise history to be selected at the top of the draft, after two great players David Robinson (1987) and Tim Duncan (1997).

Whether Wembanyama will follow in his footsteps to the Hall of Fame remains to be seen, but many in the NBA expect Wemby to lead San Antonio into a new era as serious contenders.