It’s been months since Victor Wembanyama lit up Las Vegas with a pair of jaw-dropping performances for his French club, Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92, in a two-game showcase against the G League Ignite on Oct. 4 and 6.

From the hundreds of scouts in attendance to NBA superstars sitting courtside or watching at home, to basketball fans tuning in to see more than just highlights on Twitter and YouTube, the buzz of the basketball world centered on Wembanyama.

Heading into the first game of the showcase, Wembanyama knew that he was about to play the most important game of his life. He did not succumb to the pressure of the moment, but instead rose to it and surpassed even the highest expectations as he cemented his spot at the top of every mock draft for the 2023 NBA draft next June.

The reaction to Wembanyama’s performance – 37 points, seven 3-pointers, five blocked shots – was an avalanche of praise, but there was one voice in particular that stood out above the rest: LeBron James.

“Everybody’s been a unicorn over the last few years, but he’s more like an alien,” James said. “No one has ever seen anyone as tall as he is but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor.

“At 7-foot-4 or 7-5 or 7-3, whatever the case may be, his ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot step-back jumpers out of the post, step-back 3s, catch-and-shoot 3s, block shots, he’s for sure a generational talent,” James said.

Whether using the phrase “takes one to know one” or using the meme of the two Spider-Mans pointing at one another, there is a connection that Wembanyama and LeBron have that is truly unique, as the two highest touted NBA prospects of the past 25 years.

When LeBron was at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, ESPN aired a high school basketball game for the first time in 13 years so crazed basketball fans could get a glimpse of this basketball prodigy from Akron, Ohio.

Twenty years later, a new basketball phenom – this time from Nanterre, France – had a pair of games televised on ESPN and will have his upcoming games streamed on the NBA App, giving NBA fans a sneak preview of the skills he’ll bring to the league next season.

Wembanyama is the evolution of the game in human form

Let’s go back to those comments from LeBron, who began by dismissing the moniker of a unicorn for Wembanyama as that term has become too commonplace in today’s basketball landscape.

We’re well past being shocked to see a seven-footer shooting 3-pointers like Dirk Nowitzki, Kristaps Porzingis or Karl-Anthony Towns. We’re thrilled, but no longer surprised, when James Harden drops a defender with a step-back 3-pointer or when Stephen Curry or Damian Lillard pulls up and splashes a shot from 35 feet.

The days of a player standing over seven feet being locked in the paint on both ends of the court are over. In order to succeed in today’s game, players have to be multi-faceted and impact the game all over the floor, not just near the hoop.

LeBron is correct in his assessment that the NBA has never seen a player with Wembanyama’s combination of size and skill. He’s already the same height as Boban Marjanovic at 7-foot-4 and could still be growing at just 18 years old. He has a body type, fluidity, ball handling and shooting range that is reminiscent of Kevin Durant. And he touts an 8-foot wingspan that allows him to protect the rim like fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert.

What he’s done since the G League Ignite showcase games

After Wembanyama’s outstanding showing against the Ignite, there was thought that he may shut things down from a competitive standpoint and just work on his body and his game in preparation for next summer’s draft.

But at this point, the plan is for Wembanyama to continue to play with Metropolitans 92 and continue to build his game through competitive games in LBN ProA – the highest tier in French basketball.

Wembanyama took the praise from LeBron and others in stride and said he still has much more work to do to prepare him for his basketball future.

“It’s obviously an honor to see such great people talk like this about me, but it really doesn’t change anything,” Wembanyama said. “People around me sent me the video this morning, and I was like ‘Oh that’s cool,’ but no more. I try to stay focused.

“The thing is I didn’t do anything yet, I didn’t play a game in the NBA yet, I wasn’t drafted, so I have to stay focused to reach my goals because it’s going to be tough to get better every day and stay consistent.”

Through seven games of play with Metropolitans 92, Wembanyama is averaging 21.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 58.1% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range in just over 31 minutes per game.

In his first game back in France on Oct. 15, Wembanyama posted 24 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a 94-89 win over Le Mans. A week later, Wembanyama finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five blocks in a 113-88 win over ADA Blois.

The following week – in his first game streamed on the NBA App – Wembanyama posted a double-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a 95-91 overtime win over JL Bourg-en-Bresse.

In his last game on Nov. 4, Wembanyama was both dominant and efficient as he finished with 33 points on 10-of-17 (58.8%) shooting from the field, 3-of-8 from 3-point range and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. He also collected 12 rebounds, blocked three shots and dished out four assists in 35 minutes to lead Metropolitans 92 to a 78-69 win over Limoges CSP Elite.

Upcoming schedule on NBA App

Below is the upcoming streaming schedule for Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 on the NBA App, with a full streaming schedule set to be announced at a later date. Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92’s full schedule can be found here.

• Tuesday, March 7: Pau-Lacq-Orthez @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Thursday, March 10: Metropolitans 92 @ Nancy | 2:30 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, March 14: Lyon @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Friday, March 24: Le Portel @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, March 28: Metropolitans 92 @ Le Mans | 1:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, April 2: Metropolitans 92 @ Monaco | Noon p.m. ET
• Saturday, April 8: Metropolitans 92 @ Strasbourg | 11 a.m. ET
• Saturday, April 15: Limoges @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, April 25: Cholet @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Friday, April 28: Metropolitans 92 @ Gravelines | 2:30 p.m. ET
• Sunday, May 7: Metropolitans 92 @ Bourg | 1 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, May 9: Nanterre @ Metropolitans 92 | 2 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, May 16: Metropolitans 92 @ Paris | 2 p.m. ET