Michael Jordan could well have lost out on $500million (£402m) after the Charlotte Hornets missed out on Victor Wembanyama in Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery.
Wembanyama was the man on everybody's lips heading into the lottery, and the 19-year-old was unsurprisingly Tuesday's No. 1 pick. Whilst Jordan's time in charge of the Hornets has proven to be difficult, this would no doubt have changed if they landed the signature of the sport's hottest prospect.
The Charlotte-based franchise missed out though, as it was the San Antonio Spurs who were handed the first pick, and they will now more than likely take the 19-year-old starlet from France.
The second pick did fall the way of the Hornets, but Jordan and co will have been left disappointed to miss out on both the talent and riches Wembanyama brings. According to ESPN, the 19-year-old star's arrival in Charlotte could have seen the value of the team rise by an astonishing $500m.
The valuation comes at no surprise, with the Frenchman tipped for big things Stateside. "Victor Wembanyama is the singular, greatest prospect in NBA draft history,” ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said. “He is so advanced skill-wise that nobody has ever seen anyone like him.”
As a result this price tag could well have ended up in the pocket of arguably the NBA's greatest ever player in Jordan, with the 60-year-old reportedly planning on selling the Hornets. While Jordan and co will have been left disappointed the same can not be said for Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Due to Jordan's stake in the team, the NBA icon could have bagged himself an extra $278m if he was able to sell the team with Wembanyama on the roster.
Clearly keen to get his NBA career going in San Antonio, the 19-year-old prodigy said: "I can’t really describe it my heart’s beating I’ve got everyone I love, everyone I know around me it’s really special moment I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.
“[I’m] A team player, I’m going to do everything to win as many games as I can and I’m trying to win a ring ASAP so be ready. I’m going to try bring my talents here, I love Texas, I’ve been there before, I’m really happy and I really can’t wait to meet the fans and hopefully the team I’m going to join.”
