Victor Wembanyama was ready to become the world’s tallest kickboxer on Wednesday night. During the third quarter of his team’s game against the LA Clippers, the San Antonio Spurs star center Wembanyama saw red and attempted to go after an opponent.

"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.