The 19-year-old French phenom is at the center of the basketball world ahead of Thursday's festivities ... and all signs point to the San Antonio Spurs taking him as soon as they're on the clock.

Wembanyama immediately got a taste of what it will be like to be a celebrity in America when he landed at JFK airport ... being met with a large group of supporters.

Fans brought basketballs, magazines, and custom jerseys in hopes of getting an autograph from the 7'5" hooper ... and based on the footage, he was patient enough to sign as much as he could before heading into a sprinter van.

"I don't know how they knew what flight I was on, but it's fun," Wembanyama said of the impromptu meet-and-greet. "It's different, seeing that you can have such impact on people."