French sensation Victor Wembanyama is already making waves both at home and overseas as one of the best basketball players on the planet. But according to French national coach Vincent Collet, Wembanyama is still just a kid with a lot to learn, contrary to the beliefs of people who don’t know the game.
“People who know basketball, they understand he’s only 20 years old, said coach, via Andscape. “But people who don’t know basketball, they think Victor is already Michael Jordan.”
The comparisons to Jordan, Kevin Durant, and even Bill Russell began long before Victor even played his first game for the Spurs. As a 7’4″ big man with handles and shooting ability, he was on the radar as a teenager and was quickly touted as the best prospect since LeBron James. After a stint with the Metropolitans 92, he entered the scene as a rookie under Gregg Popovich and the Spurs.
After a relatively sluggish start, Victor impressed fans and experts alike with his two-way game and finished the season with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and a league-high 3.6 blocks per game. The kid could do it all and he ended up being unanimously named rookie of the year.
Of course, Michael Jordan’s origin story differs in many ways but he and Wembanyama were both given great expectations from the start. And while Victor has answered the call, it’s still far too soon to put him in the same breath as other basketball legends.
After all, Michael Jordan was arguably even better in his rookie campaign. At just 21 years old, as a rookie, he averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 51% shooting. He was an All-Star that year and was an All-Star every year until he retired.
While the 80s Bulls were not very good, it wasn’t too long before Michael started winning and he dominated an entire decade like nobody had ever seen before. Between his success on the court, his worldwide fame, and his unmatched competitive spirit, Jordan’s legacy is immortalized in basketball history and he’ll always stand among the GOATs of the sport.
For Victor to even come close to this level will take a lot of hard work, good luck, and amazing perseverance. With practically no flaws in his game, Wembanyama can become an absolute beast once he gets comfortable in the NBA.
Of course, for anyone to take him seriously, he’ll have to start winning games with the Spurs. Last year, they managed to win just 22 games overall to secure the 14th-best record in the West. Sadly, after a relatively quiet summer, the only help for Victor will come through Chris Paul, who should help him get set up for easy buckets.
Wemby has already made it clear that he intends to win as soon as possible and he’s putting pressure on the Spurs to make some moves and push up the timeline. it’ll be easier said than done but, for now, Victor is content with keeping his head down and doing whatever it takes to maximize his game and his impact on the court.
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