Speaking on Undisputed this week, NBA analyst Rachel Nichols delivered the highest remark yet for Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. In the aftermath of his 38 points, 10 rebound performance against the Suns on Friday, she tagged him as someone with a higher upside than LeBron James himself.
“This guy has been a pro for years already, he’s played and won championships already and you can see it. Victor Wembanyama’s ceiling is higher than David Robinson, Shaq and LeBron’s. He can render that LeBron-MJ argument.”
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1720472242646376538
It’s hard to gauge how good Victor will be after a five-game sample size, but the early signs are looking positive. While Wemby has experienced some growing pains, he seems to be adjusting quickly and is already one of the league’s top on-ball defenders. Arguably even more impressive is that the Spurs are 3-2 on the season after being one of the worst teams in the West for the past three years. Obviously, Wembanyama still has a long way to go before he can stack up against the greats, but he’s on the right track in the first few weeks of the season.
Victor Is Putting Up LeBron-Esque Numbers
While Victor doesn’t have the strength or explosiveness LeBron did out of the gate, his performance so far is compatible with LeBron’s debut run. Up to this point in the season, Victor is averaging 20.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Spurs. Compare that to the 2003-2204 season, when LeBron averaged 20.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and it’s clear to see some similarities in talent. The question is, can Wembanyama sustain this level of play or will he hit a wall at some point in the near future?
Famously, LeBron failed to make the All-Star team in his rookie season, which stands today as the only time in LeBron’s career that he wasn’t voted an All-Star. He also failed to make the playoffs, finishing 9th in the East at 35-47 on the season. It’s hard to expect much better for Wembanyama in his first season, but it will be interesting to see what he’s able to accomplish as he gets more and more experience in the pros.
Victor Will Be An All-Star This Season
As the scoring leader for a much-improved Spurs team, Victor Wembanyama’s odds of making the All-Star cut are pretty solid this year. Currently, with a scoring average of 20.6 per game, he ranks 36th in the league and first amongst all rookies. What really operates Victor from the rest, however, is his efforts on the other end of the floor.
Wembanyama has been making a huge impact defensively, blocking shots and contesting shot attempts with his amazing 8-foot wingspan. On that alone, it might be enough to give Victor the all-star nod, but it won’t be an easy thing to do, given that the last rookie to make the team was Blake Griffin in 2011. But with a rare talent, extraordinary size, and a brilliant coach to develop his game, Vic has all the tools to become a basketball legend. As long as he stays healthy and follows the Spurs’ plan, the chances are good for him to live up to expectations.
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