It was a duel for the ages in Belgrade today, as 3x MVP Nikola Jokic battled it out against young superstar Victor Wembanyama. It was just the first exhibition match in this year’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers, but it gave us arguably our best action of the summer.
The most interesting part wasn’t even what happened during the game; it was what happened after, when Jokic faced the media. Fresh off his latest battle against Victor, the Serbian center opened up on his ceiling, admitting that he has GOAT potential.
“He’s definitely a special opponent because of how unique he is, as a player and a person. I don’t see it as a rivalry, and I play every game the same way. But, he has the opportunity to be the most unique basketball player we’ve ever seen,” said Jokic, via Eurohoops. “It only depends on him how well he’s gonna fit, how well he’s gonna work hard, how well he’s gonna get to his spots, and treat his body well. He definitely has the opportunity to be the best ever.”
Hearing Jokic’s words, you might think Victor went off in this game, but he actually had a relatively quiet night (by his standards). In 24 minutes, he finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and six turnovers on 37.5% shooting in a 90-87 loss to Serbia. Jokic, meanwhile, delivered 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists on 38.4% shooting from the field.
Despite his underwhelming play today, Jokic knows better than to underestimate the game’s biggest rising star. He has seen enough to know how special Victor really is, and he saw glimpses of it in today’s win. Behind Wembanyama’s play, France made a late-game run that nearly flipped the game.
Jokić out duels Wemby as France falls to Serbia 90-87 in their first exhibition match after @FRABasketball made a late game run. Here was a key defensive stop against Nikola Jokić and heroic shot attempt by Wembanyama. 👇🏼
Jokić led Serbia, finishing near a triple-double with 20… pic.twitter.com/RnWWvkz5KB
— SpursRΞPORTΞR (@SpursReporter) August 20, 2026
Victor clearly has his flaws, as many fans frequently point out, but there’s no one in the NBA right now with a higher ceiling. At 22 years old, he’s a generational athlete who is already on track to become an all-time great. In just three short seasons, he’s a two-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA level player. Under his leadership, the Spurs have gone from a lottery team to a true title contender.
So while Wemby did not have his finest performance today, it’s not indicative of what to expect going forward. Jokic knows this better than anyone, and it’s why he made sure to remind the world what he can do. As for a potential GOAT track, Victor still has a long way to go.
To catch the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James (six-time champion and four-time champion, respectively), he’ll have to start winning titles as he maintains a steady place at the top of the hierarchy. The competition is steep, and the path ahead is anything but easy, but Wembanyama has fully embraced the challenge, and he’s more than earned the benefit of the doubt.
