Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is a generational player, and I believe that he is the future greatest player of all time in the National Basketball Association. During this season, Wemby is averaging 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks per game — all while averaging 47 percent from the field; not to mention, he is only halfway through his second year in the league. Despite being the 12th seed in the Western Conference, the Spurs are reliant on Wemby’s development. As the former rookie of the year, he has been dominant on both ends of the floor and leads his team in points, rebounds, blocks and minutes played per game.
Furthermore, the 7’4” French player is averaging nearly 50 percent from the field, 40 percent in three-pointers, and 90 percent from the free-throw line, which is incredible considering that he is taller than 98 percent of the league and is still incredibly mobile. Even his basketball IQ is off the charts, as his court awareness only benefits his scoring and defensive efforts, all of which bring hope back into the lonely city of San Antonio. Even through his first 100 games, he has more three-pointers than Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, more blocks than Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, more career points than LeBron James and Allen Iverson, and more career rebounds than Andre Drummond and Anthony Davis, through their first 100 games.
Nonetheless, the game of basketball is constantly changing. The NBA has power forwards and centres such as Wemby who have taken the role of “big man” to a whole other level. His athleticism is pushing not only himself, but all players to play positionless basketball, where players can score, pass, defend, and shoot from anywhere. Wemby’s potential is astronomically high, but I nor the San Antonio Spurs disregard the potential risks Wemby may face. His unicorn-like build draws concerns about his health and durability, yet I believe that if Wemby were to stay healthy and continue to play at such a high level of basketball, he would surpass both LeBron and Jordan.
On the other hand, I cannot undermine nor ignore the greatness of LeBron James and Michael Jordan. They both have had miraculous impacts on the game of basketball. For instance, LeBron is known for his incredible longevity and high basketball IQ. However, Wemby has proven to be a better defensive player and has more defensive tools despite playing only a season and a half. If Wemby continued to develop his game, his combination of length, versatility and skill could give him an edge over LeBron in the long run. Jordan is known as one of the most dominant players of all time and is commonly recognized for being undefeated in the NBA Finals. However, I believe that if Wemby continues to play such a well-rounded game, he will become a more complete player and surpass Jordan.
In essence, it may be too early to project Wembanyama’s career and surpass LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Yet his unique combination of physical attributes, skills and potential for tenured dominance makes him exciting to watch. If Wemby stays healthy and continues to develop on both ends of the floor, he has a chance to redefine positionless basketball and potentially rival and even surpass the legacies of LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
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