The expectations for Victor Wembanyama coming into the NBA last year were lofty, even for someone who stands at 7’3,” but thus far the 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs center has lived up to the hype. In addition to winning the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year Award last season, Wemby established himself as a centerpiece of the Spurs squad, particularly on the defensive end, becoming the first rookie ever to make the NBA All-Defensive First Team. That elite defense has carried over to this season too, with Wemby’s 3.6 blocks per game being the best block average in the NBA in over a decade.
Of course, Wembanyama is no slouch on the offensive end either, averaging over 20 points a game with a 47.6 FG% and 3.2 three-pointers made on 35.3% shooting from behind the arc. Wembanyama’s versatility and skill, particularly for a big man, hasn’t been lost on NBA fans, players and legends alike, such as Kevin Garnett, who said that at this point in his career, Wemby is more developed than MVP-award winning players such as Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic.
Spurs legend Tony Parker has also expressed his appreciation for Wemby’s skills, with the four-time NBA champ stating that Wemby could be the league’s best player in as little as two years.
“I’m so proud of him. You know, seeing him as a kid and going through ASVEL (French professional basketball team) âyou know, my teamâwe won a championship together in France with ASVEL. To see him, likeâit was destiny to go to San Antonio and the Spurs,” Parker said on a recent episode of the Knuckleheads podcast.
Parker continued, “”And the way he carries himselfâhe’s just unbelievable. His rookie season was unbelievable. His second year has been amazing so far, and I think he should be an All-Star. And I think in two years, yeah, I think he’s going to be the best player in the NBA.”
The Spurs have been fortunate enough to carry a tradition of selecting big men in the NBA draft that have carried the franchise to success in the past, with the 7’1″ David “The Admiral” Robinson and the 6’11” Tim “The Foundation” Duncan bringing the Spurs home multiple NBA Championships and earning the nickname “The Twin Towers.” Victor Wembanyama looks to be another pillar in the making for the Spurs’ storied history.
“I think we’re very lucky, and we should appreciate that in San Antonio. Likeâafter David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and now Victorâit’s crazy. The tradition of big men with the Spursâand I hope he’s going to bring us a lot of championships,” Parker said.
“You know, we’ve been losing the last five, six seasons since the ‘Big Three’ left. And so, I hope he can bring back the Spurs âYou know, winning, in the winning ways â And try to contend for championships,” Parked continued.
Though the Spurs have been off to a subpar start in the highly competitive Western Conference, Wemby’s stats have been anything but — in his sophomore campaign he’s averaging 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.
What do you think of the thoughts shared by NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker on Victor Wembanyama? Do you think Wemby could be the best player in the league in two years time, alongside other young superstars like the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum? Let us know in the comments.
