Fresh talent with limitless potential and boosted egos enter the NBA every year. But only rarely do we witness a generational player. We are now. He’s Victor Wembanyama.
All eyes were on Wembanyama from day one. How has he responded? Through 181 games, he has surpassed expectations, establishing himself as an exceptional offensive threat and a defender par excellence.
To date, Wembanyama has tallied more points than Kobe Bryant, dished out more assists than Nikola Jokic, grabbed more rebounds than Giannis Antetokounmpo, blocked more shots than Hakeem Olajuwon, and—remarkably at 7’4″—drained more three-pointers than Stephen Curry.
Those are numbers and comparisons. Let’s also talk about Wemby’s approach to the game. His desire to win borders on an obsession, driven by an unbounded passion for the game. Consider the scene from last Saturday’s Western Conference Game 7 versus the Thunder. Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul and headed to the bench. Luke Kornet replaced Wembanyama, and then made a game-altering block.
Cameras captured Wembanyama biting his fist—a sign of pure adrenaline and enthusiasm. The late Kobe Bryant was the last player to show that level of love for the game.
As fans, viewers, and devoted basketball purists, we cannot let a single second of this greatness escape us. This is exactly where we, as a society, failed with LeBron James. James did exactly what a generational prospect is meant to do; however, when he met those expectations, it was never enough, never appreciated, and never “better than Jordan.”
Let’s not do that with Victor Wembanyama. At only 22 years old, he is possibly the best basketball player ever.
