Victor Wembanyama has had a phenomenal rookie season thus far for the San Antonio Spurs and he has certainly impressed Damian Lillard. The Milwaukee Bucks star appeared on The Dan Patrick Show earlier this week, where he spoke about Wembanyama.
"Man, I think he is special," Lillard said. "... The first thing you think is height. I could see that he was clearly a good basketball player, but it was just so much hype around him that you were like, ‘Man, he is so tall and long. The game is so fast, how is he going to do in the NBA?’ Then you see he got a little twitch with him, even though he is tall and lanky, he moves quick, it's fluid. He is doing things you just haven’t seen somebody do at that size before."
Lillard added that he could see Wembanyama becoming the best player in the NBA very soon.
"I think we’ve always been extremely impressed with Kevin Durant doing it at 6'11", now you got a dude (that's) 7'5" doing the same thing," Lillard continued. "It is just getting crazy. I think Wemby is special. I think how competitive he is is what surprised me the most and that’s what makes me think that very soon I can see him being the best player in the league."
(starts at 4:20 mark):
That is very high praise indeed, and it's hard to say it is undeserved. Wembanyama is averaging 20.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game as a rookie. There was a real debate at one point on whether he or Chet Holmgren should win Rookie of the Year, but the Frenchman is the clear favorite now.
Wembanyama has been breaking records all season and has shown just why he came in as arguably the most hyped prospect in NBA history. He played against Lillard and the Bucks once this season and recorded 27 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 5 blocks. Giannis Antetokounmpo also had high praise for Wembanyama after that contest.
Like Lillard, I also believe Wembanyama can become the best player in the NBA, but it will take a few years. The 20-year-old still has some ways to go before he surpasses the likes of Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid to become the very best in the league.
Draymond Green Thinks Victor Wembanyama Might Already Be A Top-20 Player In The NBA
Speaking of stars being impressed by Wembanyama, Draymond Green spoke glowingly of him as well. Green said Wembanyama might be a top-20 player in the NBA right now.
“Victor Wembanyama is probably a top-20 player in the NBA right now," said Draymond. "With that skillset, with that length, with that jump shot -- his jump shot is absolutely beautiful. In San Antonio with that staff, that kid... watch out."
"Chet Holmgren is a very good player and I know there's been a comparison among those two but I will tell you, I think there's a gap between Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama is just different. Kid's special, absolutely special."
I agree with Green on his point on Wembanyama and Holmgren, but I am not quite sure you can call him a top-20 player when the Spurs are at the bottom of the standings in the Western Conference with a 14-53 record. Sure, there isn't a whole lot of talent on that roster, but a top-20 player would have led the Spurs to a better record than that.
More must-reads: