Draymond Green is happy to face a young Victor Wembanyama right now, warning the rest of the NBA about what Wemby is going to become in a few years by the time he's retired.
"He's a very very very very very special talent. I'm happy I got the opportunity to play against him now because they'll have to deal with him a lot later and I won't be in the league no more, so that's good for me."
The Warriors and Spurs faced off tonight, with Golden State picking up a 117-113 win on the evening. Wembanyama put up 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks in the narrow loss. Draymond had one of his best games of the season with 21 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, and six steals.
Wembanyama is a record-breaking rookie who should easily seal Rookie of the Year after one of the greatest debut seasons in NBA history. Wemby could be an All-Defense First-Team selection as a rookie, already leading the NBA in blocks this season. If the Spurs were competitive, Wembanyama would have a legitimate case for DPOY, though he's made it clear he's coming for the award next season.
As a former DPOY, Draymond knows exactly what Wemby needs to excel in the NBA and go way beyond what anyone expected of him. He's already one of the most valuable players in the league, and Draymond should be happy that he's facing him at the end of his career instead of competing alongside him for a decade-plus.
Victor Wembanyama Is Earmarked For Greatness
Since before Wembanyama entered the NBA, people have been hyping him up as the next great basketball prospect. Many have argued he entered the NBA Draft as a prospect comparable to LeBron James, if not better, and he's living up to that incredibly high bar as a rookie.
Wemby is averaging 21.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.4 blocks this season. If this is him as a rookie, it should be terrifying to wonder what he could turn into after a few seasons in the NBA. He's bound to add weight to become more durable and be able to bang in the post, relying on his eight-foot reach to swat shots in several places.
When he can hold his own against bruising centers consistently, Wemby will be the most dominant inside presence in the NBA.
Jalen Brunson, Kevin Garnett, and Nicolas Batum have come out in high praise of Wembanyama just in the week prior, with players like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert hyping Wemby up since before he even declared for the NBA Draft.
Wembanyama is a legitimate GOAT candidate given his physical frame and skill level, but that potential can't be realized without a title. Wemby looks sensational but this season is proving that the Spurs need a lot more around him to compete in one of the most challenging eras of the Western Conference.
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