There’s no question Victor Wembanyama is one guy that can transform any franchise into a perennial contender. But for former NBA star JJ Redick, the San Antonio Spurs rookie is far above, despite being a teenager in his first year in the league.
Before Wembanyama entered the NBA, the young star dominated in both the Euroleague and the local basketball scene in France. After he was drafted first by the Spurs in 2023, the hype machine went over the moon as the early focus of the previous offseason was all about San Antonio’s new big man.
As the regular season comes to an end, it would seem that the hype surrounding Wembanyama is justified. Over the course of 71 games, the French phenom scored 21.4 points on 46 percent shooting from the field, 32 percent from beyond the arc, and 79 percent from the free throw line. Along with leading the league in blocks with 3.6 of them on a nightly bases, the Spurs star also averaged 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Wembanyama’s potential was fully seen in a Spurs 130-126 win over a Jalen Brunson-led New York Knicks team a few weeks ago. In that game, the 19 year-old center posted 40 points on 59 percent shooting from the field, 20 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a single block in 37 minutes on the court. With that kind of potential hiding underneath his lanky frame, it’s only understandable for everyone to be hyped about the San Antonio star.
JJ Redick Raves About San Antonio Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama
Among those who have been captivated by Wembanyama’s game is former NBA star JJ Redick. During an interview with Rudy Gobert in an episode of The Old Man & the Three, the sharpshooter gave his take on the rookie, as seen in a clip shared by Josh Paredes on X:
While most players his age use their first year in the NBA to familiarize themselves with how the game is played on the professional level, Wembanyama seemed to have missed that memo and started dominating right away. His performance on the defensive end, specifically, has drawn raves from everyone all season long.
With his rookie campaign done, the Spurs are looking forward to a leap next season for Wembanyama. And if what Redick saw is right, the French star is only just beginning in the NBA.
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