Anthony Davis Opens Up On Facing Off Against Victor Wembanyama

In the aftermath of his latest clash against rising star Victor Wembanyama, Lakers big man Anthony Davis spoke candidly on his experience battling last summer's No. 1 overall pick. According to Davis, Wembanyama has all the makings of a generational talent and his games always bring the best out of the Lakers center.

“He’s a special talent. To be 7’2, 7’3, 7’4 and do what he’s able to do, shoot the 3 and put it on the floor, pass. There’s nothing that he really can’t do. So he’s only gonna continue to get better and better in this league," said Davis in a chat with Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet. "But it’s always fun going against him. I know it’s gonna be a tough matchup against him every time we play. So I got the first one of the season but I know it’s gonna be tough. We had a great battle last year when we had the back-to-back here, me and him down the stretch going at it. So I love going against Wemby, he brings the best out of me and I bring the best out of him. We’re just two guys out there competing.”

As one of the best players in the NBA, Anthony Davis knows what it takes to play at the highest levels. The 31-year-old is a 9x All-Star, 1x champion, and 5x All-NBA athlete. Over 12 years in the NBA, he's averaging 24.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 55.7% shooting. In Los Angeles, Davis has made history alongside LeBron James, and, together, they've established the Lakers as a contender in the West. This season, in particular, is probably Davis' best in a Lakers uniform with averages of 31.1 points, 10.9 assists, and 2.7 assists per game on 41.7% shooting from three.

On Friday, Davis played his first game this season against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Davis was dominant in the game (40 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks), and he led the Lakers to a clutch victory in enemy territory. But Victor still made a strong impression in the matchup with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists on 48.0% shooting.

After being named last season's Rookie of the Year, Victor started the 2024-25 campaign with major expectations to prove himself as a star, and he's on a solid track so far. At 6-7 so far, the Spurs look like a much-improved team from last year and Victor's stats are up across the board, including a career-high 22.7-point scoring average.

At just 20 years old, the French superstar hasn't even scratched the surface of his ultimate potential and as he gets more experience on the court, his game will become increasingly more efficient and effective. If the Spurs play their cards right, they could be a title threat in just a couple of years with a few trades and the further development of their young players.

For now, Victor is still just trying to find his way, and with Gregg Popovich currently out of the action, it remains to be seen how the entire process will play out. At least, for Davis, he's seen enough to know that Victor is a special sort of player and that he'll be one of the featured faces of the game for years to come.