Carmelo Anthony Reveals Only Way to Stop Victor Wembanyama, Compares Him With Giannis Antetokounmpo

Victor Wembanyama’s rookie year was already something special: 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, nearly four assists, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game. But for the young French phenom, he wasn’t satisfied with flashes of brilliance; he wanted dominance. So, he spent the offseason learning straight from the greats, Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon, polishing every move, every counter, every instinct, and becoming the ultimate offensive weapon. Now, the results are showing. 

After leading the Spurs to a fiery 5–0 start, Wemby didn’t mince words: “It’s not random. We didn’t get those five wins randomly. We worked for it.” True to his word, he’s been putting up monster numbers. At the time he was averaging 30.2 points per game (ninth in the NBA) and 14.6 rebounds (first), all while shooting a career-best 56.3% from the field.

Even before the new season tipped off, the hype around the “Alien” had already reached a fever pitch. ESPN ran a poll with 20 coaches, scouts, and executives, asking one simple question: Who will be the best player in the NBA by 2030? The answer was almost unanimous. Sixteen out of twenty went with the 7-foot-4 sensation from San Antonio, leaving only a few nods for Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum. 

And when opening night rolled around, Wemby wasted no time proving them right. He exploded for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks in a dominant 125–92 win over the Mavericks.. It marked his fifth career game with 40 or more points, including that jaw-dropping 50-point outing last season against the Wizards.

The biggest leap in Wembanyama’s game this year is in how he’s learned to invite contact and make it hurt. He’s now (as per the 5-0 run) averaging 9.6 free throw attempts per game, more than double last season’s 4.1, and scoring nearly four extra points a night just from the line. His efficiency has turned lethal, ranking third in player impact estimate (28.0).

Even Mavericks coach Jason Kidd couldn’t help but marvel, saying, “He can dunk without jumping. He is different.” And with his new lower-body strength kicking in, rivals might want to remember Melo’s strategy.

Melo sees Wemby in Giannis’ mold

Carmelo Anthony made a rather well-known comparison, likening Victor Wembanyama’s potential to that of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I will say we’re seeing a Giannis type of mold with a different skill set. Giannis was small like that when he came in, a skinny, you know, when he came in. Now look at him. We’re seeing that if Wemby starts filling out the way Giannis filled out… He hasn’t really physically built out yet. When he gets to the point where he’s relentless in the weight room, like a mentality like Giannis has, approaching the game, he’s lowkey got that, like physically — you know what I’m saying — physically, when his body actually allows, allows him… shoulders start expanding. It’s over.”

Wembanyama entered the league at around 215–220 pounds, but earlier this year he revealed his weight has increased to 245 pounds. But he’s being careful, saying, “I gained probably like 30 pounds. I’m in strength training, of course, but the main thing for me is I could, in theory, put on a lot of weight, but I would lose some of my mobility, some of my athleticism. So it’s something that needs to be done really carefully.”

Giannis entered the league as a lanky teenager with immense potential, but what transformed him into a superstar was steady, natural strength development, gaining around five to seven pounds a year. That gradual build turned him into a two-time MVP and a defensive powerhouse, capable of absorbing contact, holding his ground, and even switching like a guard.

 And despite still growing into his frame, he’s already making waves in the NBA. In fact, both he and Giannis have been recognized for their early-season dominance: Wemby was named Western Conference Player of the Week, while Giannis earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for Week 1 of the 2025–26 season. Even this early, the comparison between the two superstars feels more than justified.