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How Does Victor Wembanyama Want to Be Like LeBron James?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Dec 30, 2024 6:57 PM ET

It should go without saying that Victor Wembanayma is the biggest star and phenom the NBA has seen since the arrival and continued excellence of LeBron James. Not since "The Chosen One" has a player been given such lofty expectations and immediately met them. Wembanyama is a transformational talent who will not only leave a lasting mark on the San Antonio Spurs but the league as a whole.

Oh, he's also only 20 years old and is delivering on the "generational" promises made by experts on draft night.

One of the more underrated parts of James' success is his way of getting what he wants. He convinced Chris Bosh to join him on the Miami Heat, and he has very clearly been pulling some strings behind the scenes with front offices. Naturally, he has been crowned "LeGM."

As it turns out, Wembanyama wants that level of input as well. He was asked in French by reporter Maxime Aubin about his thoughts on NBA trade rumors and the landscape and if the Spurs should get involved.

His answer, which was given in his native tongue, was translated by Aubin.

I asked Victor Wembanyama if the Spurs should be active before the trade deadline. His answer is... interesting:

« One thing for sure : our roster won’t stay the same over the next years. Every roster change a little bit. I don’t know… I should look at those things more…
— Maxime Aubin (@MaximeAubin1) December 28, 2024

As the Spurs make small trades and players sign elsewhere in free agency, of course, the roster won't stay the same. That answer is very boilerplate. However, saying that he will "take a closer look at it" suggests that he wants to be involved in those choices, which sends a very clear message to the Spurs' front office: if you want me to be the franchise player, let me direct the franchise.

In all honesty, that's exactly what fans should want to hear from their centerpiece. He is clearly invested in the city and the organization from both a player and business standpoint, and, much like "The King," wants to have his opinion heard and honored.

If, for example, fans want Trae Young added to the team and the Spurs make no visible effort to trade him, it might mean that it was vetoed by The Extraterrestrial and that Wemby doesn't see it as a fruitful endeavor.

Check out the Inside the Spurs homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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