San Antonio Spurs face of the franchise Victor Wembanyama is back from his monastery retreat and thankfully, he hasn’t take a vow of silence. Making a live appearance on Kevin Hart’s Cold As Balls, Wembanyama treated fans and spectators with his usual thoughtfulness. One of the best moments came when he was asked to name top five, but opted to reveal his all-time starting five (h/t CourtsideBuzzX on X).
Victor Wembanyama reveals his all-time starting five at Fanatics Fest 2025:
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Shaquille O’NealThoughts on his five?
Via. @NBABuzzMikey / @CourtsideBuzzX pic.twitter.com/iUUuysk6K8
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) June 21, 2025
Let’s take a closer look.
Stephen Curry is almost universally regarded as the greatest point guard of his generation. In an era that’s included the likes of Chris Paul, a 12-time All-Star with the second-most career assists in NBA history, that’s an accomplishment in an of itself. However, Curry’s unrivaled 3-point prowess and position at the forefront of the Golden State Warriors dynasty is why many of the league’s younger fans have him above even five-time NBA champion and three-time NBA MVP Magic Johnson.
There’s never been an NBA player with as much influence and impact as Michael Jordan. A basketball icon who won six NBA championships and five NBA MVP awards with the Chicago Bulls, his flair was only outmatched by his voluminous ability. A 10-time NBA scoring champion and nine-time All-Defensive selection, he’s arguably the best two-way wing there’s ever been. His aerial feats and midrange magic are still on people’s minds to this day.
LeBron James is one of the two active players in Wembanyama’s all-time starting five and for good reason. Indeed, Curry’s archrival over the last decade has been James, the two battling for supremacy on and off the court. However, when comparing the two’s resumes, there’s really no comparison.
James is a four-time NBA champion as well but also a four-time NBA MVP with a record 21 All-Star selections. He’s the league’s all-time scoring leader and second all-time in assists. His blend of size, explosiveness, guard skill, post skill, basketball IQ, durability and longevity puts him on an unparalleled plane.
It’s certainly possible that being part of the same organization that Tim Duncan spent his entire career with influenced Wembanyama’s choice. Yet, Duncan is really probably the most accomplished power forward in NBA history. After all, he’s a 15-time All-Star, five-time NBA champion and two-time NBA MVP. He ranks in the top-20 in career points, top-10 in career rebounds and top-five in career blocks. Known for his technical mastery, he helped lead a historically successful Spurs dynasty.
One day, Wembanyama might be considered the best center ever. He’s already off to a terrific start, not just a rare because of his physique but his mentality and overall ability. However, there have been several exceptional centers in the NBA, including Shaquille O’Neal. Even when he was as wide as Wembanyama is thin, he proved himself to be surprisingly nimble for a man his size. A bully around the rim, O’Neal retired as a four-time NBA champion and former NBA MVP (2000), earning many other accolades in that time.
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