Victor Wembanyama expected to emerge as NBA's best player within five years

Victor Wembanyama lived up to the hype during his debut season in the NBA. He is incredibly skilled, has great timing and looks set to be a superstar later in his career. It's fair to assume he will also be a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. 

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, a poll of 18 NBA executives, coaches and scouts has resulted in Wembanyama being labeled as the best player in the NBA within five years. The San Antonio Spurs center received 12 of the 18 votes, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic all receiving consideration.

"Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom coming off a unanimous Rookie of the Year selection and leading his country to a silver medal in the Paris Olympics, has met or exceeded the lofty expectations placed on him since entering the league ahead of the 2023-24 season," Bontemps wrote. "Joining Wemby on the list are three elite young stars -- Doncic (25), Gilgeous-Alexander (26) and Edwards (23) -- and the 29-year-old Jokic."

Putting a five-year window on Wembanyama becoming the top talent in the NBA could be short-sighted. Big men are prone to developing slower than players at other positions. There's also a plethora of young veteran talent capable of rising to the top of the league while Wembanyama continues to grow his game and add experience. 

However, it is logical to expect Wembanyama to eventually become the face of the NBA. He has all the skills, intangibles and physical attributes to dominate the league for nearly a decade, assuming he can remain injury-free.

Still, the young center has only been with the team for one year; he must continue to prove himself as an elite option in the coming seasons. If he can continue to show the world that he's more than just another 7-footer, it won't be long until we speak about Wembanyama as a top-10 talent. From there, it's a short trip to being anointed as the best player in the world. He's more than capable, but we should avoid rushing the process.