Victor Wembanyama emerged as the greatest prospect since LeBron James ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. His elusiveness as a massive 7’4″ individual makes him nearly unguardable, and his length is even more impactful on defense. As a rookie, Wembanyama finished 2nd in defensive player of the year voting with numbers that were deserving of winning the award. As he gets older, stronger, and more accustomed to the speed of the NBA, Wembanyama will dominate the league at an even greater level. Let’s preview his path to GOAT status.
Victor Wembanyama – His Past
Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season was one for the ages. He exceeded all expectations about his talent, athleticism, and durability, despite how high those expectations were. Before we can discuss his present and future, however, we’ll first need to dive into his past.
Wembanyama first drew attention as a 6-foot tall 9-year-old playing for Entente Le Chesnay Versailles. At the time, he had recently switched from a variety of other sports to focus fully on basketball. That made his unbelievable size the main point of focus on Wembanyama. However, as he got older and worked on developing his game, it became clear that this was a unique and generational athlete.
Making his way through the competition while playing for youth basketball club Nanterre 92, Wembanyama was already setting records and gaining viral attention. He became the 2nd youngest player to ever play in the EuroCup at 15 years old in 2019. Despite his sensational talent, Wembanyama’s path to the NBA was far from easy. He suffered a few injuries during his time with Nanterre 92, forcing him to miss months at a time. After advancing to ASVEL in 2021, Wembanyama suffered another injury that sidelined him for over a month.
Even though he struggled to stay on the court as a young player, Wembanyama’s talent was clear when he was on the court. It became most obvious when he joined Metropolitans 92 in 2022. In a talent showcase against the NBA G League Ignite team, Wembanyama averaged 36.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks in two games. As the 2023 NBA Draft grew near, it become clear that Wembanyama would be the #1 overall selection, as not only the best player in the draft, but perhaps the best prospect in 20 years.
Victor Wembanyama – His Present
In the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the San Antonio Spurs moved up several spots, receiving the honor of selecting Victor Wembanyama with the 1st-overall pick. He became the third 1st-overall selection in Spurs history, joining Tim Duncan and David Robinson. As one of the most successful franchises of the 21st century, the Spurs were a very fortunate landing spot for Wembanyama. He’ll have the ability to learn under a future Hall-of-Fame coach in Gregg Popovich.
In his rookie season, Wembanyama played 71 out of 82 games, a surprisingly high total for someone with a build similar to his. He shot 46.5% from the field, 32.5% from deep, and just under 80% from the line. He showcased his ability to not only hit long-range shots at 7’4″, but also put the ball on the floor and dribble it with both control and elusiveness.
In the past, players like Kristaps Porziņģis and Joel Embiid were considered to be “unicorn” talents for having the size of a traditional center like Shaq, coupled with jump-shooting ability from long range. Wembanyama takes that a step further, adding the ability to move with the ball like a guard. He plays more like a 7’4″ Kevin Durant than any center currently in the league.
Along with his solid offensive game, Wembanyama’s defense was absolutely sensational in his rookie season. While his offense does have room for improvement as he grows stronger and more accustomed to the NBA game, his defense is already among the league’s very best. Wembanyama was nominated for defensive player of the year as a rookie, and statistically speaking should have won. He was the unanimous rookie of the year.
Despite Wembanyama’s ability, the Spurs went just 22-60 last season. It was a result of a very young and inexperienced roster still working to mesh together. Despite having excellent defenders in Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, the Spurs finished with the 2nd worst team defense in the Western Conference. It will be important for Wembanyama’s development to improve the team around him going forward. Veteran Chris Paul was brought in over the offseason to do just that.
Before having the chance to take another step forward in his second NBA season, Wembanyama will compete in his first Olympics. Coupled with NBA defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert, he will form a impressive defensive duo on the French National team. France hasn’t had a ton of success in FIBA events in the past, so Wembanyama has an opportunity to add to his young legacy by leading them deep into the tournament.
Victor Wembanyama – His Future
With how incredible Wembanyama has already become, it’s easy to forget that he is just 20 years old. It’s almost scary to imagine how good he’ll be in his prime at age 26, and during the years leading up to that and following it. To start, Wembanyama is likely to repeat his defensive success next season, if not improve even further on it. His size and length, coupled with a high basketball IQ makes him an unstoppable presence in the paint. Wembanyama will be a perennial candidate for DPOY, with an improved ceiling across the board.
Comparing any 20-year-old to the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and other greats may seem hasty, but Wembanyama is a small offensive leap away from becoming a perennial All-Star as well. If he improves his field goal shooting percentage to above 50%, it’s likely that he’ll find his name on All-NBA ballots as early as next year. 1st-team All NBA isn’t out of the question in 2025, but it may be more realistic to start at 3rd-team.
Aside from seasonal accolades, there are a few other ways for a player like Wembanyama to establish himself as the GOAT in the future. One of those would be by achieving the elusive quadruple-double. Wembanyama has already come very close to doing so, finishing a game with 8+ in four categories as a rookie. Not only is he likely to post the first quadruple double in 30 years, he’s also likely to do so twice over the course of a single season, something that only Wilt Chamberlain was speculated to be capable of.
Of course, above all else, Victor Wembanyama needs to win to build and eventually cement his legacy. Nearly all of the greatest athletes in sports are remembered because of how great they were and how much they won. Jordan and LeBron are clear examples, as well as other sports greats such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, and Serena Williams. His legacy will undoubtedly be different if he finishes his career as a 1-time champion versus a 6-time champion. Being drafted by a competent organization like the Spurs certainly helps his odds. For now, all we can do is sit back and enjoy the career of one of the greatest athletes of a generation.
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