Despite Regret Over Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo Issues Stern Warning About the 7’4 French Star

Giannis Antetokounmpo is confident that it won’t be much time before the NBA is acknowledged as Victor Wembanyama’s turf. The Greek Freak‘s opinion is important here, as he is among the flag-bearers of the European dominance the league has witnessed over the years.

Alongside another European player from Serbia Nikola Jokic, he has dominated the MVP race the last half-decade. “As long as Victor is healthy, the league is his,” Antetokounmpo said, as reported by the San Antonio Express News. Antetokounmpo acknowledged that he hasn’t closely followed Wembanyama’s performances and on-court actions with the San Antonio Spurs.

However, he does pay attention to the rookie star’s remarkable moments, which have captured the admiration of many. “I don’t watch a lot of basketball,” Antetokounmpo admitted. “I haven’t watched him play a lot this year, but when we are in the bus or in the plane, you have guys going, ‘Oh, wow, that’s crazy.’ That kind of draws your attention. It’s like, ‘What happened?'”

The Greek Freak himself, known for his extraordinary physical attributes, is impressed by Wembanyama’s unique blend of size and skill.

“I was thinking, ‘There’s never going to be anyone else like him,'” Antetokounmpo stated. “People don’t understand. He’s like 7-5. I was standing next to him. He’s way, way, way taller than me. He can shoot. He can dribble. Blah, blah, blah. We all know that, right? But the feel for the game, that’s the first thing I noticed.” This ‘feel’ was evident to fans who have been watching French phenom’s rookie campaign.

How has Victor Wembanyama been in his rookie season?

Wembanyama made a highly anticipated entry into the NBA, being touted as the most-hyped prospect since LeBron James when the San Antonio Spurs selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. True to the hype, the 20-year-old has lived up to expectations in his rookie season.

Read More: “I Was Tired”: Defeated Victor Wembanyama Can’t Wait For NBA All-Star Festivities To Be Over

Heading into the All-Star break, Wemby is the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award, boasting impressive averages of 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.2 blocks in 49 games. His shooting efficiency is notable, with a 46.8 percent success rate from the field and 32.0 percent from beyond the arc. To put this in perspective, the last player to achieve at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game in a single season was Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000.

While Wembanyama’s rookie season has been stellar, he still has a considerable journey ahead to attain milestones like league MVP and NBA champion. However, given his rapid ascent in his debut season, there appears to be little doubt that he has the potential to reach such heights in the future.

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