Frost Bank Center chanted Wemby’s name on Friday. As the Spurs mounted their first ?Preseason victory against the Heat. Victor Wembanyama put on a show for the home crowd, showing his prowess on both ends of the floor. Interestingly, his pull-up jumper reminded fans of another NBA great. Meanwhile, his shots from beyond the arc also touched nothing but the net.
After the game, his performance garnered praise from fans and pundits alike. Particularly a former NBA champion placed him alongside players he has been compared to since before the NBA Draft.
Victor Wembanyama crowned “7’4 Kevin Durant”
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Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins joined the NBA halftime show during Dubs and Lakers recently. ‘Big Perk’ commented on the 120-104 win by San Antonio on Sunday. Notably, he mentioned Wemby’s highlight-worthy performance against Miami, while also noting the developments he has made over the offseason.
“Offensively in my opinion, he’s a 7’4 Kevin Durant”
– @KendrickPerkins on what he saw last night from Victor Wembanyama
(via ESPN) pic.twitter.com/v5Zpp5olKG
? BASKETBALL ON ? (@BasketballOnX) October 14, 2023
“You know what I noticed about Wembanyama?,” asked Big Perk before answering himself. “He looks on balance. He looks stronger, So I think about how he looked in the Summer league… What he did was spent his entire offseason in San Antonio with the Spurs working out,” noted Perkins. He further added, “Offensively in my opinion, he’s a 7’4 Kevin Durant”
He goes on to talk about the 7’4 rookie’s ability to anchor a defense alone. Meanwhile, Perk also mentions the lob play in-game. In the final minutes of the first half, Wembanyama brought the ball downcourt. He executed a swift one-two with Tre Jones, who lobbed a perfect pass to Wembanyama. The 19-year-old caught the ball and slammed it down. The replays later revealed he was just stepping off the 3-point line when Jones passed.
A look at his performance may elaborate hype surrounding the young Frenchman’s performance.
Wemby vs Miami Heat
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Victor Wembanyama’s performance in the Spurs’ preseason win against the Heat was incredible. The No. 1 pick scored 23 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists, and had three blocks in just 22 minutes.
He shot 10-for-15 from the field but missed four 3-point attempts. Wembanyama made a significant statement, setting his sights on dunking over everyone in the NBA. However, it is still debatable whether the comparison to KD is justified. Wemby has an entire season to prove the hype surrounding his name. Although it is clear from the glimpses that he is no ordinary rookie.
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What are your thoughts on Wemby? How do you think he will fare against Kevin Durant himself? let us know in the comments below.
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