“I‘m worried for the opponents in the next couple of years,“ Victor Wembanyama made a tough remark this year, after losing Gold to Team USA. This statement truly depicts the youngster‘s confidence. The NBA is overflowing with youngsters like Anthony Edwards, but Wemby has been phenomenal and is en route to becoming a top player sooner than you think. The French hooper just fell one spot short of being the first rookie to win the DPOY trophy, losing out to Rudy Gobert. Victor’s graceful style of play and extraordinary height (7’4″) helped him in his rocket-like trajectory. As he’s shown so much promise early on, how far is he from the best of the best?

Dikembe Mutombo, who recently died due to brain cancer, was known for his inspiring character, both on and off-court. He clinched 4 DPOY awards in his 18-year-long career. On the other hand, Hakeem Olajuwon’s greatness is unparalleled in terms of defense. In tribute to his defensive dominance, since 2022-23, the NBA DPOY winner receives The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy, after ‘The Dream’.

Victor Wembanyama, in his prime, can cross every NBA Defensive Great!

In recent times, France has produced great hoop talent such as Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, being the latest NBA entrants. As sharp as Wemby sounds, he says things in such a calm way that often you won’t get the tone, until much later when one realizes that it was a subtle dig. As per the hooper, “Nobody could have expectations for me, really. I have my own expectations, and 99% of the time, they exceed all those expectations.” This sums up that Victor is always prompt and clear with his words, not outspoken.

As of now, there is no active player in the Top 25 All-Time Blocks list. Anthony Davis (1,705) is the closest active player to the top. Hakeem Olajuwon (3,830) and Dikembe Mutombo (3,289) rank first and second. Wemby, on the other hand, had a total of 254 blocks this past season. The former rookie will need to have 14+ seasons with 256 blocks or more to catch ‘The Dream’. The Frenchman averaged 8.4 defensive rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks over 71 games in his first year in the biggest hoops league.

There’s a good chance Wemby will be up there. Injuries are the only thing that can derail his career, considering the lanky frame of the youngster. He has notably experienced a few injuries in the past. He had fractured his fibula when he was 16, which kept him off the court for about three months. Victor also dealt with a psoas muscle strain, however, there have been no major muscular injuries to his knees, ankles, or feet. The youngster is said to be well aware and conscious of his health and maintains a strict routine.

Draymond Green, who himself is a veteran defender, admired Victor Wembanyama’s insane capability. As per Green, “He’s a very, very, very, very, very special talent. I’m happy I got the opportunity to play against him now because they’ll have to deal with him a lot later, and I won’t be in the league no more, so that’s good for me.”

Notably, it’s right to say Draymond Green has changed his opinion on ‘the alien‘ after he faced him on the hardwood. In the past, the Warrior remarked, “I’m all the way pressed up into him!” No one takes Wemby lightly!

The lifelong legacy of Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem Olajuwon is well beyond the confines of a basketball court

Mutombo and Olajuwon are two icons of the game. Their tenderness and unselfishness is what made them unforgettable. After the sudden demise of Mount Mutombo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.”

The 8x NBA All-Star used his Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to establish a community hospital named Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in his homeland, Congo. To improve education in Africa, he founded the Samuel Mutombo Institute Of Science in Mbuji Mayi.

If we talk about Hakeem Olajuwon, the top highlight of his career was when he led the Houston Rockets to consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2016, 7x NBA Champion Robert Horry revealed that MJ feared one player, and it was none other than Hakeem.

Horry claimed, “If you asked Michael Jordan what one guy he ever feared, it was Hakeem Olajuwon. He used to call us and say, ‘I’m scared of the Big African‘. Because he’s from Nigeria. That’s what he used to say!” That was an immensely bold statement. But there can be no denying that there was a certain level of respect between both of them. Both MJ and Olajuwon were drafted in the legendary 1984 NBA Draft; they were real dominant forces. Sadly, the two never met at the biggest stage of all, the NBA Finals.

So, these are the two pretty big shoes present in front of Victor Wembanyama. After winning 2023-24 NBA ROTY, now Wemby has to make a few adjustments. Adding a more authentic mid-range jumper to his game will make it extremely difficult for other teams to stop him. His catch-and-shoot 3p also needs grinding (only 32.5% from deep) but that’s what every player in the league is working on these days…

What’s your take after Victor Wembanyama’s first season in the NBA?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.