How’s the All-Star Game has been lately? Less competitive! That’s been the major highlight of the glittery February weekend in the last few years. The claims have been loud enough for league Commissioner Adam Silver to change the format, but that too fell flat. For some, just enjoying the fun-filled weekend without sustaining injury was all that mattered. But was everyone content to let things slide?

At least not Jayson Tatum. Not Victor Wembanyama. Both were giving their all. And finally, once the showdown was over, Tatum didn’t hold back. He made his true feelings known about the French center.

The buzz of the enthusiastic weekend wrapped up with the All-Star Game hosting the most deserving championship finals. The last laugh went to Shaq’s OGs, who took over Team Chuck, claiming the title for this year. Though Wemby stood tall, leading his team with enormous energy, the win just slipped away. But one thing didn’t go unnoticed. His passion. Whether in the league or on this stage, it was the same.

During the post-game press conference, when Tatum took his seat at the podium, he was asked what the Celtics star thought about Wemby and his future in the NBA. “I think unbelievable player with unbelievable potential,” JT replied. “I think you know myself and everybody is excited to see you know kind of how far he takes it.”

While Tatum had the spotlight with 15 points to his name, Wemby made his mark with 11 points. Before stepping onto the floor, he made one thing clear: he wanted all the energy there, and if no one else was going to bring it, he would make sure it was a competitive game. He surely did that, however, his first appearance didn’t go as he’d hoped. The reason? It all came back to square one — less competitive. So, he gave a reality check to the 23 other NBA All-Star players after the game.

Victor Wembanyama takes a dig at 23 other NBA All-Star players

At one point in the game, when James Harden passed the ball to Tatum, he drove to score the bucket. Alperen Sengun, who was supposed to guard the Boston forward, didn’t put much effort into the job. That didn’t sit well with Wemby. His expression showed just how much it bothered him. And if that wasn’t enough to show his passion, he made his feelings clear in an interview.

The media was curious to hear about Victor Wembanyama’s experience in the All-Star Game. So when asked about it, he said, “I’m in much better shape than last year. My body is more adapted to the league and its rhythm.” Along with that, the 21-year-old shared what he took away from the game. “So my biggest takeaway is that it’s possible to give a 100% on that court, to play hard, to play your a** off. For me, it’s the only way to play basketball. I think it’ll only make the game better,” Wemby added.

He indirectly pointed out that he didn’t see much effort from the others on the floor. Surprisingly, the biggest names on the team, Nikola Jokic (2), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4), and Donovan Mitchell (0) couldn’t contribute much to the game. But all he knows is to give his all whenever he steps on the court. We’ve seen that mentality in the league several times, and that’s what makes him a one-of-a-kind player.

All of that is over now. The regular season is about to resume, and the same players who were half-heartedly playing will now bring their full passion for the real competition, the Larry O’Brien Trophy.