When the ‘best player in the world’, Nikola Jokic goes head-to-head with the Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, you are bound to witness an epic battle. That’s exactly what happened as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Denver Nuggets 113-110. The evenly contested game went down to the wire. The twenty thousand fans present in the Ball Arena witnessed the 3x MVP finish with 41 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists.

However, the close triple-double could not get over the Spurs prodigy who registered his fifty-sixth career double-double with 35 points and 18 rebounds. Certainly, he helped his team record an unlikely win against the inefficient Denver Nuggets but won himself praise from the Joker.

What did Jokic have to say about Wembanyama?

The battle, which showcased a potential passing of the torch between two different generations of big men, left the reigning MVP raving about the French phenom. Speaking at the post-game conference, Jokic expressed his admiration for Wembanyama by describing him as a ‘one-of-a-kind player’, who’ll be remembered forever.

When asked about what he thought of Wembanyama this year compared to the last year in the Olympics, he said, “I mean the Olympics are different and the national team is different of course but I think he’s better this year than last year, and I think he’s going to get even better.”  

Wembanyama has taken a step towards achieving his generational potential this season, he is scoring 25.7 points per game this season with a field goal percentage of 48.3% as opposed to 21.4 points per game while shooting 46% from the field. But the Nuggets star also has insights on how he will only develop further as a player.

“Experience..his body is changing…learning different plays, he has very good veterans in his team right now to help him grow so I think he’s a special player. I think he’s one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.”

Jokic also thinks that by accumulating more game experience and having veterans like Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes in the squad, the twenty-one-year-old will become an even better player. However, as much as Jokic had great things to talk about the San Antonio star, the same was reflected by Wembanyama as well.

The Rookie of the Year aspires to emulate the Joker

Wembanyama has always regarded Jokic as one of the best to play the game. He reiterated the same when he was told in the post-game conference that Mike Malone thought the Spurs used him the same way they use the Serb.

He said, “Of course, I take it as a compliment because Jokic is one of the guys who’s expecting a double team every game, makes his teammates better, that’s hundred percent who I want to be” 

Wembanyama was relishing the opportunity of going up against a consensus all-time great as he looked to hunt down opportunities to improve as a player and realize his generational potential. He further added, ”Multiple-time MVP, soon to be MVP again, Can’t ask for a better way to get better.”

This phenomenal performance also meant that the twenty-one-year-old moved up to the fifth place on the Kia MVP ladder, as the race for the MVP crown heats up, which is currently led by the Denver Nuggets superstar, who is averaging 30.7 points, 13 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game this season.

Both these titans met again today on Wemby’s birthday only for the Joker to get the last laugh as the Nuggets get the better of the Spurs I an overtime 122-111 battle which was everything it promised to be: yet another mouth-watering duel for the fans.

While the two take one win each home and will only meet again in April, it is great to see how the two generations are not just learning from each other but also celebrating the making of one another.