For the first time in his young career, Victor Wembanyama felt the heartbreak when France lost the Olympic final to Team USA. Tears ran down his face incessantly. But his need for vengeance had spiked just as excessively. “I’m learning, and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple of years – everywhere,” he told the world. And now he has revealed the brief conversation he had with his idol just after the final game. It was none other than Kevin Durant.

While appearing on a French media show, draped in his silver medal, Wembanyama revealed what the conversation was all about. Apart from his idol acknowledging him, the generational Spurs center made his intentions to KD very clear. He wants to be a sponge and learn from one of the masterful ‘seven footer’ architects in the modern game.

“I made it clear that I want to learn from him and steal only one or two of his secret techniques,” he said on the show.

Before Wembanyama, there was Kevin Durant. Even today, though the Spurs big is brimming with potential, nobody is as fluent and unbothered as KD at his size. His scoring arsenal goes beyond the dimensions and his instincts are spotless. For the NBA, he was the first prototype of what a wiry star with guard-like tendencies can be.

If he swallows and utilizes his study well, Victor Wembanyama could be that, but at 7’4″. There are many similarities to the way Durant and Wemby play. Much of it is because of the fact that the Frenchman emulated his game after the Slim Reaper. However, his fascination is still endless. It’s because Kevin Durant always seems to have something up his sleeve, a natural predatory instinct to get a bucket.

And Wembanyama wants it. He already showed flashes of being an anomaly, averaging 20 points as a rookie and being second in the DPOY standings. Additionally, every NBA star he has faced has had something encouraging to say about him. LeBron James called him an “alien”. But what does Durant, the teacher in this case think about the prodigy?

Kevin Durant wants Victor Wembanyama to chase his own style

Wembanyama hasn’t kept his admiration for Kevin Durant a secret. So after they played a thrilling overtime game, where Wembanyama had 38, the veteran sharpshooter made his feelings clear. KD saw the reasons why they are compared so closely. “I know that we both skinny, and I’m sure he said he watched me growing up,” the Suns star told the media.

But the Slim Reaper truly believes Victor Wembanyama is a product the NBA has never seen before. And instead of trying to emulate him, he has the capability to be his own player, as he urged the Frenchman to find his groove.

“There’s an enthusiasm with the game. You can tell on the TV and playing against him. He’s his own player, person. He’s gonna create his own lane, much different than anybody who’s ever played. You can try to compare but he’s gonna carve out his own lane,” Durant said in his praiseworthy breakdown of Wembanyama.

Still just 20, Victor Wembanyama has a long path to grow and polish his game. But his mentality might be his biggest asset. The Spurs ace is always willing to learn and places high demands on himself. It’s one thing being gifted. But Wemby is a student which accentuates the natural advantages that he has over everyone else. If he learns even a shred of the skills Durant boasts, it’s going to be troublesome for his opponents in the NBA.