Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ 7’4″ “Alien,” is unlike any other player. His fluid movements on the court defy his towering height. At just 20, he’s already a force on both ends of the floor. Wemby isn’t just crucial to the Spurs—he’s shaping the NBA’s future. Even former US President Barack Obama has taken notice of this rising star.
It’s a proven fact that you just can’t keep your eyes off Wemby when he’s on the court. Obama too has fallen prey to the magic the Spurs star creates in action. It’s no surprise that people are already comparing Victor Wembanyama to the legends of the league. Who is doing that? Barack Obama himself. Recently, he was Tyrese Haliburton’s first guest at the redesigned The Young Man & The Three show. Here, the world icon took his moment to share his thoughts on the phenomenon- Victor Wembanyama.
According to the ex-President, it’s hard not to notice Wemby on the court. “It’s hard to take your eyes off Wembanyama when he’s on the court,” Obama told Hali. “You’re too young to remember when [Kevin] Durant first came in the league. That was freakish. You just hadn’t seen somebody that tall with that skill set.” Well, it looks like Wembanyama reminds the leader of the iconic KD who stands tall at 6’11”.
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However, this is not where Obama stops. He goes on to draw comparisons between Victor Wembanyama and legends like Larry Bird (6’9″) and Magic Johson (6’9″). He said: “You’re definitely not old enough to remember Magic [Johnson] and [Larry] Bird. People forget how tall Bird was. Bird was like a legit 6’9″ and Magic was 6’9”. Those guys were doing things that, up until that point, big men hadn’t done. But to see a guy-
“He makes the rest of y’all just look tiny.”
With a rookie stat of 23.4 points per game, Victor Wembanyama’s impressive start to the NBA has surely taken him to the Pantheon of the Greats. However, there’s a long way to go and more to explore. With the first game of the season against the Mavs in the queue, the Spurs are largely depending on their ‘Alien’. And surely, Wemby will deliver like he always does. Meanwhile, the former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is anticipating an outstanding season from the 20YO.
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What’s your perspective on:
Is Victor Wembanyama the next NBA legend, or are we jumping the gun with these comparisons?
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Victor Wembanyama gets a boost for the season and beyond from ex-NBA player
Is Victor Wembanyama the best prospect of this generation? The probable answer is yes. Amid the rumors and expectations of him potentially becoming the MVP of the 2024/25 season, there’s more to his story and accolades. Experts believe Wemby could be the first player in three decades to achieve a quadruple-double, a feat accomplished by only four players in NBA history. The French star came close to this achievement last season but fell short by a narrow margin. Recognizing his potential, NBA icon Gilbert Arenas has voiced his support and boosted the 20-year-old’s morale for the upcoming season and beyond.
“That 26-27 season, man, that’s gonna be All-Wemby dog,” Arenas said. “That’s gonna be blocks, steals, rebounds. He gonna have a Jordan 87-88 year.” So not just KD, Bird, or Johnson, but Victor Wembanyama’s promising shows have made experts draw comparisons to His Ariness. Now, ‘Alien’ surely needs to step up to live up to the expectations. And well, we’re waiting to see more of the giant’s dunks, that have recently (once again) resurfaced on the internet. What a beast!
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Wemby is the torchbearer for the San Antonio Spurs. The iconic team that has been one of the big names in the league needs to come back to their position. So, is the French center the key to the door of success? The possibility is high, and maybe ‘yes’ is the only acceptable answer. With a soaring 46.5% field goal percentage, Victor Wembanyama is the face of the Spurs and their ultimate championship of this season and more seasons to come.
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Is Victor Wembanyama the next NBA legend, or are we jumping the gun with these comparisons?