“I’m” simply a human… “Or am I?
A smirk. Victor Wembanyama asked me that question near the end of our interview on Monday, a day after his record rookie season ended.
I sometimes ponder the same thing. Wembanyama stands 7 feet 4 inches tall and towering over everyone in every room and court. And he exudes wisdom and maturity, which is unusual for a 20-year-old. These physical and mental abilities have propelled him to one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NBA history.
Prior to the 2023 draft, I referred to Wembanyama as the greatest prospect since LeBron James, comparing him to a Gen Z Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and claiming he had a shot to be the greatest of all time. Nonetheless, Victor’s first season with the San Antonio Spurs exceeded even my high expectations. But not Wemby’s.
“It’s impossible to be surprised by your own performance, whether good or bad,” Wembanyama told The Ringer. “Because, ultimately, everything is the result of your own efforts and mindset. I’m not surprised because I’ve always wanted more.”
Wemby is a bit of a stoic, but he has a strong ego and confidence. During our one-hour conversation, he stated that he had the potential to become the best defensive player ever. When I started asking him how he feels about being labelled as the next LeBron James or Michael Jordan, he smiled and said, “People say that?”. Of course they do, and Victor knows it better than anybody else: Victor appears to be the least astonished by his production among those I’ve spoken with throughout the league, in San Antonio, and in his circle.
Wembanyama became the tenth player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per season. He was the first rookie to attempt it. He was the first player to complete it in under 30 minutes each game. The other nine players are all Hall of Famers, which Wembanyama also aspires to be.
“The goal for me in my life is to accomplish myself and to be a complete human being,” Wembanyama said in a statement. “I’m free to do what I want and what I need to do, and there’s nothing that is going to stop me from doing so.”
