It’s the same old song and dance for Victor Wembanyama. A No. 1 overall pick who is listed as the greatest NBA prospect of all time, and the weight of an entire franchise rests on his shoulders.
Fortunately for Wembanyama, he has the luxury of entering an established NBA franchise. Led by head coach Gregg Popovich and a group of budding young talent, the sky is truly the limit for the San Antonio Spurs.
Even with the question marks ahead, Wembanyama surprisingly (or unsurprisingly) cracks the NBA’s top 50 players entering the new season.
Victor Wembanyama is Already Placed Among the NBA’s Best
First stint of Victor Wembanyama's career pic.twitter.com/GrFzkfHVMI
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) October 10, 2023
How Good Is Victor Wembanyama?
In a list comprised by NBArank, which contains the league’s top 50 players over the last 13 seasons, Wembanyama checks in as the 47th-best current player. Wembanyama beat out newly acquired Portland Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton and former All-Stars Jarrett Allen and LaMelo Ball.
Wembanyama also sits one spot behind NBA champion Khris Middleton. All players are seen as cornerstone pieces for any championship-aspiring franchise.
It’s hard to argue that Wembanyama already ranks higher than some of the names listed. Ball broke into his career, winning Rookie of the Year honors, but was sidelined most of the 2022-23 season due to various injuries. Allen is as consistent as they come and is just two seasons removed from his first All-Star selection.
All the hype surrounding Wembanyama comes from his brief stints during the NBA Summer League and his career overseas in the French Pro A League. Wembanyama earned MVP honors in the French league after averaging 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game.
The argument can also be made that his game won’t transfer to the NBA landscape. While it was just the Summer League, Wembanyama struggled in his first outing. He bounced right back in his second game and didn’t play again for the rest of the tournament.
Victor Wembanyama is doing this at 19!! This is honestly ridiculous!! pic.twitter.com/WXWQMwZd35
— PJ Hoops (@RealPjHoops) October 10, 2023
The Right Place at the Right Time
Of course, the old arguments of European players being unable to handle the NBA seem to be a thing of the past. The league is now riddled with talent from across the world.
Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo earned the Milwaukee Bucks their second NBA championship in 2021. Antetokounmpo has a legitimate shot of winning another one, thanks to the blockbuster deal that sent Damian Lillard to the Bucks this offseason.
The Denver Nuggets earned their first-ever championship in franchise history behind the efforts of the Serbian big man Nikola Jokic. Jokic is already regarded as the most skilled big man the game has ever seen.
Of course, Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic stormed into the NBA and has not looked back. While he is still searching for his first title, it’s clear his time playing in Europe well equipped Doncic for anything the NBA threw at him.
Wembanyama faces less criticism thanks to the efforts of these superstars. The theory that European players can’t last in the NBA is no longer a cause for concern.
This, in turn, heightens his rankings. However, it remains to be seen how the Spurs plan to deploy Wembanyama as the season progresses.
This Victor Wembanyama steal is INSANE lmao pic.twitter.com/RbTJv482Rp
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) October 10, 2023
The Last Word on Victor Wembanyama
There are not too many negative feelings surrounding Wembanyama. While lengthy and skinny, it’s presumed his NBA career will last for a long time.
The next wave of talent bolstered by the arrival of Wembanyama brings excitement to NBA fans worldwide. All the Spurs need to do is utilize his talents.
With history being on the Spurs’ side, there’s little doubt that Wembanyama landed in the perfect spot to blossom his career.
