Giannis Antetokounmpo has a lot of faith in Victor Wembanyama and thinks he could become the best player of all time if his career goes the right way.
Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about Victor Wembanyama and his potential. Speaking to Boardroom, Giannis noted that Wembanyama has a chance to become the best player of all time, not being restricted by qualifiers of best European player, or the best young player. It was high praise for Wemby from one of the best players of all time.
“He has the chance to be the best. Not at his age, not in Europe… but one of the best to ever play this game.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly understands the pressure that Victor Wembanyama was under when coming to the NBA. While Giannis was not the hyped prospect that Wemby was last year, he was a player like Wemby, who was transitioning from Europe to the NBA and was considered too slender to find success in the NBA.
Giannis obviously proved the doubters wrong, becoming a superstar in the league, while also growing physically as a player in a way very few expected. The Giannis of today is a far cry from the skinny young player who walked through the doors in Milwaukee in 2013. Now, Giannis is considered the most dominant and physically imposing big in the league.
Perhaps Wemby will have a similar physical transformation to Giannis as his NBA career goes forward. However, any physical transformation could hamper some of his skills that make him a unicorn in the NBA. A player of Wemby’s size is rarely known for their three-point shooting and perimeter defense, and messing with that formula could hurt his career in the long run.
Wembanyama is the first player since perhaps LeBron James to have enormous expectations placed on them coming into the league, and meet those expectations in his first season. Wemby is a name to keep an eye on for years, if not decades to come, in the NBA.
To build his GOAT case, Victor Wembanyama had to hit the ground running when he entered the NBA. And he did just that, winning Rookie of the Year, and finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year race behind fellow countryman Rudy Gobert.
Wemby had an incredible first season in the NBA, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game. He proved in his rookie year that he was worth the hype, and could establish himself as one of the all-time greats in basketball history.
Right now, Wembanyama is representing France at the Olympics. Playing in his home country, Wemby is averaging 14.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 2.8 steals per game. He is currently leading the entire team in four out of the five major categories mentioned above.
Winning a medal, possibly even a gold medal at the Olympics, would only further elevate Wemby’s developing GOAT case. If he can add a few championships and MVP trophies during the course of his career, he definitely could find himself in the conversation when he eventually retires from the sport.