For the last three years, the debate around Victor Wembanyama has treated him like a future event.
Every conversation about him begins with the same assumptions: wait until he reaches his peak, wait until he gets stronger, wait until he develops as a playmaker.
But after leading the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals, maybe the conversation itself is outdated.
There is a strong case for Wembanyama being the best player in the league. It starts with the fact that he is simultaneously one of the league’s most productive offensive players and undoubtedly its most destructive defensive force.
During the regular season, he averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, whilst also becoming the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. That combination is unheard of.
Historically, basketball has separated offensive superstars from defensive superstars. Players like Nikola Jokic have the ability to control and dominate an offence like no other, Steph Curry has single-handedly transformed the art of shooting in the sport of basketball, Rudy Gobert has had seasons where he has been controlling defences because of his presence.
Wembanyama seems to exist in the overlap of this, as he is already one of the league’s best scorers, whilst also being the best defender in the league by a significant margin.
The Playoffs
The playoffs often expose flaws surrounding certain players and how they handle the pressure that comes with playing in the most important series of games in the world of basketball. Instead, for Wembanyama, they seem to be strengthening his claim to being the best player in the league.
Against the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. In a series against a championship-level team and the current MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it was Wembanyama who walked away with a spot in the finals and the Western Conference Finals MVP award.
His performance throughout the series speaks for itself:
A 41-point, 24-rebound Game 1 to set the tone.
A 33-point retaliation in Game 4.
A 28-point, 10 rebounds response in a must-win Game 6.
And a dominant performance in Game 7, dropping 22 points to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.
Not only did Wembanyama solidify his value in the regular season, but on the biggest stage in the sport, he performed in every game and ensured a winning result against the reigning champions.
Resume vs Facts
There is still somewhat of an argument against this claim. Players like Jokic possess an unmatchable resume for the 22-year-old, whilst players like SGA remain one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league.
But the question remains: Imagine every NBA franchise could restart tomorrow and select one player to build around for next season, who goes first?
While Jokic may have the greatest resume, and SGA may have won more individual awards, Wembanyama offers something that both can’t: the ability to be the single most dominant defender in basketball, whilst also functioning as a franchise offensive centrepiece.
Wembanyama’s defensive dominance and role as the offensive centrepiece put him in a position where he is controlling both sides of the game, and he is doing that with confidence and dominance.
So, the question of how much more must he accomplish before being crowned the best player in the league, and even the world, remains.
