Young NBA players always have to deal with the weight and the burden of being compared to some of their predecessors.
It’s a natural way to categorize players, as well as an easy way to explain and know what to expect from a given prospect.
The problem with Victor Wembanyama and that approach is that we have never seen a player like him.
That’s why some believe that Kevin Durant could be the closest comparison to the No. 1 pick, as they’re both lanky, long big men who can put the ball on the floor, create their own offense, score from all three levels, and use their length to play defense.
However, when asked about that, Durant respectfully disagreed.
He tipped his hat to the star rookie, and added that even though both are skinny and tall, Wemby is his own player already (via HoopsHype).
Kevin Durant on Victor Wembanyama: “I know we are both skinny and I’m sure he said he watched me growing up, but he’s his own player.” pic.twitter.com/M9d14JvAIW
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) November 3, 2023
Durant stated that you can tell that Wembanyama has absorbed information from several great players because of his feel for the game and all the things he does on the court.
Putting Wemby in a category is hard to do; he’s a category of his own.
You could put Chet Holmgren and — obviously — to a much lesser extent, Bol Bol and Aleksej Pokusevski in there.
He’s lanky and an elite rim protector like Manute Bol, but he can put the ball on the floor and be a playmaker for others, all while boasting an elite mid-range game.
Comparisons don’t apply with him, and that’s one of the many reasons why he’s so exciting to watch.
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Insider Details The Rareness Of Victor Wembanyama’s Performance Against Suns