Justin Ford/Getty Images
In an anonymous poll of 18 NBA coaches, scouts and executives conducted this week, San Antonio Spurs great Victor Wembanyama was overwhelmingly chosen as the league’s best player in five years.
In a major survey conducted by ESPN Tim BontempsTwelve of the 18 voters named the 7-foot-1 Frenchman as the future of the NBA, ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić (two votes each), and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (one vote each).
It’s hard to argue with the idea that Wemby will be the best player in the NBA in five years given that the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft was unanimously voted NBA Rookie of the Year and finished second in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting in his rookie season.
Given his mix of size and skill, Wembanyama was one of the most anticipated NBA prospects in years, and he didn’t disappoint.
Although the Spurs finished just 22-60, Wembanyama provided a bright spot, averaging a league-best 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 three-pointers made, 1.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game through 71 games.
As if that wasn’t enough, the 20-year-old nearly led France to an Olympic basketball gold medal on his home soil, helping the French team qualify for the gold medal game against the United States.
France kept control of the match and Wembanyama led all scorers with 26 points, but the favorites Americans managed to win by a score of 98-87.
Wembanyama has probably only scratched the surface of what he can be, and all indications are that he will continue to develop as he improves and the talent around him improves.
Although Wembanyama is just getting started, the other four players who received votes in the poll have already accomplished a lot.
Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time All-Star who finished second in NBA MVP voting last season, Doncic is a five-time All-Star who took the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season, Edwards is a two-time All-Star who won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA this summer and Jokic is a three-time NBA MVP, one-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP.
They all have a chance to be part of the NBA class in five years, but Wembanyama is the youngest and arguably has the most room for improvement.
Regardless, the NBA should look very different in five years than it does today, as future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry could potentially all be gone from the league by then.
