Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images
Star big man Victor Wembanyama was declared a generational talent when the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the first pick in the 2023 draft, and many believe he is well on his way to living up to that expectation.
During an appearance on the Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective In a podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said he has spoken to people in the NBA who believe Wembanyama has the potential to be the greatest defensive player to ever play in the league.
“The thing about Victor is you can reasonably expect for the next 12, 15 years he’s going to be the most dominant defensive player in the league, maybe the most dominant defensive player we’ve ever seen, I’ve talked to people around the league who think that’s going to be the case,” MacMahon said around the 5:40 mark.
Wembanyama was unanimously voted Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and a league-best 3.6 blocks. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.
While his defensive prowess is already evident, MacMahon noted that questions remain about his offensive potential. If the 20-year-old can put it all together on both ends, he will dominate the league for years to come.
“The question is how good he’s going to be offensively, and what exactly he’s going to be on offense,” MacMahon added. “We’ve talked about the fact that we’re not a 7-foot-1 guard. I think if he settles into the role of a big man who has the skills of a guard and uses them selectively, then he’s got a chance to be awfully special at that level as well.”
