Victor Wembanyama has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players ever, and it's only a matter of time before he has the hardware to go with his impressive play.
In just his third season with the San Antonio Spurs, it's not a stretch to say that Victor Wembanyama is the most imposing and dominant defender the NBA has ever seen.
With only one first-team All-Defensive nod (so far), he doesn't boast the hardware to claim he's the defensive GOAT, but the general consensus is that he's well on his way.
His blocks per game numbers are down from last season, although that's simply because he has turned the paint into a no-fly zone. Statisticians and casual fans alike are clamoring for new stats that better reflect the fear he injects into his opponents on a nightly basis.
At this point, most experts have yet to say anything new about his defensive dominance, but one legend thinks he's already been able to separate himself from past defensive maestros.
Wemby Ruins the Game on Both Ends
Wembanyama is the most talented defensive player I've ever seen. He's better on that end of the floor than both Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard, and his offense isn't lagging too far behind, either.
It's his defensive dominance and All-NBA-level scoring that earned him the "Alien" moniker.
“There's never been a player like him in the history of the game that has the kind of impact at both ends,” Rick Carlisle told ClutchPoints' Hector Ledesma. “My feeling has been he's been great the whole time, but he's definitely getting better. It's clear that he works hard on his game.”
Calisle coached defensive legends like Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Ron Artest, Chauncey Billups, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, and Jason Kidd. On top of that, he played alongside Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Bill Walton.
If anyone knows good defense when they see it, Carlisle would!
The veteran head coach is unlikely to admit that Wembanyama is better than Wallace on defense, but his overall skillset? Wallace never once averaged ten points a game. Wembanyama is pushing 25 points a night this season.
Wembanyama's defense has long been the subject of articles and talk shows, and his offensive highlights take the internet by storm with some regularity. However, Carlisle issued a clear warning to the NBA: Wemby's viral performances are about to become routine.