Victor Wembanyama ‘treated Anthony Davis like an 8th grader!’ Stephen A. REACTS! | First Take

Victor Wembanyama ‘treated Anthony Davis like an 8th grader!’ Stephen A. REACTS! | First Take

You know, we needed to make a statement. Oh my, the tomahawk. I feel like I need to make a statement to my teammates. Oh my, the cosmic grace. I think he the best player in the league. So, I mean, I expect that from him. When the fake, the reverse, and the foul, the figment of our basketball imaginations. Lively denied. It’s like playing against your dad in the driveway when you’re eight years old. What do you do? WBY three. You put the foul. A 40point opener for Victor Webbyama. Welcome to First Take. Your boys in the house. Jaba Joy and all. Stephen A. Smith hosting today. Of course, the lovely Monica McNut is in the house. My man Jay Williams in the house. the rookie has shown up. His debut on First Take, the one and only Vince Goodwill. Welcome to the show, my man. Appreciate you, big brother. No, no doubt about it. You got We got a lot of stuff going on today. Ryan Clark, Dan Olowski, uh Mina Comms, all will be showing up today, so stay tuned. Stick with us with First Take. We’re following breaking news in the NBA regarding illegal gambling. It’s a big subject. It’s a very, very serious matter. The FBI will be speaking shortly and we’ll bring you that sound when it comes in. But first, we got to begin on the court last night because we all saw it. We all saw what the hell happened last night. Okay. Victor Wñana put on a show last night, spoiling Cooper Flags NBA debut. Wana finished with 40 points and 15 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 12592 route over the Dallas Mavericks. when became the first player to score 40 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and finished with zero turnovers on 70% shooting since turnovers were first tracked in 1977. When these 40 points were the most in the season opener in San Antonio Spurs history, let’s start with the rookie, Mr. Vince. Mr. Vince, how far how far can win take the San Antonio Spurs this year? We’ve been talking a long time, Stephen A, about Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James. When are they going to be knocked off of their throne? The time has come. It’s time to step aside now. This guy took Anthony Davis last night. Stephen Nate, you said that the Dallas Mavericks were going to the NBA Finals. I’m taking it back. I’m taking it back. One game. One game. I’m taking it back. One game. One game. I’m taking it back. Go ahead. He looked at Anthony Davis and treated him like an eighth grader. He literally like literally like the play that got me Steve was the play that he was beat against Derek Lively. He was beat and literally snatched the ball out of midair. So when you ask what can he where can he take the San Antonio Spurs first, someone out of that top eight is getting knocked out. I’m not sure who. I’m not sure when. We’ve been saying for a long time since he showed up, since we saw the film of him being in France, he’s coming. He’s not coming anymore. Stephen A, he is here. Go ahead, Monica. Okay, so Wimby be what he may, even though we’ve never seen anything like this, right? I I think cuz you start to think this way last night. Going into the season, I’m like, okay, there’s five teams I think the Spurs are going to be better than in the West immediately, but if the supporting cast to me, because it wasn’t as if Castle wasn’t ding up like there was energy down this roster. The way Harrison Barnes was talking to women, leading as a guy that’s won a championship in this league, Deon Vel, like the energy around Wimi is going to be just as important, he is going to be otherworldly obviously. And if it’s not, it don’t even have to be 40. Like, if it’s 28 strong, he’s still going to pose so many problems for defenses. But when I look at this young group, I think the time to Vinnie to Vinnie’s point, the time of oh, they’re too young. The reigning champs are one of the youngest teams in the league. like we are at a place where the mileage on the bodies matter and this team I just don’t know what the solve is for Wimby. Okay. I um where where he takes them will be dependent upon health I think. Of course. Of course. But we we always we’re always assuming health. Could it be a playoff team? Yeah, I think he could potentially lead them to be a playoff team. Um but you know you you made mention of LeBron and Steph. I I think there’s a tier of people we’re talking about right now. SGA, Luca, Joic to me has been the best player in the game. What I saw last night is the highest ceiling in the NBA. Yeah, it’s the highest ceiling. It It’s ever I got lucky to be drafted second behind a 76 Chinese man and Yao Ming. This is Yao Ming meets Kevin Durant. But the confidence was the thing that really built it for me last night because it it was I think at times last year he settled for jumpers, but this to me felt personal last night. Mhm. It It felt like he went at AD. He went at Cooper Flag, who by the way had the worst plus minuses out of anybody on their team last night. That’s right. Cuz they couldn’t We can get into that, but go ahead. I mean, well, I think a lot of it was the reason cuz you had a guy who was down there who was blocking out the sun, who was dominating the paint. And by the way, he’s the best defensive player in the world. I already think he has that title. And I think now what we’re seeing is the completeness. If he plays with this confidence, that’s the best player in the league. He plays with that confidence, right? Highest ceiling. If he’s able to sustain that, that’s his potential. You You don’t want to engage in too much hyperbole. I know what I said about the Dallas Mavericks and I changed my mind after one game. Let me tell you why I changed my mind after one game. Because it wasn’t that he dropped 40. I saw him snatch hearts. Oh, he did. I saw him snatch hearts. And I want to I want to say I’m not saying that disrespectfully to Anthony Davis or anybody else. The man’s 75. You understand? I mean, he’s 7’5 and SK it that you do find yourself when you’re 611, 7 feet tall, you don’t usually find yourself looking up at people that you’re looking up at this dude and you’re going like this. What the hell am I supposed to do with a cat that dancing between his legs behind the back falling away three-point shots, a handle, he go, you know, reverse dunks, and I mean, he did everything last night. I saw him literally snatch the heart out of Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks. They looked demoralized. And when I saw that, the answer to this question is I think Wimby can take them to the conference finals. I think he can take them to the conference. Let me tell you why. Let me tell you why. Because Vassel Yeah. Castle and these catch you see the hearts on these brothers. These some dogs though. These some dogs. They They ain’t scared. They coming for it. And I’m And I’m looking at them and I’m saying it’s not about the 40 points. It’s about their defensive prowess. See, when you going up against Hartinstein, Homegr, and those boys, that’s different. Especially, I love it when when BAnna goes up against home because they don’t like each other according to numerous reports and all of this other stuff. And and a little history there. And they and they and they go at each other. You see what I’m saying? So, I like that. And then you got to take into account the team that is Oklahoma City. I get it. But I’m saying you look at everybody else with women and what they could bring defensively to watch him demoralize a team like that. I guess you could look at Houston who started fourth dude 6′ 11 and you could say that can be overcome. Okay, that’s fine. But these brothers got a chance to get to the conference final. My third if they get the third or fourth in the regular season. Okay. If they got to get all the way up to third or fourth No, I’m asking. If they get the third or fourth in the regular season, is that the MVP? If he gets that group and I hear what you’re saying about that group, that’s what I would think. Even though 50 wins, that’s not a distinction and defensive player of the year. Yes. By by far, 50 50 wins. For me, the difference between them and Houston is this. Houston is big, but they’re slow. Like they were slow to the ball last night. These guys, they’re big at the rim. The most valuable thing in the NBA defensively, can you protect the rim? Because you can’t defend anybody on the perimeter anymore. So, he he’s there. I guess what I’m the only thing, and I’ll go to you in a second, Monica. The one thing about Houston and this is when Benana makes Kevin Durant a focus when we bring up Houston because against San Antonio because of what you see them bringing to the table with him defensively you got to have somebody here’s the ball take us there you got if Houston gets that from Kevin Durant which we know he’s capable of man I need he going to be all NBA this year everybody keeps focusing on KD as a lock down person at the No, Shenun is the one. But, but no matter what you say about Shingun, he ain’t going to do that against women. Kevin Durant, I believe, could do it against anybody. That’s the difference. Go ahead, Eminem. True. Well, I I just think because I think we’re all on the same page in terms of the potential here. I guess last night I’m literally fighting against myself like this is just one game. All of the opponents are going to figure out how to make it at least difficult, not stop because it seems like a force that is almost inevitable when you talk about Wimbeyama at the centerpiece. But we know that health is obviously a huge key. I think I’m also curious to see does the energy of that supporting cast that you and I are fans of is that something that is maintained sustainable. Sustainable, right? Because like Wimby in in and of himself is just so problematic. But we’ve seen he could be a centerpiece and if those guys aren’t up to par, I just think when we look at the West, it’s going to be so much about matchups. Conference finals doesn’t sound crazy to me if they draw the right matchups, right? And and thinking about it now, I’m wondering what a Denver would look like against San Antonio. But other than that, like it’s got a very young team. That’s my that’s my thing. Experienced pieces. So is it? But that’s what I was about to we’re at a place now where is young a problem or is inexperienced what we’re talking about because look at who the champs are. Like now I’m wondering if the the freshness that I would argue that San Antonio has is actually a positive compared to the mileage and I respect the mileage. When you talk about the champion, let’s look at who the champions are. You going to shea butter. Yeah. If you Oklahoma City, by the way, that’s what that’s what that’s what you’re doing. You going that route. Okay. Him, Jay Williams, the whole crew. Okay. That’s what you’re doing. And Hardstein and home room, they can give you what they can give you. When you look at Houston, you’re going you’re talking about Shagon. He don’t want nothing in the post against this this kid. Not in the post. Okay. Not in the post. All right. You look at Jokic. This is the great Nicole Joic. We know how phenomenal he is. But that’s a lot to ask because the kid’s 7’5 in. I’m just thinking about who are you going to lean on to offset what that man is going to throw at you if you’re an opponent. And I’m saying because with Oklahoma City, it’s a cat with the ball in his hands at the point guard spot giving you 30 a night. With Denver, it’s different. With Houston, it might be different. And I’m saying against that kid, whoa, it’s a Here’s the thing that we haven’t mentioned. They didn’t have the Aaron Fox last night. Oh, you right. You know what I mean? Dylan Harper, they are going to get better throughout the course of the season because they are so young and because they don’t have all of their money tied up. If they want to make a move, like none of these rosters are set between now and February. If you want to make a move because you see you have a window, Rick, you know, Victor’s on a rookie deal right now. He’s not being paid to his value for another couple of years. So, if you decide, hey, there’s an opening here. We can go and make it. And to your point about Oklahoma City, Monica, they went from the playin, right, second round. It’s a process. That’s a that’s a huge leap for them to still be. We all agree San Antonio is not in a developmental year anyway. Dear Fox didn’t play. Yeah, that’s what Dearon Fox didn’t. We know your puffy cheek. Vinnie, there’s a lot. It’s okay. Sorry, y’all. My bad. My bad. My bad. My bad. I didn’t hear. I didn’t hear. Right. I’m going to come back to you for a second. Go ahead. I ain’t off your Dallas Mavericks pick though. I I’m If if we saying De’Arren Fox ain’t playing and I know come back off of ACL. Okay, then let’s be hon Cooper Flag is more of a reader. I’m just saying Kyrie’s a special talent. It may not be enough runway for him to build all the way. Let me say this. That’s what I’m saying. But people say they’re off. I’m off. I would never own Let me say this. Let me say I I was on Dallas. I was on Dallas. I believe in Dallas for the most part because I think that Kyrie and AD healthy. I think it brings them something. But I want to say this about AD and this is just me and y’all are three perfect people to check me if I’m wrong. Love AD. He can average 28 and 12 in his sleep. When I look at you, it’s the season opener. You know what I’m saying? I I I’m looking at him like, what do I see different? He still looked heavy. He didn’t look fast. He looked a bit slower. I’m I’m looking at him and I’m like, I I need I need to see more because you’re the dude that they said it’s okay to trade Luca for. You’re that guy. And if you’re that guy, you got you got to be the dude that you were in the first half of your first game as a Dallas Maverick after you got traded. You got to be that dude all the time because that’s what’s going to justify the move that was made. And again, I’m not holding win beyond against 75. Seven. Jesus. 75 is 75. I got it. You understand? 75 is 75. Jason got it. He’s Jason Vorhees. You look behind you. He look funny. I mean, I can’t hold that against it. But in the same breath, I need to see something in your game that tells me you ready to take the mantle and you ready to you ready to handle your business. I got a question, Stephen. A what year is this for Anthony Davis? It’s like year 14. Understand? If we haven’t seen it, we ain’t going to see it. Oh, by the way, hold on. I don’t know y’all. Hold up. Yeah, but I get fans. Hold on. Hold on now. I I I know we want AD to be Kobe. He ain’t going to be Kobe. No. But let’s not act like AD don’t put up Yeah. Come on. Monster night. He does put up monster. Now, he has some donuts. He has some games you’re like, I wish you needed more. But he has games where he’s the real one. If you’re talking with I’m going to Steve’s point. Steve said I expect this team to go to the NBA finals. I am simply saying of the teams that have gone to the finals over the past, let’s just say five years, you generally don’t look at their best player and say routinely, I need more from you. AD’s better as a co-star than the guy who can I think Kyrie Irving, right? That’s contingent a 32year-old Kyrie Irving to come off of an ACL and to be the best version of himself. I think that’s asking a bit too much for a season. If you’re saying next year, fair, but Stephen A said this year, that’s all I’m saying. Yeah, I was It’s a sexy dark horse. Yeah. If if Kyrie and Anthony Davis were healthy, looking at the Dallas Mavericks, I said if they’re healthy, what excuse do they have? every piece that you need they would have in place agree this year. That’s that’s how I feel. But when Vana against AD last night and making AD look I’m giving him some grace today. I’m giving him I’m giving AD some gra that’s ET phone home three he’s still generational. This is not insulting him. I was feeling sorry for him. I’m like damn what’s he supposed to do? It’s official. I I literally I like I like to do this 75. He’s quicker. He’s faster. He’s longer. He’s taller. I’m like, what’s he supposed to do? I I felt bad. To your point though, Ear, I think I think you said earlier, it was clear that Victor Wiyama was making a statement last night. I’m willing to give a little bit of grace on the other end. Get some get some more reps, get in better shape, but it’s game one. Yeah. Like going to be better. They’re going to be better. Just let just let Win Beyond shoot because when he dancing on you, when he’s 75 and dancing on you and the wings and then blowing by you and then blowing by you, that’s very very bad. I want to tell you something. That’s very very bad. Bill Duffy was my agent when I met Yao for the first time and I see him do the Mike Knight drill and this this I almost said come on. Come on. He was knock jumping off the ground and he was dunking the ball like and I and now I’m watching him last night and he could do you can’t stop that. There’s nothing that you can you can load up. You can have all I don’t know how you stop that with the size and the touch and the handle. You can’t stop lay in the paint and just say go ahead and shoot. Go ahead and shoot. All right. You got to hope he gets 50 and everybody else doesn’t get That’s it. That’s Go ahead and shoot the open jumper because don’t get embarrassed by a 7 foot d five dude dancing on you. He hit the Jay. Hit the J. When he dancing on you and blowing by you, it makes you look very old. It really does. Is his size and his skill set is that does that have I’m not like nobody’s jumping on her release. Does that have the packaging of maybe the best we’ve ever seen to play? Probably. Yeah. I mean that’s the way that the great talking about him going draft. So, he’s made for this game. You couldn’t have put him 20 years ago, but this game highest ceilings. Absolutely.

On First Take, Monica McNutt, Jay Williams and Vincent Goodwill join Stephen A. Smith to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s performance against the Dallas Mavericks. Plus, who can stop Wemby? And what are the Spurs’ chances of making it to the NBA Finals?

0:00 Victor Wembanyama’s comments and game recap
1:25 Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
2:14 Thoughts on Wembanyama and the Spurs
5:28 Stephen A. changed his mind about the Dallas Mavericks
8:45 Who can compete against Wemby?
12:25 Thoughts on Anthony Davis

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