Guerschon Yabusele was initially skeptical about Victor Wembanyama and his chances in the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama is the most exciting prospect to enter the NBA since LeBron James. With that kind of weight on a player’s shoulders, expectations can quickly become incorrect projections.
But to his credit, Wembanyama has done very well since entering the NBA, earning the Rookie of the Year award and also finishing second in the Defensive Player of the Year award in his first season.
Last year, he went from strength to strength, earning his first All-NBA and All-Star honors. And he doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon, either.
Many believe Wembanyama’s development has accelerated the Spurs’ competitive timeline. Given Wemby’s progress and the young talent around him, it’s hard to argue against that.
But one of Wembanyama’s French national team colleagues had some doubts about his success in the NBA, even though his talent and attributes were mesmerizing.
Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty ImagesGuerschon Yabusele believed Victor Wembanyama was too skinny to succeed in NBA
Guerschon Yabusele was a guest on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart’s podcast recently. When talking about his first experience with Victor Wembanyama, Yabusele shared his concern.
When he first saw Wembanyama, Yabusele was concerned that he was too skinny and needed to pack on more muscle to thrive in the NBA. But the skillset and competitiveness were there since day one.
“I can’t remember how old he was when I heard of him. He was really young. He wasn’t even a pro yet. But he was a guy who was so tall. The only thing that I was worried about? He was really skinny.
“So I knew he was going to put on muscle. When he comes to the league, they’re going to change his body. It’s not going to stay like this.
“I kind of knew this was coming, but he was really, really skinny. But what impressed me were the skills. This guy is dribbling between the legs, shooting, and jumping with one leg. Who does that?
“My first impression when I played against him? I was really expecting him to compete.”
Wemby primed to be the next face of the NBA
Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA at perhaps the best possible time for him. With LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry – the three faces of the NBA – all in the twilight of their careers, it’s time for a new face of the NBA.
And Wembanyama fits that bill perfectly. Firstly, from a physical standpoint, he is such a sight to behold that he will entice fans to buy a ticket to see him in person.
Secondly, Wembanyama is perhaps the modern big man prototype fully realized. Despite being over 7 feet tall, Wemby can score from any point on the court.
And lastly, his current team, the San Antonio Spurs, is perhaps the best place for him to develop, as they have created a lot of legends.
As the current generation of stars walks off into the sunset, expect Wembanyama to become the next face of the league.